Next Landmarking Hearing TOMORROW, 8/16

...and Some Other Updates

Dear friends of Walker’s Cafe,

Following a unanimous 'yes' vote from the Cultural Heritage Commission at the first two hearings in January and March, Walker's Cafe has been scheduled for its PLUM (Planning and Land Use Management) committee hearing THIS TUESDAY, AUGUST 16TH at 2 pm. Come express your support! The agenda is available online here. Walker's is agenda item #7. 

The audio for this meeting is broadcast live on the internet at https://clerk.lacity.org/calendar.
The live audio can also be heard at: (213) 621-CITY (Metro), (818) 904-9450 (Valley), (310) 471-CITY (Westside) and (310) 547-CITY (San Pedro Area). If the live audio is unavailable via one of these channels, members of the public should try one of the other channels.

Here's how to give public comment:
Members of the public who would like to offer public comment on the items listed on the agenda should call 1 669 254 5252 and use Meeting ID No. 161 644 6631 and then press #. Press # again when prompted for participant ID. Once admitted into the meeting, press *9 to request to speak.

If you are unable to attend the hearing but would like to express your support, you can do so in writing at https://cityclerk.lacity.org/publiccomment/. Mention the Council File Number: 22-0362. 

We're so excited this meeting has been scheduled. This is the last important hurdle to clear. Please phone in on Tuesday afternoon if you have a spare moment and share how much Walker's means to you and the Harbor area.
 
What's going on at Walker's right now?
In mid-July, we started hearing some concerned reports from community members who were witnessing ongoing construction at Walker's Cafe. A complaint was filed, and an inspector came out to investigate. According to the LADBS website, he found work being done without permits, and the investigation is ongoing. It became apparent the owners had also failed to obtain permits from the Air Quality Management District. This is worrying too, because it potentially puts the community at risk. When hazardous substances that can be found in older buildings are disturbed, this can constitute a major public health hazard.  

It's against the law for any property owner to do major work without getting permits, but in the case of Walker's Cafe, the pending landmark designation means that no permits can even be obtained without the approval of the city's Office of Historic Resources (OHR). When the new owners purchased Walker's Cafe earlier this year and pledged to bring it back to its glory, we were all very excited. That's what everyone wants to see happen—but it has to be done the right way, by following the city's rules. We hope this is just a misunderstanding, and that moving forward the owners will be much more careful to abide by the restrictions that protect landmarks and potential landmarks.

We all want things to go well, so that Walker's Cafe can reopen soon and again be a living treasure for the San Pedro community. Until then, please let's all keep our eyes on this special place.

We are happy to see that the owners obtained several permits for repair work in early August: Permit and Inspection Report (lacity.org)

In The Press
The Daily Breeze and Random Lengths News both covered the community concern surrounding the recent unpermitted construction at the cafe. 

But Most Importantly...
Dial into the PLUM hearing tomorrow and help Walker's get the historic designation we've been working toward. We're so close to getting landmark protection for this one-of-a-kind place!