From the 100th birthday of UCLA to Google announcing that they will be renovating and moving into the Westside Pavilion, 2019 was a busy time in the Century City-Westwood news cycle. As the year comes to a close, here is a look back on some of the top stories of 2019 in Century City and Westwood.
Google Moving Into Former Westside Pavilion
By Sam Catanzaro
January 11, 2019
Google is expanding its Westside presence as the tech giant will rent almost the entire former Westside Pavillion shopping center on Pico Boulevard.
The property will be renamed to One Westside with Google set to occupy 584,000 square feet of office space, according to property owner Hudson Pacific Properties. The redevelopment will cost around $400 million, and Google has signed a 14-year lease that will begin in 2022 upon completion of construction and build-out tenant improvements. Full article here.
Keeping Parking Money in Westwood
By Sam Catanzaro
February 25, 2019
While nobody enjoys paying for parking, for Westwood Village residents, the prospect of dishing out a few coins to feed into meters will soon be more appealing.
Under a program recently approved by the City of Los Angeles, certain neighborhoods, including Westwood Village, will be given back a portion of funds collected from parking meters. Full article here.
Suspect Arrested in Century City Active Shooter Scare
By Sam Catanzaro
March 18, 2019
Los Angeles police have arrested a suspect in connection to an active shooter and bomb threat situation that rattled Century City on Friday, March 15.
At 12:42 on Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) received multiple calls describing a “man with a gun” at Westfield Century City mall. Officers responded to the scene and evacuated the mall and began searching for a suspect. In addition, while proceeding with their search, officers were directed to a suspicious package located inside the Amazon Store. Full article here.
Westwood Comes Together to Help Homeless
By Staff Writer
May 2, 2019
On April 24, Westwood came together to provide support to individuals in the community experiencing homelessnesses.
Westwood Connect Day, took place at the Westwood Recreation Center, and included over 40 nonprofit organizations offering free services to homeless individuals in need. Resources available at the event, which was the first of its kind in Westwood, included food, haircuts, showers and clothing. Full article here.
Stevie Wonder’s Impromptu Westwood Concert
By Keldine Hull
May 14, 2019
Diners at Skylight Gardens in Westwood got the surprise of a lifetime when Stevie Wonder joined in-house performer and guitarist Nelson Cade III for an unforgettable impromptu performance. The surprise 30-minute set with the Grammy Award-winning Motown legend began with an Eric Clapton classic. Full article here.
UCLA Turns 100 Years Old
By Staff Writer
May 15, 2019
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), an integral part of Westwood’s identity will celebrate its 100th birthday this month, kicking off an entire year of centennial events.
UCLA 100 festivities begin Saturday, May 18, with Alumni Day, featuring special speakers, campus tours and programs that mark UCLA’s first 100 years. On the same day, in UCLA’s iconic Royce Hall, an all-star lineup of speakers will be featured for a special installment of the annual TedxUCLA. Immediately following the talks, the exterior of Royce Hall will become the backdrop for a dynamic light-and-sound show highlighting the people, breakthroughs and moments that defined UCLA’s first century. The display will be free and open to the public. Full article here.
Century City Restaurants Make Micheline Guide
By Kerry Slater
July 2, 2019
The inaugural Michelin Guide California is officially out, blessing California residents with the first ever statewide ranking from the prestigious guide. 657 restaurants received recommendations, 90 of which were ranked with Michelin stars. Since the early 20th century, the Michelin guide has evolved into one of the most trusted sources for travelers and foodies both near and afar. Over time, the revered guide grew to reflect different trends in dining but continued to rely on the five criteria used by inspectors for its consistent rankings. Full article here.
Purple Line Construction Interrupting Local Businesses?
By Kai McNamee
July 5, 2019
As construction on the LA Metro’s Purple Line extension continues, have some local businesses in Westwood have faced losses in revenue?
Interruptions to local businesses have been a concern for LA Metro since the beginning of Purple Line construction: LA Metro announced last month that the Business Interruption Fund (BIF) would be expanded to the Westside. Under the BIF program, small businesses located on Wilshire Boulevard would be able to apply for compensation from the $10,000,000 fund. But few small businesses in Westwood are located on Wilshire Boulevard, making very few Westside businesses eligible for compensation. Full article here.
Westwood Most Expensive Place to Rent in California
By Sam Catanzaro
October 9, 2019
For the second year in a row, Westwood is the most expensive place to rent an apartment in California and the most expensive place to rent in the United States outside of New York City.
According to a recent study from RentCafe, renters in Westwood’s 90024 ZIP code pay on average $,4944 a month, a 4.1 percent increase from last year. This makes Westwood the most fourth most expensive place to rent in the United States, behind three Manhattan ZIP codes. Full article here.
