Study of Potential Arts District Sought

Hoping to establish an artist enclave similar to SoHo in Manhattan, Los Angeles City Councilman John Ferraro asked city officials Tuesday to study the creation of a commercial arts district in North Hollywood.

The motion by Ferraro would require the city’s planning department to establish zoning regulations that would make it easier for artists to move into empty North Hollywood businesses and establish live-in studios.

An aide to Ferraro said there has been great public interest for years in establishing a “NoHo” artist district where artists can live and work in commercial properties, such as warehouse lofts.

Ferraro’s motion will be considered sometime in the next two or three weeks by the council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee. If it is approved, the city’s planning department will begin to work on the zoning restrictions.

The proposed district would be generally bound by Cumpston Street on the north, Cahuenga Boulevard on the east, Camarillo Street on the south and Tujunga Avenue to the west, accordingto the councilman’s proposal.