Eastern Presbyterian Church Installs Parking Lot on Wilshire

There’s a brand new parking lot on Wilshire Blvd. at the corner of Bronson Avenue.  Apparently it was installed on a vacant lot in the last two weeks. The sign reads, “Eastern Presbyterian Church Parking Lot.” The church, located at 4270 W. 6th St., owns the property and has tried for many years to develop the land.

According to emails obtained by the Buzz, there were no permits issued for the parking lot because the use is prohibited by the Park Mile Specific Plan, the zoning plan that applies to Wilshire Blvd. between Highland and Wilton Place.  The Park Mile Specific Plan was passed in 1987 to preserve the low-density, single family residential character of the neighborhood.

“It’s wonderful that this small church is so successful that it has outgrown its current space,” said John Welborne, Land Use Committee Chair of the Windsor Square Association and local expert on the Park Mile Specific Plan. “Maybe they need to move somewhere that is big enough to accommodate them.”   The sign is also illegal, explained Welborne, who is also publisher of the Larchmont Chronicle.

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has issued a violation and an order to comply, either by converting the parking lot back to a vacant lot or by pursuing a variance to officially change the use of the property.

Windsor Square Association President Larry Guzin has urged City Council Member David Ryu to oppose any application to change the use that does not conform to the Park Mile Plan.  No exceptions to the Plan have been granted in the almost 30 years since the Plan’s inception.  And according to Guzin, any exception would be a “disaster” for Windsor Square.

Thursday afternoon Estevan Montemayor, Communications Director for Council Member Ryu’s office sent over the following official position on the enforcement of the Park Mile Specific Plan:

The property owner must adhere the Park Mile Specific Plan and follow the Order to Comply. Our office is monitoring this matter and working with Building and Safety to resolve it immediately.

This story has been updated to include Council member David Ryu’s position on the matter.