Opponents of Plan for Hollywood Win 10 Seats on Board

Critics of redevelopment in Hollywood have gained a stronger voice after elections this week for a citizens advisory panel.

A slate sponsored by Save Hollywood Our Town, a residents group that opposes a $922-million redevelopment plan for the faded movie capital, won all 10 seats up for election on the 25-member Project Area Committee.

The committee is made up of residents and business representatives and makes recommendations to the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) regarding the Hollywood plan.

Critics have long contended the committee was dominated by pro-business and developer interests that favor and would benefit from the planned redevelopment of a 1,100-acre swath of Hollywood. Some of these critics have sued the CRA over the plan and are awaiting a judge’s ruling.

Power Shifts

With Monday night’s election, the balance of power on the panel appeared to shift.

“The PAC is finally becoming a watchdog group,” said Scott Halper, president of the Hollywood Homeowners and Tenants Assn. and a winner in the election.

“This election signals somewhat of an uprising, of the community finally becoming aware of the powers that the CRA has.”

The 2 1/2-year-old redevelopment plan has fueled intense controversy from the day it was written.

The debate is divided between those who favor the plan as the best way to give downtown Hollywood a much-needed face lift, and those who fear it will lead to the wholesale demolition of historic buildings, the construction of oversized, traffic-producing commercial projects and the forced relocation of people who live in the area.

Losers in the election downplayed the impact that the new PAC members would have, saying such panels wield little authority and often have an anti-development bias.

However, they acknowledged that the panel could become a political force in time for next year’s City Council race when Hollywood-area Councilman Michael Woo is up for reelection. Redevelopment is expected to be a campaign issue, and Woo has come under criticism from some groups for what they perceive to be his failure to stand up to the CRA.

Bill Welsh, president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and a supporter of the redevelopment plan, predicted the new PAC will become decidedly “anti-growth.”

“This is a little wrinkle that we have to smooth out. It makes it all that more difficult but is not a complete roadblock,” said Welsh, whose seat on the PAC was not up for election this time but who saw many candidates he supported lose.

“They’ll be full of advice on what not to do and will be listened to, but hopefully won’t be a predominant factor in planning the future of Hollywood.”

The new makeup of the PAC comes in the wake of a unanimous vote by the City Council last week to substantially limit growth in all of Hollywood, including the redevelopment area. The council approved a new Hollywood Community Plan that cut residential growth by one-third of what was to be allowed under an older plan, and commercial development by two-thirds.

Under the new plan, commercial building in the redevelopment area was reduced from 45 million square feet to 24 million, though developers can get special permits for larger projects.

Boundaries for the redevelopment area are Franklin Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard on the north, La Brea Avenue on the West, Santa Monica Boulevard and Fountain Avenue on the south and near Vermont on the east.

PAC members elected Monday night will serve two-year terms. The panel is divided into categories, with elections held for each category.

Following are the winners for each category.

Business/property owner or operator: Doreet Rotman-Hackman, owner of the Snow White Cafe; Aaron Epstein, owner of Artisan’s Patio, and Marguerite Power, owner of the Hollywood Celebrity Florist.

* Industrial/manufacturer: Delmar Watson, a community newspaper photographer.

* Residential tenants: Robert Nudleman, Halper and Kathy Zelaya.

* Residential property owners: Ruth Goulet and Pat Morley.

* Community organizations: Chris Shabel of the Greater Hollywood Civic Assn.