Council: Ground Floor Means Retail

After long debate on Wednesday night, the Westwood Neighborhood Council voted 8 to 7 in favor of notifying a military recruiting center on Broxton Avenue that as a non-retail unit situated in designated retail space, its presence violates the village's rules. Dissenting council members wondered why this office should be singled out among other violators, and they expressed concern that doing so might paint Westwood as anti-military.

According to the Westwood Village Specific Plan, 80 percent of the ground floor of all buildings within a specified area must be reserved for "retail, restaurant, or other food use."

The Marine Corps Officer Selection Office, located at 1069 Broxton Ave., falls into none of those permitted usage categories. As a result of Wednesday night's vote, the council will be sending memorandums to the property owner, to City of Los Angeles Officials, and to Congressman Henry Waxman requesting that the Marine Corps Officer Selection Office file a statement acknowledging its violation of city plans. Such a letter is required by law whenever a federal group knowingly acts against local legislature. 

Council Vice President Toni Gray was among those council members opposed to sending the memos.

"There are a number of people who are violating this rule in the village," she said, adding that singling out the Marine office seems like harassment. She noted the office's pleasant storefront, in contrast to the street's many boarded-up vacancies available for lease.

"It's better than having another storefront that's shuttered," said councilmember Thomas Schneider.

Westwood Community Council Chair Steve Sann said that the Office nevertheless must answer for its violation, and he explained the benefits of retail-only ground floors: "Retailers want to be around eachother to create that pedestrian experience."

He pointed out that the University of Southern California has a similar military office located on campus instead of embedded in the surrounding retail community.

"It's about not having this happen in the future," said councilmember Lisa Chapman.

But council member George Torbay said he foresees the memos being "twisted" to give the appearance that Westwood is inhospitable to members of the military, and Gray said the action "sends a horrible message to the village."

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