Developer Cites Support for Bistro Gardens

Our Center at Coldwater, which includes the proposed Bistro Garden Restaurant, has the endorsement of the 1,200-member Studio City Residents Assn. and both the Studio City and Sherman Oaks chambers of commerce. Since the Feb. 17 meeting of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn., our office has been deluged with calls of support from additional Studio City and Sherman Oaks residents.

Bob Pool’s Feb. 19 article used the phrases “Homeowners say,” “Studio City residents say” and “They say” when citing negative statements or attitudes of some residents. Such generalizations could be misconstrued by your readers as a consensus of negative neighborhood opinion. From all current indications, the opposite is true.

Without the prestigious Bistro Garden to set the tone of the center and to help attract such tenants, we might have to lower our standards from the “upscale” theme which has been our goal.

The Feb. 10 Los Angeles Times said, “Close indicated that residents have shown concern about the proliferation of ‘upscale’ restaurants and the effect on the nearby neighborhoods.” Would he prefer a proliferation of “downscale” restaurants?

We were as astounded at that statement by Richard Close as we were to learn that Eileen Kenyon had protested the pending Bistro Garden liquor license application. Obviously, Mrs. Kenyon has never been to the Bistro Garden or she would have been delighted to contemplate its opening. The Tail O’ the Cock was twice as large, and she lived happily behind it for over 35 years.

For the past 25 years, the Bistro and Bistro Garden Restaurants in Beverly Hills have earned and consistently maintained a reputation for providing loyal customers a rare blend of magnificent decor, ambiance, gracious dining and operational expertise.

Would Close, Elmassian and Kenyon prefer a center including a 24-hour coffee shop with an assortment of fast-food operations and other comparable tenancies?

We do not and cannot believe that the Bistro Garden would be denied a liquor license. But if, due to their efforts, this happens, Richard Close, Rose Elmassian and Eileen Kenyon could claim the dubious honor of having converted a silk purse into a sow’s ear.

What we had planned as our dream center would then become just another high-traffic strip center or mini-mall.

Such a result would be a tragedy for the community and a great disappointment to us. Ironically, we would realize a much higher return for our investment if we were forced to pursue this alternative.

The costly brass storefronts, decorative foundation in the plaza entry, lavish landscaping and most other amenities now included in our elite center would be abandoned. We would have no choice but to remove from our budget over $1.5 million which we have set aside for The Bistro Garden interior.

As Studio City residents, we still want to stay with our original intent and build a superb center which we and our neighbors can look upon with pride.

HERBERT M. PIKEN

Studio City