WEST LA: It's just a wee construction site, but the foundation and underground parking levels are seriously rising at Santa Monica Plaza, the residential project going up on Federal Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. This is a mini-tower with 60 units of housing and retail at the bottom; it replaces the former second-hand store of the National Council of Jewish Women. [Curbed Staff]

SANTA MONICA: Help out this reader with his query. Via the InBox: "Have you any news on the Sears at 4th and Colorado in Santa Monica? Demo work began last week on the auto service building and it appears that only the exterior walls are all that’s left of the building. I had heard a while back that the site was earmarked for the terminus of the Expo light rail line but I imagine that the Santa Monica extension is too far off to warrant construction of the new station now." [Curbed InBox]

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Yesterday Deadline Hollywood editor-in-chief Nikki Finke wrote that in mid-January this year The Hollywood Reporter made her "a very lucrative financial offer" to become their editor-in-chief. Today she posts the details, and besides a $450,000 annual salary and more than half a million a year in television deals, she says the trade offered her a $1 million house in Malibu, which they told her she could keep "whether you stay 5 minutes or 5 years." She explains that she had previously told them she wanted to buy a Malibu condo with an ocean view "some day." Finke posted the offer in response to The Hollywood Reporter's denial that they'd offered her the job. And in case you're looking to make a competitive offer to bring Finke to your publication, there are currently about half a dozen million dollar-ish properties in Malibu listed on Redfin.
· Here's The Hollywood Reporter Offer To Me [Deadline Hollywood, via LA Observed]

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The Pasadena Weekly tells the story of a battle between Caltrans and Don Jones, who rents a home from Caltrans in Pasadena. It all comes down to a legal dispute between Jones and Caltrans. According to the Weekly, Jones and his family live in one of the Caltrans-owned 500 homes along the 710 corridor, but the state agency has been trying to evict him for years--and Jones believes that he's being retaliated against. Caltrans won't comment on the suit, so all we get is Jones' side. Via the Weekly: "Jones, who had always hoped to buy the home that he and his family live in, believes the agency is really trying to oust him because of his attempts to stop the 2008 eviction of a friend, his well-known advocacy for other renters, his organizing efforts to stop plans to bulldoze a path for the proposed 4.5-mile freeway extension and his opposition to boring twin-barrel tunnels." Via PW
· The man who knew - and said - too much [Pasadena Weekly]

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On a weary "watching the clock" Friday afternoon, here's a mid-century (and a restoration) to dissect and critique. Originally listed for sale last November for $1.85 million, this Glendale home has undergone some small shaves and dropped to $1.75 million early this month. The official web site has the big 'ol grand tour, while via the listing agent's site, the info: "Architect C. William Abbott built this classic mid-century home for Dr. and Mrs. Abbott. The home has undergone a two year restoration and remodel to meet modern needs with a soft, understated and elegant touch. Situated atop the hills of and offering unparalleled views of Glendale and Downtown Los Angeles."
· 1859 DEERMONT Rd [redfin]

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We know she's an environmentalist, but now Julia Louis-Dreyfus is extolling the virtues of public transit on her CBS sitcom, The New Adventures of Old Christine. According to The Source, a recent episode featured Christine unable to navigate her way from the pretend WeHo station to downtown (Metro has plans to eventually build a subway line through WeHo, but not until JLD is starring in The New Adventure of Really Old Christine). Noteworthy is the ridiculous LA subway map where the city is teeming with parks, rivers, and train lines.

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The long-suffering, under-construction Barn Lofts at 940 E. 2nd Street is now in receivership, which basically means that the bank asked a neutral third party to take control of the project and babysit it while everything else gets worked out. In this case, the receiver's goal is "to preserve the collateral of the loan and get the project finished," says John Waters, chief operating officer at Douglas Wilson Companies, the San Diego-based receiver. Waters says construction on the Arts District buildings, which saw work stop earlier this year amid a bank failure, should resume in 30-45 days. Developer Borman Group still owns the 39-unit building for now, but the bank is in control. According to Waters, a bulk sale (hullo, auction!) is just one of the many possibilities for the project when it's finally completed.
· Douglas Wilson Companies Named Receiver on 39-unit Barn Lofts Condo Project in Los Angeles [PR Log]
· Amid Bank Shuffle, Work Stop at Barn Lofts [Curbed LA]

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We think those kitchen cabinet doors might be specially formulated to inspire people to bake cookies from scratch--and that's just the start of the whimsy found here in this three bedroom, two bathroom house in West LA. Sure, some people will want to paint it all over, but there's someone out there who will want to negotiate the chateau headboard into the purchase. The kitchen is updated with double ovens, and there's a breakfast nook, dining room, fireplace, and copper plumbing. The house is also right on Overland. It was listed at $759,000 in February and is now asking $725,000.
· 2372 OVERLAND Ave [Redfin]

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Recently approved by the planning commission, the Bundy Village medical plaza is waiting to get a hearing before the Planning and Land Committee. In the meantime, developer Stonebridge is still trying to win over those who oppose the project and fear a traffic tsunami. This latest flyer has been sent to residents--it describes Bundy Village and Medical Park as "a state of the art medical facility to meet your needs, in your community... with amenities that include senior housing facilities alongside health and wellness oriented spaces, such as a health food store or restaurant." There's also more description of changes to Bundy and Olympic that Stonebridge has planned; according to the pamphlet, the senior housing will be alongside "newly landscaped, tree-lined paths" and "nearly 40% of the site is dedicated to open and green space."
· Bundy Village [Official Site]
· Bundy Village Approved by Planning Commission [Curbed LA]

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While it'll be heard again before the council in a week and half, phase two of the controversial Playa Vista project, which'll add 2,600 homes, office buildings, retail, and green space was tentatively approved by the City Council today by a vote of 12-2. Notably, City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who was tarred and feathered by angry Playa Vista homeowners after he requested changes to the project, voted against the development. The only City Councilman who asked a question about the project was Councilman Paul Koretz, who worried about animals being run over cars, and wanted to know whether there was an adequate wildlife corridor. In the end, Koretz also voted "no." Meanwhile, a second reading of the proposed plan will take place a week from this Tuesday.
· Playa Vista Phase 2 archives [Curbed LA]

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If you're dreaming of a cottage by the sea, take in this Catalina Island home that just hit the market. The 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival was designed by Elmer Grey, architect of the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Pasadena Playhouse, who also lived for a time on the island. According to its listing, the 4,000-square-foot home is "just a short walk to oceanfront shops, hotels, and the famed Casino...and features 7 bedrooms, two of which are suites, five bathrooms, butler's pantry, formal dining room, office, hardwood floors, an outdoor loggia...and a commanding bird's eye view of the town and Avalon harbor." Asking price is $4.9 million.---Pauline O'Connor
· 103 Maiden Lane, Avalon CA [MLS]

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Following a look at the lobby of the downtown El Dorado, that restored building at 4th and Spring Streets in the Old Bank District that's headed to auction on April 25th, here's a walk-through of two model units.

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