Rolls-Royce Dealer’s Plan Muffles Gripes--for Now
Maybe it was the spirit of the UK/LA arts festival. Or that Andy and Fergie are in town. Or the Perrier, wine and cheese that were tastefully served next to the $184,500 Rolls-Royce convertible.
Whatever the reason, Anglo-American relations in Encino seem to be on the mend for a British motorcar dealer and neighbors rankled by noise, congestion and racing Rolls-Royces.
Homeowners, who have opposed a $1-million expansion and remodeling plan by Rolls-Royce dealer Terry York, say changes to the project may eliminate their complaints.
In January, a Los Angeles zoning administrator ordered the Ventura Boulevard dealer and the homeowners to work out their differences before the official rules this month on a waiver needed for the construction.
York rolled a shiny Jaguar sports car off his showroom’s polished brick floor Monday night to make room for 25 homeowners gathered for the peace conference. He told them that he has redesigned his project to reduce their concerns and that his mechanics have been told to test cars on the freeway instead of on neighborhood streets.
“We’re going to satisfy the community and make a very nice dealership that will benefit the community,” York pledged.
York said he will prevent nighttime glare with low-level parking lot lights. He will end congestion on Densmore Avenue next to his car lot by arranging for a curb-side loading zone that will keep auto transport trucks from blocking the street, he said.
Instead of a 35-foot-high garage with 17 noisy service bays that open toward the neighborhood, he is proposing a 10 1/2-foot-tall garage, enclosed except for one door to a nearby parking lot, he said.
Rebuilding Dealership
Project architect Gordon Forrest said the revisions will require York to rebuild his dealership, including a glistening new showroom for the Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Jaguars and Range Rovers sold by York.
“The visual and sound control will be so much better,” Forrest assured homeowners. “There will be parking for employees on the top level of the garage. And you won’t have this building you’re in to look at.”
The homeowners, some of whom munched on cheese and sipped drinks during the two-hour meeting, said they will meet privately next week to discuss York’s proposal. But they said York is moving in the right direction.
“In view of what could be built here--a three-story office building--I think we’d have to support this,” said Richard Smith, president of the Encino Property Owners Assn. “It’s better than it was before,” said Marjorie Luxenberg, whose home overlooks York’s garage area. “But we can’t go for the cars on the roof.”
Neighbor Roxie Esterle voiced similar reservations but said she feels an agreement may be near.
“There’s been progress,” said Cindy Miscikowski, chief deputy to Los Angeles City Councilman Marvin Braude. “I think there have been major concessions. I think an agreement is within reach.”
Homeowners said they still are apprehensive over the expansion of the car lot and what they have described as hot-rodding mechanics racing up and down their streets to test cars.
Although York says he sells only about 40 cars a month, his dealership attracts “a lot of lookers, touchers and wishers,” homeowner Jackie Harker said.
“Why not require him to have a place on his own property to unload his trucks?” asked Gerald Silver, president of the Homeowners of Encino, as he leaned against the front fender of a $107,500 Bentley and sipped a glass of Perrier.
