Developer Unveils Changes for Project
In response to community criticism, a development firm on Monday unveiled revisions to a controversial $100-million proposed revitalization project in Westwood Village.
Developer Ira Smedra changed the plans for the Village Center Westwood, a large movie and retail plaza proposal, after receiving the recommendations of a 22-member community working group assembled by Los Angeles Councilman Mike Feuer.
Among the more significant changes to the plan were reducing the number of movie screens by a third and lowering the height of all but one building on the site, said Allan Abshez, attorney for the project.
But community activist Laura Lake, president of the Friends of Westwood, criticized the project, saying, “Smedra is building a project from the last decade and he’s really short on vision. We have enough movie theaters.”
The new plans will be presented to the public at a community meeting at 5 p.m. May 5 in the Macy’s Tea Room, 10861 Weyburn Ave.
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