The Neighborhood News Online

A group of Mid-City residents living atop the hill on 16th Place above Venice and San Vicente, woke up one morning to once again enjoy their amazing view of the Hollywood Hills.  What they found instead was The Wall.

Local residents using the Venice link to San Vicente also realized the wonderful view they took for granted, was now replaced by….The Wall.

The Wall is the south side of the Lowe’s store in the Midtown Crossing shopping center and runs along Venice as it merges with San Vicente.  A long-awaited project by CIM Group Inc. (an urban development investment organization) it will fill the void left by the demolition of the former Sears building on Pico Boulevard. Although the community had been looking forward to this new development, many were shocked when they drove by the site. It wasn’t quite what they expected.

Estella Holeman said her purchase of a 16th Place home was strongly influenced by the property’s 180-degree view of Los Angeles. She is a member of the 16th Place Neighborhood Association who have taken on the task of finding out why the wall had been allowed to change the stunning view they once enjoyed, clearly violating the instructions in the original controlling document for the project. Holeman said all the neighbors were blindsided when the tilt-up wall was assembled on a June morning.

This past Tuesday, approximately 10:30 am, a young woman, pushing a baby in a stroller, was robbed on Venice and Harvard.  The lone assailant got out of a car, smiled and greeted the woman, and then grabbed her necklace from behind after she passed him.  She bit his hand but did not further confront him as she was more concerned with the child.  The suspect ran back to the car and sped off.  Likely, he had a driver.

The suspect is described as a young black male, 18 years old, 5' 8" 130 lbs, wearing a white t-shirt, dark gray shorts, and black tennis shoes.  According to the LAPD, this young man matches the description of the suspect of two additional robberies the day prior (Monday), also apparently on Harvard.  A number of months ago, you may recall suspects matching this description robbing people at bus stops along Pico east of us in broad daylight.

If you see anyone acting suspicious and matching that description, please call 911.  Please also call Senior Lead Officer Muy on his cell at 213-793-0787.