Caruso Holds Impromptu Town Hall Meeting at Farmer’s Market

By FRANCES SHARPE  |  Editor-in-Chief

Developer Rick Caruso surprised residents by spending about half an hour talking to people about Caruso Affiliated’s proposed Palisades Village project while at the Palisades Farmer’s Market on Sunday, Oct. 25.

Many passersby who noticed the developer in their midst stopped to shake his hand and tell him how eager they are for the project to get started.

Michael Lyle, a resident for nearly 20 years, told Caruso the Palisades commercial area had been “dead” for too long. “You go out at 7 p.m. and there’s nothing,” he said.

Of the proposed project, Lyle added, “I’m for it. I’m just glad you’re doing it.”

Many other farmer’s market shoppers echoed the sentiment.

Caruso told the crowd of more than a dozen who had gathered around him that his firm has received thousands of comments from residents, the vast majority of them in support of the project.

Caruso Affiliated’s Palisades Village encompasses a 3.17 acre property, including the storefronts on the south side of Swarthmore between Sunset and Monument, 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.

Curiosity about the proposed Palisades Village seems to have reached a fevered pitch, and the number of questions directed at the developer at the farmer’s market was representative of the community’s interest.

One passerby asked one of the questions that hundreds of residents have also posed to the Palisadian-Post: “Will there be mom-and-pop shops as opposed to chain stores?”

Caruso responded, reiterating what he has said at several community meetings and in interviews with the Post: “We’re looking for ‘unique’ retailers and restaurants as opposed to chains.”

In addition to bringing in new unique shops, Caruso revealed, “We want to bring back Mayberry and Mayberry wants to come back.”

The Swarthmore Avenue comfort food café, which had been serving the community since 2008, closed its doors on Feb. 14 to the disappointment of many residents. Many would welcome back the local favorite.

“Bentons and Maison Giraud would like to stay as well,” he added.

While the majority of residents have rallied behind the project, a few Palisadians have expressed some concerns about certain aspects.

Ted Weitz, a resident who lives nearby the proposed development, said he’s worried about increased traffic in the Alphabet Streets as well as a few other things.

Caruso said he met personally with Weitz last week to discuss his concerns and stopped again to chat with him at the farmer’s market.

The developer told the group of people at the farmer’s market that a traffic study by independent consultants shows that the Palisades Village project will have no traffic impact. The report has been filed with the city, which should make it available to the public shortly.

“The Mobil gas station has the biggest impact on traffic in this area. Getting rid of the gas station actually decreases traffic,” Caruso told the crowd. “The traffic study says our discreet project won’t increase traffic.”

One woman piped up, wondering if making Swarthmore a one-way street (Caruso has proposed making Swarthmore one way from the alleyway to Monument Street) will feed traffic into the already-crowded 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 in the neighborhood,” he said.

Caruso encouraged residents to check out the plans for the project to see all the details.

“They’re all available on our website (www.palisadesvillageca.com),” he said.

Caruso reiterated what he has been telling the Palisades community all along: “This is a community-driven project. We think we’ve created a project that the community will like based on what they’ve told us, but we are open to suggestions and can make changes if the community wants us to.”

One woman asked about variances from the Pacific Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhoods Specific Plan and suggested Caruso should “stick to the plan.”

Caruso pointed to a few changes his team has requested, including an increase of 4 feet in height in order to vary roof levels as an architectural element and the size of the proposed Bay Theater marquee.

He reminded people that the Specific Plan actually allows him to build more than what he is proposing to build.

“If we stick with the Specific Plan, that means we can build twice as much,” Caruso explained.

In the Aug. 6 issue of the Post, Caruso said that based on the current Specific Plan, “We could build about 275,000 square feet, but we are building less than half of that.”

One resident asked about zoning changes and Caruso responded, saying, “The city asked us to do a sub-zone that reduces the amount we can build.”

The developer continued, saying the city didn’t want to be hit with variances for each building in the project and asked Caruso Affiliated to create a sub-zone or “Sub-Area” within the Specific Plan.

In its Aug. 6 issue, the Post broke the news that the “North Swarthmore Sub-Area” is proposed as part of Caruso Affiliated’s plans submitted to the city.

As some residents peppered Caruso with suggestions for restaurants, others praised the developer for revitalizing the Palisades.

“The vast majority of people here are for it,” said Heinz Niederhoff, a 40-year resident. “There are always positives and negatives with any project. With this project, the positives far outweigh the negatives. I look at the overall project as a tremendous blessing.”

After the lively interaction with residents, Caruso said that Caruso Affiliated will begin hosting a booth at the Palisades Farmer’s Market on a regular basis.

“I think it’s important to give the community factual information and to answer their questions,” said Caruso, who is also planning a series of upcoming meetings to solicit community input.

Caruso will be speaking to the Village Project Land Use Committee, a sub-committee of the Pacific Palisades Community Council on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Palisades Charter High School large gym. The community is invited.

Caruso Affiliated representatives will also be attending the Nov. 5 Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast at Gladstones.