On the heels of that USC study that would turn our alleys green, a reader forwards news of a push to make a pedestrian mall out of a locked Hollywood alley. Submitted by City Council President Eric Garcetti, the motion, which'll go before the city council next Tuesday, claims the alley (running north and south from Hollywood Boulevard to Selma Avenue between Cahuenga Boulevard and Cosmo Street) is illegally gated and being used for private purposes. Garcetti asks to "initiate proceedings to establish a pedestrian mall in the alley." Hippies, walkers, and old hippies with walkers, rejoice. UPDATE: It's probably going to be less green and more walkway, but hell, let's imagine it's a very green space.
Garcetti's motion: "For years, the alley that runs north and south from Hollywood Boulevard and Selma Avenue between Cahuenga Boulevard and Cosmo Street has been illegally gated. Permits authorizing the alley closure have not been uncovered. Over the years, adjacent businesses have used the public alley for private purposes and the public has been denied access to the alley.
This alley should not become private space. Instead, this alley should be returned to
public purposes and businesses should be required to apply for a Revocable Permit for use of this public space. Under the California Streets and Highways Code (Section 11200 et seq), municipalities are authorized to close a street to vehicular traffic and to establish a pedestrian mall so that municipalities are assured that the street will be for the exclusive use of the public.
Specifically, the Pedestrian Mall Act of 1960 in the California Streets and Highways
Code provides that when the legislative body shall determine that the public interest and convenience require the establishment of a pedestrian mall and that vehicular traffic will not be unduly inconvenienced thereby, it may adopt a resolution declaring its intention to establish such pedestrian mall.
I THEREFORE MOVE that the Bureau of Engineering, with the assistance of the City
Attorney and the Planning Department, prepare a Resolution of Intention to initiate proceedings to establish a pedestrian mall in the alley running north and south from Hollywood Boulevard to Selma Avenue between Cahuenga Boulevard and Cosmo Street to ensure that this alley will consistently be available for public use."
For more stories from Curbed LA, go to la.curbed.com.
