Polly Ward

In regard to development of the corner of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, Polly Ward, claiming she represents homeowners in the area, is protesting the issuance of liquor licenses to three restaurants planned for the shopping center. I am a homeowner just a few blocks away. I believe the developer, Ira Smedra, is doing us a favor by bringing three upscale restaurants, with liquor licenses, to the area. I would like to go on record as a homeowner who approves of this kind of growth and welcomes the presence of new businesses in my neighborhood, especially food establishments that have proven successful in other parts of the city, as Kaktus, the Daily Grill and Louise's Trattoria have.

In the battle of giants over the location of a subway station in Studio City, the homeowners in the area appear to be the losers. We are the people who most clearly understand the implications of the decisions being made in our behalf, yet our voices go unrecognized, or when heard, are misunderstood. A recent Times column said, "North Hollywood residents supporting MCA, organized by company executive Christine Hanson, were in the audience. Some of them testified for MCA." I testified for the Studio City Residents Assn.

In reply to Tony Lucente's letter regarding the development project at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura Boulevard, Mr. Lucente's arguments to me are quite flawed. First of all, I did not say that the developer was "doing us a favor by bringing more restaurants to the area." I said upscale restaurants, something the Valley has notably few of. Second, it isn't only "liquor-serving restaurants" that bring more traffic to an area; it's any new commercial establishment. Why not just leave that big gaping hole at the corner of Ventura and Laurel Canyon?

In reply to Tony Lucente's letter regarding the development project at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura Boulevard, Mr. Lucente's arguments to me are quite flawed. First of all, I did not say that the developer was "doing us a favor by bringing more restaurants to the area." I said upscale restaurants, something the Valley has notably few of. Second, it isn't only "liquor-serving restaurants" that bring more traffic to an area; it's any new commercial establishment. Why not just leave that big gaping hole at the corner of Ventura and Laurel Canyon?

Occasionally, people come out from "under their rocks" and say some pretty amazing things. Take Betty Berzon's letter regarding Polly Ward's opposition to three proposed liquor licenses for the mini-mall development at Laurel Canyon and Ventura boulevards in Studio City. Surely, Berzon has been under her rock for too long as evidenced by her statement that Ward only claims to represent homeowners in the area as their "self-anointed" spokesperson for the Studio City community. On the contrary, any informed Studio City resident knows that Polly Ward is the four-term current president of the Studio City Residents Assn.

In the recent controversy over the Fairway Building in Studio City I have been unfairly painted with the same brush as the developer of that building. On Aug. 24, The Times quoted Polly Ward, president of Studio City Residents Assn., saying a building about to be constructed at Ventura Boulevard and Blue Canyon Avenue, on land I partially own, would be similar to the Fairway Building. This is completely false. Our development consists of two buildings, not one contrived as two. Measured at the center, the front building rises 44 feet above the curb.

In the battle of giants over the location of a subway station in Studio City, the homeowners in the area appear to be the losers. We are the people who most clearly understand the implications of the decisions being made in our behalf, yet our voices go unrecognized, or when heard, are misunderstood. A recent Times column said, "North Hollywood residents supporting MCA, organized by company executive Christine Hanson, were in the audience. Some of them testified for MCA." I testified for the Studio City Residents Assn.

Studio City Place, a $17.5-million, two-level enclosed retail shopping mall on Ventura Boulevard between Tujunga and Vineland avenues in Studio City, is under construction. Scheduled for a fall 1988 opening, the center is reportedly 70% pre-leased. Developer Orrin Ericson, in a partnership venture of Ericson/Genova Associates and Weyerhaeuser Venture Co.

Studio City residents upset over a rubbish truck crash last year that killed a 64-year-old motorist were told Tuesday night that a five-hour rescue effort did not contribute to the driver's death. "The individual was probably dead when we got at the scene," Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Alan Schroeder told members of the Studio City Residents Assn. Studio City resident Jack Lerner died Nov.

Occasionally, people come out from "under their rocks" and say some pretty amazing things. Take Betty Berzon's letter regarding Polly Ward's opposition to three proposed liquor licenses for the mini-mall development at Laurel Canyon and Ventura boulevards in Studio City. Surely, Berzon has been under her rock for too long as evidenced by her statement that Ward only claims to represent homeowners in the area as their "self-anointed" spokesperson for the Studio City community. On the contrary, any informed Studio City resident knows that Polly Ward is the four-term current president of the Studio City Residents Assn.

In regard to development of the corner of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, Polly Ward, claiming she represents homeowners in the area, is protesting the issuance of liquor licenses to three restaurants planned for the shopping center. I am a homeowner just a few blocks away. I believe the developer, Ira Smedra, is doing us a favor by bringing three upscale restaurants, with liquor licenses, to the area. I would like to go on record as a homeowner who approves of this kind of growth and welcomes the presence of new businesses in my neighborhood, especially food establishments that have proven successful in other parts of the city, as Kaktus, the Daily Grill and Louise's Trattoria have.

In the recent controversy over the Fairway Building in Studio City I have been unfairly painted with the same brush as the developer of that building. On Aug. 24, The Times quoted Polly Ward, president of Studio City Residents Assn., saying a building about to be constructed at Ventura Boulevard and Blue Canyon Avenue, on land I partially own, would be similar to the Fairway Building. This is completely false. Our development consists of two buildings, not one contrived as two. Measured at the center, the front building rises 44 feet above the curb.

Studio City homeowners Tuesday night defused a growing dispute with gay merchants by disavowing a mystery flyer that urged that "homosexuals . . . and social sickness groups" be ousted from the community. Leaders of the Studio City Residents Assn. told members of the Valley Business Alliance, a homosexual group, that the flyer was attached to bogus association newsletters mailed anonymously to hundreds of residents this month.

Construction of a disputed, $15-million Studio City shopping center began Wednesday, and its developer predicted it will cause no traffic problems. Builder Herbert Piken told about 75 people at the ground breaking for his "Center at Coldwater" that the project has been reduced and redesigned to minimize its effect on neighbors. The project is being built at the southwest corner of Ventura Boulevard and Coldwater Canyon Avenue, at the site of the defunct Tail O' the Cock restaurant.