Wachs Wants New Name for 2-Plaza Neighborhood
A shopping center whose name is linked to the infamous 1997 shootout between police and bank robbers is in need of a new identity, according to Councilman Joel Wachs.
Valley Plaza, one of the oldest outdoor malls in Los Angeles, and nearby Laurel Plaza could benefit from “a fabulous name identification,” Wachs said in a letter requesting new signs from the city Department of Transportation.
Wachs proposed that the region around the two shopping areas, a rundown area dotted with empty storefronts along Laurel Canyon Boulevard, be labeled the “Twin Plaza District.”
“A lot of things have happened here to give this area a black eye,” said Tom Henry, the councilman’s planning deputy.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake damaged businesses, and last month a gunman raped a 12-year-old girl in the city park next to Valley Plaza.
Development projects have been proposed recently for both shopping centers, raising hopes of a revitalization.
To help attract more business, Wachs asked for the installation of four “Twin Plaza District” signs on Victory and Laurel Canyon boulevards.
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