One of the things that motivated me to start this blog is the proposed Millennium Hollywood Project. As a resident of Hollywood, I’m really concerned about this for a number of reasons. While I support responsible, sustainable development, neither one of those adjectives can be applied to the project in its current form. My main gripe is that two huge, high-rise towers will be erected next to the Capitol Records building. My objections are based in part on aesthetics, since if the project is built these towers would completely overwhelm this Hollywood icon. But the biggest problem with this project is that it will make traffic much worse.
The City of LA has been pursuing a policy of building high-density residential projects near transit centers. In theory this sounds like good planning, and I used to support the idea. But there have been a number of large residential projects built in Hollywood over the past several years, most of them less than a block away from subway stations, and traffic has only gotten worse. The concept of having people live next to a subway so they won’t need to use their car sounds good, but the reality is that most Angelenos still take their cars most of the time. The Millennium Hollywood Project will only make traffic worse, and the proposed mitigations are not sufficient.
I’ll write more later, but if you’re interested in finding out more about the project, here’s a link to an article that includes renderings of the finished development.
http://www.archdaily.com/290508/las-millennium-hollywood-project/
The Horizon and the Skyline 
Transit Oriented Development is a failed planning model. The reason that it does not work, has never worked, and will never work is because TODs are self-limiting. Once traffic congestion becomes intolerable people start leaving the area and new residents simply decide to live elsewhere in less dense areas. Thus, the required density to make mass transit viable is never achieved. The only way to get to the required density would be with a Berlin Wall to keep people from escaping but Los Angeles is surrounded by broad expanses of open land and that is where the people will go.
George, Thanks for the comment. Don’t mention the Berlin Wall idea to anybody on the LA City Council, because they might take it seriously. They’re desperate to prove TOD will work. Best, Casey
FOUR HUNDRED Hancock Park Neighborhood Assoc. Residents, have joined Beachwood
Canyon, Argyle Civic Assoc., The Oaks, Hollywoodland, The Hollywood Dell, the
Hillside Federation, representing many Orgs (see list below), the three
Hollywood Neighborhood Councils, HHWNC, HUNC, and HSDNC in OPPOSING Millennium
Projects.
Please sign the Petition opposing Millennium Hollywood projects..forward it, and
if possible, please post on your facebook page.
click here:
http://signon.org/sign/opposition-to-the-millennium?source=c.em.mt&r_by=7343547
(more information below)
Millennium Planning Commission Hearing
Please try to attend and speak out…
March 28, 2013
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Los Angeles City Hall,
John Ferraro Council Chambers, Room 340
200 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(people who need rides will be accommodated..contact us)
Please email:
Councilmembers
Eric Garcetti
eric.garcetti@lacity.org
and
Tom LaBonge
tom.labonge@lacity.org
CC:
cm.public@lacity.org, (all council members)
mayor@lacity.org,
HILLSIDE FEDERATION MEMBER ORGS.:
Beachwood Canyon Association
Bel Air Knolls Property
Bel Air Ridge Association
Bel Air Skycrest Property
Benedict Canyon Association
Brentwood Hills Homeowners Assn.
Brentwood Residents Coalition
Cahuenga Pass Property Owners
Canyon Back Alliance
Crests Neighborhood
Franklin Ave. / Hwd. Blvd. West
Franklin Hills Residents
Highlands Owners Association
Hollywood Dell Civic
Hollywood Heights Association
Hollywoodland Homeowners
Holmby Hills Homeowners
Kagel Canyon Civic Assn.
Lake Hollywood Homeowners
Laurel Canyon Association
Lookout Mountain Alliance
Los Feliz Improvement
Mt. Olympus Property Owners
Mt. Washington Homeowners’ Alliance
North Beverly – Franklin Canyon Home owners Association
Nichols Canyon Association
Oak Forest Canyon Association
Oaks Homeowners Assn.
Outpost Estates Homeowners
Pacific Palisades Residents Assn.
Residents of Beverly Glen
Roscomare Valley Association
Shadow Hills Property Owners
Sherman Oaks Homeowners
Studio City Residents Association
Sunset Hills HOA
Tarzana Property Owners
Torreyson-Flynn Association
Upper Mandeville Canyon
Whitley Heights Civic
L.A.Conservancy website/Advocacy Issues
http://www.laconservancy.org/issues/issues_capitolrecords.php
“The Conservancy appreciates that this project does not propose to
demolish or significantly alter the Capitol Records Tower.
Yet the project does include new construction directly adjacent to it,
which could potentially cause adverse impacts to the Landmark.”
etc. etc. etc.
Hollywood Heritage has also expressed their concerns and position about
Millennium Projects/Preservation Issues:http://hollywoodheritage.org/
“Preservation Issue:
Hollywood Heritage’s Position on the Millennium Project (Capitol
Records Building) proposed for Hollywood.