Newsletter from the Wilshire Center Business Improvement Corporation
2nd Quarter 2009
WCBIC represents over 33 million square feet of residential, office and retail users.
WCBIC has been working diligently to improve our community for the past 14 years.
Wilshire Center is a great place to live, work and shop
Wilshire Center / Olympic Camera Program
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The WCBIC has now held a total of seven public and private meetings to discuss the proposed camera program. In May the WCBIC along with the CRA and the local Council Districts held two meetings at the Olympic Police Station which were attended by both station captains as well as top level LAPD technical staff sergeants, detectives, and officers. LAPD has now done a detailed crime analyses of the Wilshire Center area, which has helped in identifying eight possible camera locations as well as technical specs to assist in the installation process. In addtion to the eight fixed camera locations there would also be two mobile cameras. The funding plan entails leveraging funds from the CRA and splitting the installation cost and the first three years of maintenance between CD4 and CD10. After three years the WCBIC would then provide the financing necessary to maintain the basic level of service for the entire camera system, which is estimated to be around $25,000 per year.
Wilshire Center Earth Day / Car Free Day 2009
An estimated 3,500 people attended the event throughout the day. The event was hugely successful in bringing the community together for a celebration of the area and environmental awareness. Every restaurant within walking distance of the event had a line going out the door. Retailers were said to have been extremely busy as well. The Camino Nuevo school brought around 500 kids to learn about the environment. We recycled over 4,000 lbs of electronics for which all proceeds were donated to local Wilshire Center schools. Along with KYCC we gave out over 200 fruit trees. Office building employees were able to buy locally grown organic produce, listen to live music and sample dozens of free environmentally friendly products just steps from their desks. The event was also attended by several city departments as well as Councilman Tom LaBonge and Wendy Fraticelli from Herb Wesson’s office. Click here to watch the 2009 Earth Day video.
WC Cool District Program
We are now developing a Carbon Master Plan. The plan consists of a strategy for greenhouse gas reduction based on an overall vision starting with implementing energy efficiency measures and then adding renewable energy. The goal is to retrofit all buildings in the district by 2020. The commercial and more challenging residential existing buildings will be audited, retrofitted and monitored. For commercial buildings, an aggregate 30% and possibly up to 50% energy savings is expected, with 20% to 30% savings for residential buildings. The concept is to provide preliminary building audits, some retro- commissioning, and some investment grade audits starting with about 15,900,000 square feet of the district’s buildings over the next three years. Once an investment grade audit is complete the building owner will be able to finance the projects implementation costs, including the cost of the audit itself. The recovered audit cost will then be utilized for the next building to enable the program to continue throughout the whole building stock and be self-funding, not requiring any further outside investment. Other parts of the plan, such as educating the building owners, the tenants, employees and visitors as well as other BIDs and communities will be done through a community center, a public outreach campaign and a website. In 2010, the intent is to invite international design teams to create sustainable community visions for the Wilshire Center District as part of the public outreach effort. There is a funding request to the City to kick start this program for $3,275,200. The CRA and WCBIC are to provide matching funds of $100,000. The proposed program will be self-perpetuating to encourage and support building owners to commit to building energy improvements by leveraging this initial $3MM into a possible $150MM of improvement work along with about 60,000 metric tons of carbon reduction and related energy cost savings. In addition, the program will act as a boiler plate for other BIDs in the City.
The long term goal for our district is to become a Net Zero Energy District. A net zero energy building is a general term applied to a building with zero net energy consumption and zero carbon emissions annually. We intend to obtain that goal with the Carbon Master Plan. There is a formula that explains the process over time which is: Energy Efficiency + Conservation + Green Solutions + Renewables = Net Zero Energy.
This plan is laying the foundation for a greening of our community’s infrastructure (buildings & transportation) and of us. And in doing so we create more jobs, profits and a more livable, marketable place. Greening our community adds value along with being good for our future
To learn more go to: wilshirecenter.com/cooldistrict Wilshire Center Access Transportation Management Organization
Wilshire Center Access Transportation Management Organization; the objective is to promote initiatives to increase the use of regional transit and to generally enhance sustainable, livable mobility alternatives by establishing a self-sustaining network of “Employer Transportation Coordinators” ("ETCs") and neighborhood resident accessibility advocates. This project is being funded by the MTA, the City and the CRA at a cost of $1,450,000. The WCBIC is currently analyzing the operational budget needed to maintain the transit management organization and will provide support for the ongoing organization to the extent possible. It is intended that the formation of the transit management program be a project of the Wilshire Center BID. We are to participate in the research, program development and marketing of transit management goals and objectives and will support the Wilshire Center/Koreatown Project CRA area as it has pledged to create a transit ambassador program. This project compliments the WC Cool District goals.
Lafayette Skate Park
The new skate park is located on the northwest corner of Wilshire Blvd and Commonwealth and has been the center of much attention as it has appeared in many magazines and TV shows, including one on MTV. The skate park was sponsored by Carl’s Jr. and built by Rob Dyrdek and the DC Shoes Skate Foundation.
The WCBID security is proud to report that the number of skateboarders illegally skating on private property in Wilshire Center has dramatically decreased since its opening. Lafayette Park has also seen a decrease in illegal activity due to the new skate park.
The skate park hours are Monday through Friday from 12:00 to Sunset and Saturdays, Sunsdays, and Holidays from 9:00 am to Sunset.
Proposed 7th to 8th Street WCBID Expansion
We have sent out letters to all potential assesses explaining the proposed expansion. We had a meeting for the potential assesses on June 4th at 10:00 am. The expansion area would increase the district area by 4,987,040 square feet. Addtional services would include two new bike partols, car patrols, maintinace and much more.
Wilshire Corridor Forum IV
Public transportation and green technologies will be key to the future of the Wilshire area. This was the main topic of discussion at the Wilshire Corridor Forum, the fourth in a bi-annual series that examines issues affecting the Wilshire business community, held last Friday. The forum was hosted by the Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce and the WCBIC, and included an update from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) on the Subway to the Sea.
Metro community relations manager Jody Litvak said the emphasis thus far has been on deciding the route for a subway, either directly under Wilshire Boulevard, or with an additional line running beneath Santa Monica boulevard in West Hollywood. Litvak said funding for the early phases of the project is already becoming available through Measure R — the half-cent sales tax approved in November — and Metro is ready to produce an environmental impact report. She added that people who live and work in the Wilshire area still need to remain actively involved, because critical decisions such as where stations will be created will be made in the near future.
Green building practices were an important component of the forum, with many people stating they will guide future development along Wilshire Boulevard. Susan Yackley, who heads a consulting company called The Yackley Group that helped organize the Wilshire Corridor Forum, said many prospective tenants now require that sustainable building practices be incorporated into spaces they lease. She predicted that property owners will have to offer green buildings to remain competitive in the future.
The forum was held at the 5900 Wilshire Building, which has recently undergone many green improvements. The 31-story tower located across the street from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is an example of how property owners can make positive changes to existing buildings to make them more environmentally friendly.
Milan Ratkovich, development manager for the Ratkovich Company, which owns 5900 Wilshire, said major changes were made to the heating, air conditioning and electrical systems in 2007. The result has been a huge savings in the cost of operating the building.
Gary Russell, executive director of the WCBID, said his organization is undertaking a multi-year project to identify ways to bring green building practices to every commercial building in the area. He added that the goal is to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Wilshire Center by 80% by 2050. “We looked at the existing structures. That’s where we believe the problem is, and that is where the real challenge is,” Russell said. “A lot of new development is built to sustainable standards. But our goal is to have the 1,187 existing buildings in our area audited and retrofitted by 2020. The idea is to cut costs, and get private owners looking at this as a way to save money.”
Landscaping Work on Medians and Pots
We have repaired several trees, plants and equipment in the street medians after cars accidents. We are currently replacing many of the sprinkler heads, nozzles and valves due to corrosion and decay. Several plants have been trimmed and relocated to create more symmetrical and well groomed looking medians along Wilshire Blvd.
Solair Grand Opening
A white glove ribbon cutting ceremony announced the grand opening of the Solair Wilshire on Friday, May 29th. The event was atteneded by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, developer Bruce Rothman and architect Chistopher Pak. The Solair is a 22 story mixed use project with retail and residential condominiums. The Solair is located on the northeast corner of Wilshire and Western directly above the MTA Station. For more info visit solairwilshire.com.
2009 MacArthur Park Concert Season - Free Admission
The Friends of the Levitt Pavilion - MacArthur Park (LevittLA) has unveiled the schedule for its 3rd season of free music in MacArthur Park's Levitt Pavilion. This month LevittLA will host "Dancing Under the Stars" - a benefit to celebrate the 3rd Summer Concert Season, which is set to begin on Wednesdsay, July 8th at 6:00pm with Musica Latina sensation, Gabby Villanueva.
The concerts are free and will be held at 6:00pm every Wednesday through Sunday until September 13, 2009. The Levitt Pavilion is located in the northwest corner of MacArthur Park near the intersection of West 6th and South Park View streets, just east of Wilshire Center. Performances feature an array of music from around the world, grammy artists, internationally recognized musicians and emerging talent. For more info visit levittla.org. Community Alert In order to reduce and or eliminate auto thefts or break-ins in the City of Los Angeles, the LAPD Olympic Divison would like to help educate you about the signs that could lead to your auto being stolen or burglarized.
ALWAYS REMEMBER
- Lock your doors
- Roll up your windows
- Remove items of value from sight
CLICK HERE TO READ THE 1ST QUARTER 2009 WILSHIRE CENTER NEWSLETTER
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WCBIC Contact: Gary Russell, AIA, WCBIC Executive
Director, at gary@wilshirecenter.com,
ph: 213-487-7003, fax : 213-386-5853, 3600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1032, Los Angeles, CA 90010 |
