Caruso Presents Plans for Palisades Village Project

By FRANCES SHARPE | Editor-in-Chief

More than 400 Palisadians packed the big gym at Palisades Charter High School on Thursday, Oct. 29 for a chance to learn more about developer Rick Caruso’s highly anticipated Palisades Village project.
The Pacific Palisades Community Council’s (PPCC) Village Project Land Use Committee (VPLUC) hosted what VPLUC Chair David Kaplan called an “information-gathering meeting” where committee members and residents in attendance were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments. VPLUC will be preparing a report for the PPCC board.
The meeting is one of several opportunities Palisades residents and local organizations will have in the coming months to meet with Caruso to provide input, according to the developer.

“We want to answer all your questions and address your concerns, wishes and wants and tailor this community-driven project,” said Caruso, who gave a 15-minute presentation about the current status of the project and then answered dozens of questions from the committee and residents for nearly two hours.
The most-asked questions revolved around potential traffic (no significant impact, according to an independent study), parking (more parking will be provided than the city requires) and the overall size of the project (Caruso is building less than half of what is allowed by the Pacific Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhoods Specific Plan), along with a healthy dose of kudos for revitalizing the business community.
During his presentation, Caruso recapped how from day one, he and his team at Caruso Affiliated have been soliciting input from the community to drive this project.
Caruso Affiliated’s Palisades Village encompasses a 3.17 acre property, including the storefronts on the south side of Swarthmore Avenue between Sunset Boulevard and Monument Street, the parking lot behind those buildings, most of the storefronts on the north side of Swarthmore and a number of storefronts on Sunset between Swarthmore and Monument.
Not long after closing escrow on the property in late 2013, Caruso told the Palisadian-Post in January 2014 his plan was to simply spruce up the existing buildings on Swarthmore and Sunset with a facelift.
However, after listening to suggestions at a meeting in February 2014 with more than 500 residents, 50-plus additional community events and more than 1,000 emails and comments on social media, the developer revised that plan to provide what the community was asking for: a movie theater, a specialty market, a community room, more parking and a green space.
Caruso unveiled his revised plans at a Dec. 4, 2014 meeting with more than 700 residents, who reacted to the presentation with applause and cheers.

Recently, he submitted those plans to the City of Los Angeles to begin the entitlement process.
At last week’s VPLUC meeting, Caruso detailed those plans (see “Caruso’s Palisades Village Project Highlights” box), which are available for viewing at PalisadesVillageCA.com.
The developer also talked about a proposed new Sub-Area of the Specific Plan.
“Some people have asked, ‘Why not use the existing Specific Plan?’” Caruso told the audience, adding that the city suggested creating a Sub-Area of the Specific Plan.
According to the developer, the proposed Sub-Area requires a reduction in the square footage allowed to be built on the property and allows for certain variances, including an increase of about 5 feet in height to vary roof levels as an architectural element as well as an increase in allowable signage height for the proposed Bay Theater marquee.
“We think [the Bay Theater marquee] is a wonderful piece of history that will bring charm back to the community,” Caruso said, adding that reductions to its size have already been made based on community input.
The Sub-Area would also allow for streetscape features, such as outdoor dining.
After Caruso finished his presentation, he opened the floor to questions. Many of the questions and comments echoed those at an impromptu gathering at the Palisades Farmer’s Market on Sunday, Oct. 25, which the Post covered in its Oct. 29 issue.
For example, some residents asked if making Swarthmore a one-way street (Caruso has proposed making Swarthmore one-way from the alleyway to Monument Street) would drive traffic into the Alphabet Streets.
Caruso clarified that the proposed plan will actually direct traffic on Swarthmore to make a right turn on Monument, effectively sending cars away from the Alphabet Streets neighborhood.
“It should help alleviate traffic,” he told the audience, adding that it will also make the street safer and more walkable.
The developer said his firm will be working with LADOT on a variety of measures to ensure drivers follow the proposed traffic pattern and to increase pedestrian safety, including a possible safe zone in the middle of Swarthmore and bumpouts.
To other questions about traffic, Caruso pointed to an independent traffic study that shows the project will have “zero” traffic impact. The study has been filed with the city and should be made available to the public shortly.
“We’ll post it on our website (PalisadesVillageCA.com) as soon as it’s ready—probably in a week or two,” Caruso said.
Nicole Howard, a past President of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, had a unique take on the subject of traffic.
“The real problem with traffic is no traffic,” said Howard, referring to the lack of business traffic that has plagued Swarthmore for years and that prompted the closure of several beloved businesses, including Village Books.
“We would welcome shoppers back to the 90272,” she added.
Current Chamber President Adam Glazer stepped up to the microphone warning Palisadians who have concerns about the project that they need to think about the long-term future of the community. He cautioned that if things don’t change in the Village commercial district, “We won’t have any [business] community.”
Former Mort’s Deli owner Bobbie Farberow said some of the concerns Caruso is hearing from the community are ones sheheard decades ago.
“Peter Graves used to say, ‘Why can’t we sit outside and have a drink like in Europe?’” Farberow said.
Some of the concerns expressed at the meeting include the project’s size—54 storefronts in 116,000 square feet.
Caruso reminded the VPLUC committee and audience members that he is building less than half the 275,000 square feet that is currently allowed by the Specific Plan.
As for the number of storefronts proposed, consider that the 970 Monument building, where Palisades Hi-Tech and Sweet Rose Creamery are located, houses 22 storefronts (some of them empty) in approximately 31,000 square feet, according to Los Angeles County title records.
One VPLUC member asked if Caruso Affiliated will be doing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
The developer explained that his firm is doing a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), which is typically done when mitigation measures will be implemented that will reduce a project’s environmental impacts.
Caruso reminded the committee and residents that an environmental report has been sent to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) following the cleanup of toxic soil that was left behind by a dry cleaner previously located on Swarthmore.
The DTSC devised the cleanup plan and will do the same for the Mobil gas station, which Caruso Affiliated is acquiring.
As Caruso responded to question after question, some residents praised him for taking such an interest in the community.
Flo Elfant, a longtime resident, said, “We couldn’t be luckier. Thank you for taking the time to listen.”
Local commercial property owner Elliot Zorensky said, “Thank you for being supportive to the community. [Anyone who] has any issue with the project should go talk to you.”
To make that possible, Caruso said he plans to hold a number of community meetings in the coming months and his firm will begin hosting a booth at the Palisades Farmer’s Market on Sundays.
“Stop by and see us,” Caruso said.