BEACHWOOD CANYON—A group of home and business owners operating under the name Homeowners on Beachwood Drive United (HBDU) have filed a lawsuit against the city over tourists using Beachwood Drive to access a popular view of the Hollywood Sign within Griffith Park.
John Schwartz, an individual who owns a home on Beachwood Drive, is also listed as a petitioner in the suit, which alleges the “enjoyment and safety of his home…has been severely compromised by the large numbers of people who use his street to gain access to [the sign].”
Beachwood Drive, which has no sidewalks and is only 30 feet wide at some points, is the main—and in many cases, the only—access point to more than 500 Beachwood Canyon homes, and the influx of tourists on the street has caused several safety issues, alleges the suit.
The lawsuit was filed in response to former Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge opening a new entrance to Griffith Park at the top of Beachwood Drive in January.
According to the suit, LaBonge specifically promoted the new entrance as an access point for tourists and residents to view the Hollywood Sign.
This resulted in “a steady flow of people, sometimes as many as thousands per day…creating a series of dangerous conditions for the homeowners,” according to the lawsuit.
Although parking restrictions were put in place earlier this year following a problematic increase in traffic on Beachwood Drive, the suit alleges that hundreds of pedestrians use the narrow street to access the sign daily, which also causes safety issues.
This suit against the city is one of many that David Ryu, newly elected representative for Council District 4 (CD4), has inherited. Others include disputes over the Hyperion Bridge redesign in Atwater Village, a proposed performance stage in Griffith Park and two proposed baseball fields, also in Griffith Park.
Additionally, a lawsuit was also filed against the city by Sunset Ranch Hollywood Stables, Inc. regarding the city’s contruction of a gate on the ranch’s property to discourage visitors from using No. Beachwood Drive to take photos of the Hollywood Sign, and two other possible lawsuits are being considered in reference to the Academy Museum project on Wilshire Boulevard at Fairfax Avenue and the city’s Mobility Plan, which envisions the removal of lanes of some major streets in the area, as well as throughout the city, for to make way for bicycle lanes and more sidewalks.
Sarah Dusseault, Ryu’s chief of staff said that the councilmember hopes to be more proactive going forward and that he hopes by reaching out to neighborhoods “early and often” for their opinions, he can prevent future lawsuits.
“Communities and neighborhoods felt like they weren’t being heard. When that process breaks down, that’s when litigation happens,” Dusseault said.
According to Dusseault, the council office is currently talking with advocates concerned about the Academy Museum project, which has not yet reached the point of litigation despite threats from groups who oppose the project.
“When a community member speaks, we need to listen,” she said. “They live in the community, they’re the ones experiencing it.”
According to a spokesperson with the City Attorney’s office, there have been 10 land-use lawsuits filed against CD4 over the last few years and five filed in the last six months.
Currently, there are 141 active land-use lawsuits filed against the city, according to Rob Wilcox, spokesperson for the City Attorney.
Of those, Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell’s District 14, has the most, with 14 lawsuits pending.
