Protecting our Historic Neighborhood

California has an affordable housing shortage which some legislators are trying to address by fast tracking legislation increasing density in cities.  On the surface these ideas look good, but most of them are a Trojan horse for overdevelopment of unaffordable housing that would also destroy residential communities.  While Hancock Park is an HPOZ our neighborhood is not safe from changes promoted by developers to replace affordable housing with unaffordable housing.  There are a number of bills in Sacramento that would override many of the density and change limitations that keep Hancock Park an intact, beautiful and historic neighborhood.  Our neighbors at Spaulding Square (one of LA’s thirty-five HPOZs) have made a short video that explains what’s going on and what you can do - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRX_5E1BS3k

Your neighbors are working with the Council Office and City Officials to fight against this legislation but we need your help.  In particular SB50 and SB592 will be presented to lawmakers in January.  The Association will send information via the website, newsletter, Larchmont Chronicle column and email lists about what you can do to help preserve our beautiful neighborhood while still supporting the preservation of existing affordable housing and supporting the creation of new housing that is affordable. 

Don’t forget that the holidays season often sees an increase in crime, particularly property crime.  So if you have a house alarm set it, don’t keep valuables in view in your car, lock your car and your house and if you’re the victim of a crime:  Report it!  This helps increase the number of police officers assigned to our area.

If you’re planning to make any changes to the street visible portion of your house, including hardscaping, and windows, check with our HPOZ Planner Suki Gershenhorn (suki.gershenhorn@lacity.org), before starting The HPOZ Preservation Plan, which regulates our HPOZ can be found at http://www.preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park   There is also an online form you can fill out to help speed up the process (http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/initial.screening.checklist).  Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the City’s Anti-Graffiti Request System - http://anti-graffiti.lacity.org/welcome.cfm?CFID=1007&CFTOKEN=411CDB4F-0FC3-4EE1-89DE58DCCB435538 and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323-463-5180.