Here in Van Nuys

Van Nuys Boulevard: Ideas for Improvements?

Van Nuys Boulevard., originally uploaded by Here in Van Nuys.

From the Councilman Tony Cardenas Newsletter:

Van Nuys Boulevard Revitalization Efforts

Councilman Tony Cárdenas has made it a priority to improve the quality of life and the business climate along the Van Nuys corridor near the Government Center. By freeing up parking for patrons of stores, his efforts have added parking capacity for businesses by creating angled parking spaces along Sylvan Street and changing the policy regarding city employee use of on-street parking. In the past, dozens of city employees were using their placards and city vehicles to park for free at meters, taking away convenient parking spaces from patrons and visitors. Thanks to Cárdenas, the city is enforcing its own policy to crack down on government employees who take away these central spaces instead of using their assigned public parking garages.

While Cárdenas has made progress, he is asking businesses and residents to participate in a partnership to make more improvements.

He wants to hear from you.

A workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 27th at the Marvin Braude Constituent Center located at 6262 Van Nuys Boulevard, 1st Floor Conference Room between 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. This is the second in a series of three workshops designed to gather stakeholders’ input. If you would like more information contact the Van Nuys District Office at (818) 778-4999.

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Here in Van Nuys

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13 responses to “Van Nuys Boulevard: Ideas for Improvements?”

PatrickP

May 19, 2009

^^Andy, I think it has to do with available parking a lot of times. Not just that they want the parking, but that the city requires it.

Step One: Remove everyone of the signs form the building and start over with a thoughtful sign program that reflects that architectural beauty of the building. Repeat that throughout the area whether on buildings like this or in strip malls.

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1. abh1wordpress
  
  May 19, 2009
  
  Patrick-
  
  A good point.
  
  I also believe the sign problem is a big deal, because the architectural destruction it causes, in obliterating otherwise fine old buildings, is wrong. Along with billboards, the visual pollution of overly large and cheap signage is one of the elements that blights Los Angeles.
  
  Andy
  
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TorontoVet

May 18, 2009

I was going to suggest a wrecking ball and some TNT as possible solutions, but then I noticed the masonwork near the top of the building, which, from the photo, seems to be quite attractive…. or is it cheap pre-fab crap?

The businesses I see need to go.

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tbb

May 16, 2009

Yes I am aware that it is improbable that a Coffee Bean can go here, especially considering the current economic climate. A girl can dream, can’t she?

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carter

May 12, 2009

Well, having been the agent who helped place the Starbucks at Burbank & Van Nuys, I can assure you that the only reasons they went there were the proximity of good traffic in both directions, proximity to a quality workforce from the car dealerships and their customers, proximity to a Ralphs, and a quality residential neighborhood.
Now you may say you do not like a mini-mall, yet nearly none of those attributes exists in the Civic Center area. Coffee Bean had the deal originally, yet ultimately got cold feet and bailed.
MiniMall or nothing.
The problem with the Civic Center area is all the lots on the west side of Van NUys Blvd. are small with separate ownerships, providing minimal parking for retailers and restaurants whose customers demand sufficient and available parking at appropriate times of day. If a national fast food corporation wanted to locate here, it would need nearly 1/3-1/2 the block, which will never happen.
A CRA-type redevelopment project is the only way anything on that side of the street will ever be accomplished. And it should be done. Note the lot depths north of Victory Blvd – much deeper and thus they present more varied opportunities, yet still look at what they currently are.

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1. abh1wordpress
  
  May 12, 2009
  
  Carter-
  Of course, I did not mean to insult you in my critique of a mini-mall. My point, as usual, is just to prefer those patterns of urban development that would encourage walking and discourage over reliance on everything automobile.
  
  Starbucks went with the location they felt would maximize their business at Burbank and Van Nuys. I just wish there were
  good locations that enhanced downtown VN.
  
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2. tbb
  
  May 12, 2009
  
  Hey Carter,
  
  Do you think that you could convince Coffee Bean to put one in where the Fresh and Easy is on Vanowen and Sepulveda. There is a space for lease there with plenty of parking and a great neighborhood around it to boot. I know that the issue is supposed to be for downtown VN, which I am all for improving, but one near where I live would be fantastic 🙂
  
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  1. abh1wordpress
    
    May 13, 2009
    
    I will speak to Mr. Bean about your proposal.
    
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  2. carter
    
    May 15, 2009
    
    Coffee Bean is out of the expansion market as of now, yet even if it were out looking, i doubt that intersection would qualify. The company is nearly chapter 11, btw, yet its expansion plans if such things exist in any meaningful way would be in other states, or via acquisition of other companies that already have units. Cheaper and faster way to grow.
    The company actually has a dispositions list, yet no valley locations are on it.
    
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tbb

May 9, 2009

Although improving parking in the area is a start I guess, I don’t know if that deals with the real issues in the area. Almost every time I have been over there I found parking without too much difficulty.

More of the pressing problems might be that unless you have jury duty, need to go to a post office, pawn shop or get a bail bond there is no real incentive to go there. Never mind the problems with crime in the area. It seems to have cleaned up a bit ever since they remodeled some of the civic buildings but it still has a lot of room for improvement.

It would be nice to find a way to attract a greater variety of businesses to the area, such as coffee shops, a wider variety of retail than exists there now and maybe even an art gallery. Things that could benefit the community as a whole and take advantage of the proximity to the Orange Line. Maybe looking into how North Hollywood got an arts district going would help.

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1. abh1wordpress
  
  May 9, 2009
  
  I totally agree with what you say.
  
  The destination or lack of destination businesses are what keeps people out of downtown Van Nuys. There are no good restaurants, bookstores, clothing stores
  or anything which might attract people.
  
  Hell, there isn’t even a Starbucks, which to me is a big oversight considering the thousands of people who use the government offices everyday.
  
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  1. tbb
    
    May 11, 2009
    
    You’re so right about the Starbucks. I would fall to my knees and worship the heavens if I could get a Coffee Bean within walking distance!
    
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  2. abh1wordpress
    
    May 11, 2009
    
    I wonder why the Starbucks Corporation would rather open outlets in ugly mini-malls, such as the one at Sherman Way, west of Sepulveda or Burbank just east of Van Nuys Blvd.?
    
    The Marvin Braude Government Center in Van Nuys would be an ideal place for a Starbucks because of the lawyers, government workers and citizens who visit these facilities everyday. There is a fire and a police station within walking distance and a post office!
    
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