Neighbors United

Over the last 28 years, Neighbors United has been involved in crime-fighting; neighborhood beautification; zoning issues; emergency and disaster preparedness; political campaigns and elections; volunteerism; charitable contributions; improving the neighborhood businesses; celebrating neighborhood diversity; and building neighborhood pride and friendship.

The Association’s major accomplishments include the following:

ü      Won a moratorium through City Planning to prevent developers from destroying single family homes in the community and building high-density apartment buildings.  Zoning designation in this area was subsequently reduced to limit the size of future construction projects.  As a result, current zoning designations in the area include “qualified” conditions that implemented requirements placed during the moratorium.

ü      Submitted formal comments and provided public comments at City council and Planning Department hearings regarding zoning variances and changes affecting the community, such as preventing new liquor licenses and auto repair shops in the community.

ü      Defeated proposal to subdivide and rezone the property owned by the radio station at Venice Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue for commercial purposes to protect the single-family character of the neighborhood.  The property remains zoned as R-1.

ü      Provided input to developers for projects being built in the community, such as the SGI (Buddhist Center) at Venice and Fairfax, Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles, and Plaza La Cienega Shopping Center.

ü      Participated in formation of PICO Neighborhood Council and Pico Revitalization Project.

ü      Interacted with other block clubs in area--CHAPS, Crestview, South Carthay, Carthay Square, Picfair Village, Wilshire Vista and Model Neighborhoods— to accomplish common goals and to defeat additional liquor license applications and proposed businesses that do not add value to our communities.

ü      Worked with LAPD and Building and Safety to have Plantation and Capitol Motels, and abandoned Golden Bird restaurant on La Cienega demolished for crime and drug abatement.  Burger King now stands at the site of the abandoned Golden Bird.  Auto dealerships replaced the motels.

ü      install the sidewalk along Sawyer Street between Fairfax and Point View.

ü      install new streetlights along Stearns Drive and Crescent Heights Boulevard from 1800 to 2000 blocks.

ü      repave streets throughout the community.

ü      install four-way stop signs at several intersections throughout the area.

ü      install security gates in the alley between the 1900 block of La Cienega and Crescent Heights Boulevard.

ü      clean storm drains in the area.

ü      replace vandalized signs.

ü      Planted trees throughout the area:

ü      along Sawyer between Point View and Fairfax in 1987,

ü      along the 5900-6000 blocks of Guthrie Street in 1989,

ü      along 1700-1900 blocks of Fairfax Avenue in 1997,

ü      along each street in the community in 2007.

ü      Held Candidates Forums during local election campaigns.

ü      Held Town Hall meetings with city, state and federal representatives.

ü      Established and manned a Police Stop-In Center at Claude Pepper Senior Citizens Center.  The center was closed due to low usage.

ü      Established neighborhood security patrol.

ü      Worked with the City and Several Contractors to mitigate problems for residents during construction of the Hollyhills Drain project along Crescent Heights Boulevard (construction took over a year).

ü      Established annual La Cienega clean-up in 1982—and continued for 20 years.

ü      Held Graffiti Paint-Outs.

ü      Established an annual Block Party over 20 years ago.

ü      Held Neighborhood Yard Sales as a community fundraiser.

ü      Held annual holiday parties recognizing neighborhood diversity and cultural holiday traditions.

ü      Charity and Volunteer Activities:

ü      Made contributions to numerous organizations, including Union Rescue Mission, His Sheltering Arms, LA Times Youth Camp, Altzheimers Association, Heart Association, Westside Jewish Community Center Fund, and numerous others.

ü      Made contributions to and volunteered at Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies and Crescent Heights Elementary Street.

ü      Sent neighborhood youngsters to summer camp.

ü      Held appreciation receptions/luncheons for Wilshire Division Police Officers.  Also volunteered at LAPD open houses and Halloween parties, etc.

ü      Served as volunteers at Los Angeles Marathon.

ü      Encouraged neighborhood pride—maintaining homes in beautiful condition, watching out for neighbors, “sunshine” activities to welcome new neighbors and show concern for neighbors who are ill or bereaved.