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from page 3 Im hopeful it will create a much more peaceful environment for these residents that have had view disruption issues over the years, Yukelson said. The project Yukelson said he was most excited about working on this past year was the Gateway Project. He said he was disappointed the Commission did not finish drafting standards for the overlay zone before his term as chair ended, but he said he was hopeful the standards would be approved along with the certification of the EIR in May. Then I hope applicants will bring us some projects pretty quickly, Yukelson said. The Gateway Project is something Ive been interested in for a long time because the current situation on those properties is pretty horrendous and Id really like to see them redeveloped and made more beautiful. When asked if the past year had been busier than others, Yukelson recalled 2008 when he started out as an observer before his term on the Commission took effect. [This past year] there were a lot of projects in number, and we did complete a lot of big ticket items, but nothing compares to a few years ago when the Commission was dealing with the Hilton and 9900 [Wilshire] projects, Yukelson said. Those were huge projects and those took up a lot of time. The projects we had [this year], while there were a lot, we were very focused and able to get them done fairly quickly. We didnt have to put in as many late nights as some of the commissions have done in the past. Yukelson described the Commission as collaborative. We agreed on a lot of the major points embedded in these projects, Yukelson said. I would say for the most part we had a unanimous if not 4-1 vote on virtually everything. We were a commission that was very much in sync.

Architectural Commission considers Lexus designs

Existing Jim Falk Lexus dealership The Architectural Commission has established a subcommittee to work with the applicant on finalizing designs for the Jim Falk Lexus dealership renovation. The Commission considered the designs for the second time on March 21. The Commission first considered the project as a preview in September, before the project was approved by the Planning Commission and City Council last December. At the meeting in September, the Commission suggested modulation of the faade of the building to give the faade more depth. Due to Lexus square footage requirements and the fact the building was designed to the property line, Commission Chair Fran Cohen said increasing the modulation of the building was challenging.

2012 El Rodeo Variety Show performers included Keren Lifschitz, Maxi Liker, Danny Geiger, Sam Halfon, Alex Manavi, Elliot Katz, Nick Walker-Sullivan, Brooke Balson, Sophia Weissbuch, Reana Akhavan, Taylor Briggs, Lenna Mor, Yasmin Sobhanian, Michelle Balson, Rebecca Bohbot, Elizabeth Rudy, James Dohm, Everly Best, Maya Hekmat, James Kamara, Davis Freeman, Jordan Marsh, Lena Rohan, Joelle Talassazan, Luke Jankowski, Chloe Powell, Sabrina Bohbot, Jasmine Vahabzadeh, Claudine Sooferan, David Maman, Olivia Maizes, Lauren Soloman, Kayla Tabaryai, Lauren Ebrahimian, Jackie Ebrahimian, Emmalee Abrams, Rebecca Katz, Yasmin Essakhar, Jolene Matian, Josh Omidi, Sydney Strickland, Keeley Black, Jackie Hauser, Ryan Javidzad, Sophia Troiano, Tiffany Levy, KatelynWon, Trevor Dohm, Julia Kamara, Bella Ravaei, Tamar Shoumer, Lexi Shaheri, Julia Marshall, Presley Best, Lauren Ramras, Juwan Perkins, Jonah Farahmand, John Gibb, PJ Goolsby, Annabel Bao, Alyssa Bean, Rubini Korasidis, Juliette Diamond, Owen Lloyd, Matan Laredo, Lucho Gazcon, Raleigh Goldinger, Jack Harris, Jaylan Tucker,Sidney Okosun, Juwan Perkins El Rodeo students show off at Variety Show Dozens of El Rodeo students showcased their performing arts talents March 7 at the El Rodeo Variety show that was sponsored by the El Rodeo PTA and coordinated by STAR Education. During the hearing, attorney Mitchell Dawson, who represents Jim Falk Lexus, said Lexus had done the best it could in terms of modulation, without giving up more square footage. To create an effect of greater depth to the facade, Cohen said the Commission suggested introducing exterior lighting. The Commission also requested revision of the massive columns proposed on the corner of the property at Wilshire Boulevard and South Maple Drive. Another item Lexus was asked to address was landscaping for the project. In public comments to the Commission, South Maple Drive resident Liliana Bergher said she supported the Lexus Project as long as it was attractive. She said landscaping would add charm to this building. Grijalva and Schwartz to lead Horace Mann PTA next fall The Horace Mann PTA last week elected Jeff Grijalva president and Tania Schwartz executive vice president for the 2012-2013 school year. Both Grijalva and Schwartz work for the City of Beverly Hills, Grijalva as a parking officer and Schwartz as a management analyst in the IT department. They have worked together on City committees, as well as on the Horace Mann Site Council, which works with Principal Steve Kessler to develop, review and evaluate school improvement programs, the schools Title I budget, and school safety. Grijalva grew up in Santa Barbara, but moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA. He started out 20 years ago working for the City in the Recreation and Parks Department as director of Jeff Grijalva the preschool, before becoming a parking officer about six years ago. Grijalva also serves as chief operating officer of the Beverly Hills Basketball League. Grijalvas wife Brenda Garcia is on the faculty Tania Schwartz at the Walther School in West Hollywood. The couple has two children, third grader Carolyn and second grader Sawyer. Grijalva said he hopes to continue to grow the PTA membership and school programs. Weve done so much in the last two

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