Schism in Shadowy ‘Sunset’ Group Revealed

By JOHN HARLOW | Editor-in-Chief

Merchants fearing lost trade and residents concerned that the Caruso project could overshadow the rest of The Village have been curious about what the shadowy group known as “South of Sunset” has been up to.

It is believed to have held at three non-public meetings to discuss how Village businesses and organizations prepare for the opening of Palisades Village on Sept. 22.

It is made up of Palisadians affiliated with the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, the Village Green, Caruso and the non-profits Business Improvement District (BID) and Palisades PRIDE, which both raise money to protect the area from trash and eyesores.

But proposals are being kept out of the public eye until, as John Padden, a Realtor, told the Palisadian-Post, “We are ready to show what we think.”

Clues were shared in tense exchanges at the Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting on Thursday, April 26.
The role of the group was raised by PPCC Representative At-Large Lou Kamer, who called it South of Sunset and asked what was going on.

There were early hopes that cash would be available to upgrade stores and sightlines on Sunset opposite the Caruso development and boost local organizations.

Caruso has, however, offered engineering and design expertise.

One ambitious proposal would include significantly upgrading business fronts along Sunset to “harmonize” more closely with the mid-century look of Caruso.

The cultural influence is already being felt: At the last BID meeting, there was a scheduled item to ensure its holiday 2018 lights “coincide with and artistically match” any Caruso displays.

A less ambitious proposal is to “spiff up” nearby streets, repaint road signs and repair curbs.

A third, possibly overlapping, option is to “re-green” this area with new trees and plantings.

PRIDE President Bruce Schwartz has already been replanting Sunset medians with single-handed determination.

It was originally hoped that “something” would be completed around the time Caruso opens, to boost confidence in businesses concerned they will lose out to Caruso. But it remains uncertain whether South of Sunset will even reveal any renderings of change before that.

Sue Kohl, who represents the neighboring Alphabet Streets, said that planning meetings were on schedule and she felt the process would be of great benefit to the entire town.

Marge Gold, who champions the Village Green, had attended the same meetings and offered a darker prognostication: “It will cost millions of dollars, and will not happen during my lifetime,” she predicted very firmly. “Millions and millions of dollars.”

Maryam Zar, PPCC chair, said she hoped a “philosophy” had been established—a decision about how radical changes could be, between rebuilding, maybe changing the face of Sunset, or “spiffing up” The Village’s commercial district while maintaining its traditional identity.

Until South of Sunset reveals its plans, it’s unknown who might pay for this.

Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office could help find city money for trees and repairs, but anything more ambitious, warned a PPCC representative, might prove a tougher haul.

The PPCC representative added: “They are doing all this in secret, which is never healthy. We should know more.” But at least now the Palisades knows they have plans to make plans.