On Monday, the Gower Advisory Committee met on the site of the future Gower Villas Permanent Supportive Housing, along with the architect, Michael Maltzan (pictured at left), and his team. The purpose of our time that morning was to walk the neighborhood around the project site and get visual cues about housing, parking, streetscaping, landscaping, etc. What follows (after the jump) is a my photo journal from that walk. I want to apologize in advance for taking loads of crooked pictures. Somehow in my haste I never really lined up most of the shots
Before we go on our little walk, a quick story. When we all got back to the Hollywood Presbyterian Church after the walk to discuss what we saw and it's impact on the development, Michael Maltzan made some comments about the Hollywood Church, which is not in the immediate neighborhood, but close enough to see from our walk. I'm not quoting him perfectly, but basically, turning to me, he said, "Your church is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Hollywood and really acknowledges and participates in Hollywood." He said it much better than that. As my friend and church member Mae said, "You were architect-struck." I was indeed. Michael Maltzan is a world-class architect with amazing projects to his name literally around the world. We have the privilege of working with him on a housing project uniquely designed for the formerly homeless. On top of all that he made some very complimentary comments about my church. This is not the first time I've heard these comments about our church, but the first time from someone of his stature. We have spent a fair bit of time critiquing our church, but it's been helpful to take a hermeneutic of appreciation about it and my imagination is running wild again.
And now, come with me as we take a (virtual) walk around my neighborhood. Along the way we'll make some observations about what what we see.
The committee meets in front of the Teen Canteen. This is the site of the future Gower Villas.
Corner of Hollywood & Gower. The UGLY stripmall on this corner behind the group is for sale! Anyone?
Looking southwest across the Hollywood/Gower intersection at the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater.
Same beautiful strip mall.
The LA Free Clinic is a great service in our neighborhood.
One of the nicer buildings along the north side of Hollywood Blvd.
"One stop shopping!"
And now we've suddenly been transported to West Virginia!
Charming little Spanish style apartments, but notice the ubiquitous black fencing and how the cars take all the prime real estate that could be for people! All signs that we're definitely back in LA.
Our neighbors in the small house to the north.
Back at the Presbyterian Church (just one tiny part of it).
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