The OUTzone at 8278 1/2 Santa Monica Blvd. was struck by a moving vehicle for the third time since it was built, according to Anthony Vulin, whose real estate firm faces the crash site.
“This is the third time a car has hit this fake barricade in front of my office ‘the collective,'” Vulin said. “After the first time, the red barricade ended up 20 feet away on the sidewalk. I discovered that none of the barricades had water in them to protect our sidewalks, and immediately let ths sheriff and city know. Not long after they were hit again, where an older man was able to get his car fully up onto the sidewalk stopping were tabes are usually set up at PURA VIDA. Luckily it was a Monday afternoon and they were closed. Now they are hit a third time! The city needs to replace these with cement ones or fill them with water before someone gets seriously hurt.”
In December 2021, a vehicle burst through the barricade and into the outdoor dining area established by the city’s OUTzone program to mitigate the economic hardships on restaurants caused by COVID pandemic restrictions.
That crash came exactly one week after City Council decided to make the OUTzone program a permanent fixture of WeHo streets.
I’ll be my usual contrarian self. I have no problem with these. COVID is not over. My only caveat would be that they are safely implemented, like the the other commenter said below. Water bags, sand bags, or even heavier barricades. We see “out zones” through Europe. If people would slow down, and pay attention to the road, that would help. But, as is often the case, “car is king,” in West Hollywood. This seems like it is a viable solution to help certain local businesses (especially those with limited square footage). Amazing how many people claim to be “pro-business,”… Read more »
Prefer to eat at La Boheme outside area, which is super nice and SAFE! These Outzones are scary.
The continuance of the OUT zones seems perpetuated by some who are actually “zoned out”. Their concept of a healthy business community seems to be turning the City into a grand souk. No one on the City Council seems to have vision based on real knowledge as to how healthy cities and communities actually function. There is a significant lack of scope. Worse than that they don’t install knowledgeable staff in this respect or elect council members that could bring appropriate qualities and instincts. A ship without a qualified captain drifting from one money pot to the next.
The last sentence tells it all.
Get rid of these awful looking, unsafe deck/patios. They are literally in the street Call them what they are “death traps” waiting to happen, not some made up cute name”“outzone”
Absolutely
“OUTzones” are really dangerous. It boggles the mind that main streets have them, increasing the traffic problems. Are the businesses paying the ‘rent’ on the real estate? or are they getting extra spaced for free? If folks would just follow the freaking rules of COVID; these “al fresco dining” spaces would not be necessary: vaccinations, mask, social distancing etc. The wait staffs have to walk extra miles to serve folks on the sidewalks! The streets of LA / WeHo are not exactly the “Via Veneto” or Champs-Élysées. I’m waiting for a serious accident, or maybe not so “accidental” event to… Read more »
La Vie en Rose is not how I would describe trying to breathe and eat on SM Blvd out in the ZON.
I have never eaten at an Out Zone. Sitting on a sidewalk next to a busy street with traffic does not appeal to me at all.
You mean sitting in the street next to busy traffic. No Bueno
Sue the city of West Hollywood! Santa Monica Blvd. is a state road and does not belong to the City of West Hollywood.
New York got sued.
“These conditions, the plaintiffs claim, cause them to be “unable to safely navigate the city’s streets and sidewalks, and a diminution of available parking upon which some of the petitioners depend,” according to the official complain”
https://wehoonline.com/2018/03/28/weho-turned-santa-monica-blvd-disaster-model-main-street/amp/
These out zones need to go. Give the sidewalk back to the pedestrians. The zones were supposed to be temporary not permanent.
The outzones are a clear hazard and tacky as hell. Just like our city council members.
This OUTzone is also very unsafe for people on bicycles and scooters. With all this talk about Fountain Avenue, it’s time to also find ways to make Santa Monica Boulevard safer.
These messes make S.M. Blvd look trashy. Really a junked-up eyesore, like temporary piles of debris waiting for the trash truck to pick up. Besides you have to know exactly which shop you intend to go to because the businesses aren’t visible from the street & often from the sidewalk. BTW, many thanks to the CC for helping to solve the parking problem on S.M. Blvd.!!! Brilliant work, as usual!
Unsafe outzones, unsafe scooters, unsafe e-bikes, unsafe delivery robots!! Pedestrians both able-bodied and disabled don’t stand a chance on our sidewalks! This is a tragedy just waiting to happen! This is also an ADA access violation! But the majority of the City Council doesn’t seem to care! They made the outzones permanent. They extended the scooter pilot program, and have directed the staff to find ways to make the program permanent. They are giving away 50 free e-bikes. They are still continuing the program with the delivery robots despite all their problems. If I didn’t know better, I would think… Read more »
The Outzones between Harper and Sweetzer on the north side and the south side of Santa Monica Boulevard are pedestrian nightmares. Tonight I was carrying groceries and drycleaning home and was blocked by the almost always open door at Pure Vida and a stopped delivery robot. The Outzones have outlived their intended purpose and must be dismantled for the good of everyone. Has anyone paid any mind to the completely ADA-unfriendly conditions at Beaches and Tom Tom???
Mikie Friedman. Would love advice and information from you about how residents of West Hollywood can report ADA violations. Thanks
i’m not really sure because I have never filed one. But I googled ADA COMPLAINTS, and I found this government website.
https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/
I think this is the correct site. But if it isn’t what you’re looking for, let me know and I’ll look further.
good luck!
Thanks, Mikie. I wonder if it’s time for people in West Hollywood to start filing ADA complaints
Call or write that city department!
i’m just a private citizen.
Actually this response is for Bruce Tennyson.
https://www.weho.org/city-government/city-departments/public-works/engineering/street-maintenance/sidewalk-repairs
Here’s another one
https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct
How about just fixing all the obvious holes in the sidewalks…
Call or write the city. I am just a private citizen.
https://www.weho.org/city-government/city-departments/public-works/engineering/street-maintenance/sidewalk-repairs