Dear Friends of Walker’s Cafe,
The developer’s plans for Walker’s Cafe are being reviewed by the Planning Department.
Here’s why Walker’s Cafe is in danger — and what the Council and the community can do to help.
THE CONTEXT:
Walker’s Cafe was abruptly shuttered by its previous absentee owners in October 2021. In summer 2022, it became an official LA landmark thanks to a major grassroots campaign with 3,000+ supporters.
But months before the landmark designation was finalized, it had been bought off-market for just $650,000 by Prospect Group, a property developer based in Burbank.
Almost two years later, Prospect Group unveiled their plans for a large mansion + ADU right behind the shuttered cafe.
WHY WE’RE WORRIED
1. Prospect Group hasn’t been honest with the community. For years now, they’ve been pushing interested operators away. Watch this powerful testimony from Damian Sullivan at the March 8th subcommittee meeting:
2. Walker’s Cafe is being completely boxed in by the proposed development. Look at the plans here to see how little space is left for the cafe.
3. Prospect Group’s plans to sell the house put the cafe’s future at risk.
Prospect Group said they plan to sell the house in the back. This raises questions that still haven’t been answered: Will the owner of the house own Walker's too? Will the lot be subdivided? Who will be the landlord of the cafe?
Given their track record, we’re concerned that Prospect Group may actually be trying to get permits for a large oceanside house so they can flip the lot for a big profit while Walker’s stays shuttered.
So what can we do?
1. Ask the Planning Department for a formal guarantee that the cafe will be revived (“Q condition”).
The City’s Planning Department can set a so-called “Q condition” stipulating that a family-friendly restaurant/coffee shop must remain operational onsite. This would guarantee that, regardless of any other plans for the site, the community will continue to have access to this historic ocean-view eatery.
2. Ask the Planning Department for a smaller development in the back that gives Walker’s room to breathe.
SHOW UP AT THE COASTAL SAN PEDRO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETING ON 3/17, 6:30 PM to voice your support for this path. This is how we can protect Walker’s Cafe for the future.
Can’t make it? You can EMAIL THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY HERE instead.
