CD4 Council Member David Ryu is “aware and engaged on Town and Country project,” Rob Fisher, CD4 Field Deputy told the Mid City West Community Council at its meeting on Tuesday, June 12. And according to Fisher, Ryu is “opposed to the project as it is currently proposed because he has some concerns about its proximity to Hancock Park Elementary School.”
Developer Ira Smedra, President of ARBA Group, owners of shopping centers and nursing homes, has partnered with Regency Centers and Holland Partner Group in proposing to build a 26-story tower with 380 luxury residential units on the site currently occupied by KMart. They will also renovate the building and parking lots next door, where Whole Foods, CVS Pharmacy and Citibank are located. Fisher said his office is working with the developer, however, and invited community comments (which can be e-mailed to CD4 Planning Deputy Emma Howard or to him at [email protected]).
Following community reports, the board elected the following members to serve as the MCWCC’s Executive Council leadership group:
Scott Epstein, Chair
Andrew Jhun, 1st Vice Chair
Angela Guzman, 2nd Vice Chair
Patrick Seamans, Treasurer
Emily Uyeda Kantrim, Executive Secretary
“I’m thrilled to continue to serve with executive officers Andrew Jhun, Angela Guzman, and Patrick Seamans, and to welcome Emily Uyeda Kantrim to our Executive Council,” Epstein told the Buzz. “I look forward to working with this passionate team to continue to make Mid City West a better place to live, work, and play.”
The first four of the Executive Council were previous members, re-elected without opposition. The exception was Emily Uyeda Kantrim, who defeated fellow board member Abraham Langer in a voice vote. Kantrim replaces Amy Mucken, who resigned as Executive Secretary. The board also voted to remove Zone 5 Representative Marc Sigal from the board, due to unexcused absences. All the board members of the Council serve as volunteers elected by the community. The next election is scheduled for Spring 2019.
Later, board member David Sobel reported on his efforts to plan a community garden Poinsettia Park. Sobel told the Buzz he is working with the Los Angeles Community Garden Council to place a community garden in the large open are near the tennis courts in the park. Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend two informational meetings. The first is Thursday, June 14 at 7:30- 8:30 pm in the Poinsettia Park Rec Center and the second is Saturday, June 16 from 10-11am.
