West Hollywood is going full speed ahead with Weaver’s Walk, the sidewalk improvement project on Melrose Avenue, after City Council on Monday refused to bend to business owners who wanted to restart the plans from scratch.
The long-gestating project drew 11th hour opposition from a handful of galleries and showrooms in the area, whose owners — particularly Ben Soleimani — claimed that their signage and windows would be blocked by shade trees the city planned to plant.
Initially, the project was to include 25 trees, but issues were raised regarding the practicality of planting this number of trees so close together.
City Council was presented with three options on Monday:
Option A, which followed discussions with local businesses, reduced the number of trees to 21 to improve visibility in key areas, particularly for nearby businesses. This option was ready for re-bidding and potentially awarding a construction contract pending City Council approval.
Option B further reduced the tree count to 17, requiring additional design revisions before it can proceed.
Option C proposed to pave a significant area to improve the interim condition of dirt and temporary paving, with a plan to engage in a new design process involving public outreach.
Vice Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers and other councilmembers expressed concerns about the outreach process, questioning the effectiveness of the notification process for businesses along Melrose Avenue, and the transparency of these efforts, particularly whether all businesses were adequately informed.
Steve Campbell, director of public works, explained the financial implications of each option, noting that costs have exceeded initial estimates and that rebidding might be necessary. He mentioned that the budget for Option A was intended to be covered within the existing Melrose Streetscape budget but acknowledged that additional funds might be required. The council discussed the need for precise budget figures for each option to understand the financial impact better and ensure that no unnecessary expenditures are made given the project’s approval and community expectations.
During public comment, Genevieve Morrill, the president and CEO of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, discussed the issues surrounding the tree-scaping project from a business perspective. She highlighted the city’s long-term practice of tree maintenance and its impact on business visibility, comparing the district’s aesthetic to other design-centric districts like Rodeo Drive and Madison Avenue which feature fewer, less obstructive trees. She advocated for a redesign that would incorporate more community input to find a solution beneficial to all stakeholders.
Leslie Karliss supported Option A for being the most environmentally and publicly beneficial. She criticized Options B and C as costly and catering to a narrow group of businesses, rather than serving the broader community’s interests. She argued that the concerns about trees blocking business visibility were not as significant as the potential benefits of a pedestrian-friendly, landscaped space that could enhance the overall area.
Andrew Solomon, the city’s Public Facilities Commission chairman, advocated for the original plans approved last year, emphasizing the importance of community participation in the planning process to shape staff reports and decisions.
Resident Kimberly Winick was surprised that local business owners claimed to be unaware of the project plans discussed since 2013. She supported the original plan, emphasizing the community’s preference for a greener, less brutalist aesthetic.
Jeff Seymour, representing Ben Soleimani, argued for Option C, highlighting concerns about trees blocking business signage and the need for a balance between landscape areas and storefront visibility. He stressed the importance of involving affected businesses in the planning process to better integrate Weaver’s Walk with business interests.
Paul Lewis, a landscape architect, explained that his firm’s detailed study predicted that the trees planned for Weaver’s Walk would significantly obstruct the storefronts over the next five to ten years. He criticized the staff report’s illustrations for not accurately depicting the density of the tree foliage, which would block visibility from various angles, crucial for the commercial retail stores along the walk.
Janet Xonatx, a showroom owner on Melrose Avenue, shared her concern that the proposed trees would completely obscure her building within five years, affecting her business which benefits from walk-in customers who notice her display windows. She argued against the idea of a park on a major commercial avenue, questioning the maintenance of such green spaces and strongly advocated for Option C, fearing the loss of visibility for her business.
Terry Augi voiced concerns about the proposed public park turning into a nuisance, drawing parallels to a similar park that became a hub for crime and was eventually fenced off. He supported Option C, proposing that the city revisit the park idea once public safety issues are addressed.
Lawrence Chamblee was skeptical about temporarily replacing the planned improvements with a concrete plaza (Option C). He recalled past city projects that dragged on and expressed distrust in the assurances of aesthetic improvements given the city’s history. He advocated for solutions that would enhance pedestrian traffic and the neighborhood’s appeal rather than just commercial interests.
Paul Hanaman criticized the city’s decision to halt the approved Weaver’s Walk project, questioning the influence of specific local business owners like Ben Solomani over the council’s decisions. He was perplexed why these objections arose only after substantial community engagement and repeated approvals. Paul lamented the costs associated with the project’s delay, both in terms of city resources and the impact on local businesses, which, despite suffering from the construction, were looking forward to the benefits of increased foot traffic.
Richard Geisbret, a long-term resident and active community member, advocated for Option A, emphasizing that the original plans for Weaver’s Walk had been extensively discussed and agreed upon in community meetings. He highlighted the historical consensus for a shady mini-park and addressed concerns about signage obstruction, noting that city officials had strategies to manage these issues effectively.
Dawn Salzmann, a gallery owner, criticized the current state of the Melrose frontage, describing it as unsightly and hazardous. She detailed incidents where individuals had fallen due to the poor conditions, illustrating the area’s unsuitability for both business and safe passage. Salzmann called for immediate action to rectify the situation, emphasizing the need for a design that promotes business and public safety, rather than converting the space into a park.
The council then debated the options available for the Weaver’s Walk project. Councilmember John Heilman emphasized the community’s divided opinions between the business owners concerned about tree obstruction and residents favoring a greener, park-like environment. He expressed support for Option A, considering it a feasible and publicly vetted option. He was open to compromising on Option B if it would facilitate consensus.
“I am not particularly sympathetic to the viewpoint that, ‘We didn’t have an option, we didn’t have an opportunity to speak,'” Heilman said. “The chamber has certainly been aware of this project. The chamber has participated, in large part, in addressing some of the construction-related issues. For me, Option C is a non-starter. I don’t think we can leave this where it is and undertake a new process. That, to me, is not serving the community well.”
Councilmember Sepi Shyne also supported Option A for Weaver’s Walk, suggesting additional clear signage to help businesses be more visible. She was open to Option B if it garnered more support, but her preference was to stick with the plan that had consensus after long-term discussions and community input.
Councilmember Lauren Meister provided a detailed recount of the meetings and community involvement related to the project from 2019 to 2023. She pointed out that the Weaver’s Walk concept had been revised multiple times based on community feedback, particularly concerning the number of trees and the type of artwork involved, which had initially been problematic. She emphasized that the current design had fewer trees than previously planned, reflecting responsiveness to business concerns about visibility.
She underscored the necessity of accommodating essential urban elements like trash cans and bus stops, despite their potential to obstruct views, drawing a parallel to the proposed trees. She expressed a commitment to working with the business community to address their concerns without reverting to less beneficial interim solutions.
“Bottom line, this is a good thing,” Meister said. “This is good for the street. It’s good for reducing the heat island effect. It’s good for the planet. It’s good for economic development. It’s good for the neighborhood. It’s good for people. And I think that the businesses that are on that street are lucky to have this magnificent pathway as part of their neighborhood, as part of their street.”
Byers reiterated the benefits of green spaces and suggested enhancing the visibility of businesses through improved signage. She recommended ongoing engagement with the business community to ensure their needs are considered throughout the development process.
The council unanimously voted to proceed with Option A and to look into additional measures to enhance business visibility and engagement.
As usual, Lauren provides the most reasoned and detailed analysis. What will happen to WeHo when her term is up?
Don’t know, Heilman seems scared of his own shadow.
Hostility towards business concerns are demonstrated at every opportunity by this city council. And not one of them knows the first thing about business.
The businesses had years to address the issues they raised at the last minute. The plans were debated for years. They raised the same argument about trees that Santa Monica and Sunset Strip businesses asserted when new trees on their boulevards were planted. No one is complaining now about having more beautiful streets after the relatively brief period it took for the trees to clear the signage. If anything, more attractive, inviting streets bring in more shoppers. The trees will be good for business.
Ill simplify … Why plant a tree that will block a stop sign ? Why plant 2 redbuds that will grow under an oak ? Why plant street trees so close to the curb ? Why plant trees so close to the buildings ? Why not provide a better walk against buildings and store fronts ? These few changes would allow for the remaining trees to be upsized and the oaks as well … Provide electric at base of trees for future lighting and the oaks can become a visual draw rather than distractor As far as all the other… Read more »
The most novel concept in your comment is the idea that we would actually hold someone responsible in city government. Spend money, if people don’t like it, spend more money to rip it out and then spend evenn more money on something new. Witness the millions spent in Culver City on bike and bus lanes that they are now spending millions to rip out only a few years later. Bureaucrats have zero sense of accountability and responsibility and combined with council spend money like drunken sailors on shore leave. We need more adults in the room.
City “Employees” accountable …was just a dream …BUT
When you hire and pay professionals
Landscape Architect ..then the tree lifts the street
Landscape Contractor / Maintenance ..Over selling replacements
General Contractor ..Library…is there no limit to $$
Architect ..Rios ..library …Design not meant to meet a budget
Athens trash removal ..15 mil 10 yr contract …given more $ ?
The list goes on
It happens everyday where requests/reimbursements are made
My first thought was if the density of the trees impacts visibility of showrooms and signage, then wouldn’t the tree density impact public safety in regards pedestrian robbery and potential related harm? If someone can’t see the buildings, addresses and signage clearly the trees would certainly offer an opportunity for holdups and assault (thinking of the two woman attacked in Venice last week).
Denser tree planting was done when Santa Monica Boulevard was rebuilt. It did not result in an increase in crime.