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Dear Friend:
As many of us are concerned about the proposed development at the Woodland Hills Country Club, I want to share the latest update. I recently sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom formally requesting that he direct the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to clarify the undefined term “vacant site” in Government Code § 65912.121(j).
I’ve discussed this issue with Mayor Bass and she fully understands the issue and wishes to help. She and I are scheduling a call with the Governor to reinforce the importance of the request made in my letter. I’m very grateful for her help in making this happen.
In addition, the City Council approved my motion directing City departments to develop a definition of “vacant site” under the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022 that includes golf courses located in Very High Fire Severity Zones, unless a different definition is formally issued by HCD. This action ensures that City departments are fully engaged and working alongside my office on this issue.
A full history of my efforts and actions on this issue can be found here. As more clarity and information become available, I will continue to share updates. Also, you can contact my Planning Director Elizabeth Ene at elizabeth.ene@lacity.org or my Communications Director Jake Flynn at jake.flynn@lacity.org with any questions or concerns about this location and proposal. |
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Welcoming Cinespace to Warner Center |
Councilmember Blumenfield welcomed Mayor Karen Bass to the West Valley to celebrate the grand opening of Cinespace. For more than a century, filming and production have been part of the fabric of the West San Fernando Valley, and Blumenfield was excited to see CineSpace helping shape the next chapter of Hollywood’s story right here in our backyard.
This new studio in Warner Center has six soundstages with lots of office space, totalling over 175,000 sq ft. While the past few years have been incredibly challenging for the industry, the City is taking real, concrete steps to protect jobs in Los Angeles and ensure we remain the entertainment capital of the world. This has long been a top priority for Councilmember Blumenfield who co-sponsored the film tax credit when he was an Assemblymember, served on the California State Film commission for many years and authored multiple measures in the City to incentivize local production. |
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Update on the City Implementing SB 79 |
Last year, in an effort to address California’s severe housing shortage, the State enacted SB79, which requires Los Angeles to allow more housing within ½ mile of major transit stations, including in single-family neighborhoods. In the West Valley, that means areas around G (Orange) Line Stations, especially in Woodland Hills and Tarzana.
SB 79 will take effect on July 1, 2026, and so the City must act quickly. The law allows the City to delay effectuation until 2030 in certain areas that require careful consideration–including high fire zones, historic districts and low-income areas–but to do so the City must immediately allow some additional growth around certain stations in higher-income areas. If the City does nothing, the law will allow 6-story buildings within ¼ mile of the Tampa, Winnetka, and Reseda G Line Stations.
Councilmember Blumenfield recognizes that the State mandate means that we must accept some additional development in the Third District, like other areas of the City with transit lines. As Chair of the Council’s Planning and Land Use Committee, he plays a key role in developing the City’s local implementation plan. That plan would limit development near West Valley G Line stations to transitional building types–4 to 16 units and 2 to 4 stories–while ensuring that other areas of the City with much better transit service–especially around the B (Red) and D (Purple) Line–could be eligible for larger 5-8 story buildings. For a summary of SB 79 and the City’s options, the Planning Department has developed this storymap. The City Council’s implementation efforts can be tracked under Council File 25-1083. |
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Demobilization of the Tarzana Cabin Community |
As many of you may know, the Tarzana Cabin Community was always intended to be a temporary site and by the end of 2026, the Tarzana cabins will permanently close and the lot will be returned to Metro. Demobilization has already begun, with City crews gradually disassembling units on site.
Team Blumenfield continues to work closely with Hope the Mission and other nonprofit partners to ensure that every resident continues to have a roof over their head and access to supportive services. Many of the participants will transition directly from the cabins into permanent supportive housing. To help residents move as quickly as possible into stable and permanent housing, additional investments have also been made in resources such as rental subsidies, affordable housing opportunities, and shared-housing placements. |
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Honoring Geovanny Ragsdale–CD 3’s 2025 Woman of Impact Honoree |
Councilmember Blumenfield was proud to name Geovanny Ragsdale as Council District Three’s Woman of Impact Honoree this year. Geovanny has been the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley since March 2021 and has grown the organization from an annual income of $1.2M to just over $5.1M. Her vision and leadership have strengthened the overall mission of the organization and has inspired her team to strive for excellence. Whether it is in Spanish, English or French, Geovanny is dedicated to empowering the youth in the Valley and committed to ensuring their voices are heard. Congratulations Geovanny! |
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Appointing Kerry Morrison to the Charter Reform Commission |
Today, the City Council approved Councilmember Blumenfield's nomination of Kerry Morrison to the City's Charter Reform Commission. Morrison will bring more than four decades of advocacy and leadership to this Commission in their final month of work. The Commission will consider changes on a variety of issues from increasing the size of the City Council, to updating contracting practices, with potentially far reaching impacts on how City government operates to best serve its communities. Tasked with evaluating and updating the Charter, which is essentially LA's constitution, the commissioners will recommend changes to the City Council, which then will review their recommendations to finalize what, if any, amendments to put before the voters. |
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Celebrating 50 Years of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School |
Councilmember Blumenfield was proud to join community leaders in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, an institution that reflects how the Armenian community in Los Angeles leads by example in preserving tradition, language, and a strong connection to their homeland. Located in Winnetka, AGBU opened its doors in 1976 with just 19 students eager to grow academically and culturally, and today it has grown into a thriving campus of more than 1,000 students, supported by 145 staff and a network of over 1,700 alumni. Beyond its academic success, AGBU has also been a strong community partner, opening its doors to collaborate and support local initiatives. |
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Each month, Councilmember Blumenfield conducts Small Businesses Outreach by visiting storefronts and offices in different areas of the 3rd District. This month he visited several businesses along Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills. These visits provide Blumenfield a chance to share information about City resources and programs to folks who can take advantage of the information to help grow their business. Equally important, it provides an opportunity for him to get direct feedback and learn how his office and the City can better serve and support our local business community.
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Community Events and Resources |
This week's photo from the Los Angeles Public Library's archives is from the Valley Times Collection taken in 1965 of the new marquee of the motion picture theatre, Art Theatre, at the corner of Ventura and Topanga Canyon Boulevards. Learn more about the photo here. |
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield 200 N Spring Street, Room 465, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Unsubscribe |
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