Subject:  Timeline Hollywoodland Houses and its adjacent Gifted Park Land

From:      C. M. O’Brien, HGP Historian

5/24/2015

1923   Hollywoodland hillside development began, Subdivision tract maps approved and recorded land records:  tract 6450, 4/1923, 8/1923, 11,1923,2/1924, 3,1924, 9,1924;Tracts 9076, 7/1930; 9367 8/1926 tract 10781,1/1934*

* separated some of the open space of 6450

Each subdivided lot had 50 year deed restrictions and design review project approval

Source:   tract maps, LA Times Articles 6/24/1923

1933   Sherman Company took control over development

Source:  QCD,12557, 12469

1939   The Don Lee Broadcasting Company located on the top of Mt. Lee Drive was given an easement to access to site, QCD:  17203, (1939)

1940  Hollywoodland Developers granted a permanent egress and ingress easement from Beachwood Drive to allow Eben Coe to use the roadway to the Hollywoodland Stables business.

Source:  Right of way easement , 17784

1942   The Hollywoodland Improvement Association, aka Hollywoodland Homeowners Association was established

Source:  Canyon Cryer publication, 12/8/1960

1944  Sherman Company donated 444 acres of the Hollywoodland Gifted Park Land to the City of Los Angeles.  This land surrounded all three sides of the Hollywoodland residential community, ending from the west at the Lake Hollywood Estates and Lake Hollywood Reservoir, to the north at the  Hollywood (land) sign, and to the east at CanyonDrive to brush canyon and the Quarry.  The established entrance into the park land was through Canyon Drive.

Source:  Rec and Parks Commission logs 12/18/1944, page 193, hearing logs, 1/29/1945, item 234

QCD, 22071,20497;  City Ordinance: 90638

1946  Rec and Parks Commission rules Hollywoodland Park Land dangerous fire area and closed to public access.  Source:  Commission minutes 5/17/1946

 

1949   ZA hearing applicant requests a zone change to multifamily use.  Sherman CO. request denial due to inadequate infra structure.  Source:  LA City ZA docs, Sherman Library

1960  Sherman Company sold most of their land interests and issued a quit claim deed granting easement rights and jurisdiction for administering the deed restrictions to the Hollywoodland Improvement Association (aka Hollywoodland Homeowners)

Source:  QCD 3003

1962   Hollywoodland granite entrance gates were designated cultural landmarks # 20

1963  March 15 new tract was subdivided and recorded at the end of Beachwood,north of Linforth and east to Hollyridge.  The end of Hollyridge connected into Beachwood as part of the new housing Tract 25663

Source:  Tract maps, TR-0700-022

1973   Deed restrictions lapsed

1982, Hollywoodland Improvement aka Homeowners, sold an easement use based on Sherman  document #3003

1992   Hollywoodland Specific Plan , 168,121,was adopted regulating new homes and room additions. Ranch parcel is included in development protection.

1992   Hollywoodland public stairs and walls granted  cultural heritage landmark #535

2001  Report by General manager of R&P about its obligations to Hollywoodland

2002 Easement given from Hollyridge Drive property owner to Rec and Parks for the propose of  accessing the park, fire road and Canyon Drive ( the original and only authorized access into HGPL.  Source:  Rec and Parks Commission report, 5/1/2002

2002  Illegal, unauthorized  20 space parking lot and hiking trail developed under the advisement and funding of Councilman LaBonge, source:  docs from Rec and Parks Commission  no public records exist.

2011  Illegal , unauthorized grading and addition of large boulders to create viewing platforms developed under the advisement and funding of Councilman LaBonge.  No records exist. Photo documentation from neighbors verify, google maps verify.

2014  January Councilman LaBonge request that access to Griffith Park be closed for 180 days (It even mentions there could be problems even after the ppds and it’s one of the only places in writing that refers to the “22 car parking lot at the end of the street)

2014  January, LaBonge request for a detailed assessment of traffic conditions.

2014   February letter from LAFD saying that there’s a “real public safety problem related to traffic on Beachwood Drive.”

2014  Dec 16th Council motion for all of the closures of all of Hollywoodland

2015  March 24  Sunset Stables( Ranch)  files lawsuit for violating their ingress/egress easement

 

2015  July Homeowners on Beachwood Drive  United (HBDU) files lawsuit over environmental issues relating to lack of environmental review for the dead end Beachwood gate. *  added after doc issued