Van Nuys : Braude Pushes for City ‘Capitol’ in the Valley

Envisioning Van Nuys as the seat of city government in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles City Councilman Marvin Braude is hosting a community meeting Wednesday to discuss the future of the Van Nuys Civic Center.

In particular, Braude has proposed building a single structure on Van Nuys Boulevard that would house city of Los Angeles agencies from the city attorney’s office to building and safety.

As proposed, the building would be built by a private company on a city-owned parking lot in front of the old City Hall building.

Braude figures that the project would be a plum deal for a private developer because the building would already be fully leased by city agencies before construction begins, said Bonnie Kopp, Braude’s Valley planning deputy.

“What is under consideration is what Councilman Braude feels would be a sort of capitol for the Valley,” she said. “It’s sort of a one-stop shopping for all the city agencies in the Valley.”

Braude is seeking input on the project from business owners, homeowners and neighboring residents, Kopp said. “We’re really just in the formative stages,” she said.

Also attending the meeting will be representatives of the Los Angeles Police Department and other involved city agencies.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the first-floor auditorium of the State Building, 6150 Van Nuys Blvd.

For information, call Braude’s Valley office at (818) 756-8150.