Home thoughts from Fredonia Drive + A nice letter + A rustic street under threat + What Tomas O’Grady did

A nice letter from Fredonia Drive by Sarah Hunt & Melanie Contreras To whom it may concern, From: Sarah Hunt & Melanie Contreras. To: Whom it may concern. Re: Tomas O’Grady. Fredonia Drive is a narrow, leafy street that’s nestled in the Hollywood Hills.  It’s comprised of mainly single-family homes and has a very rural feel.  We have lived here for many years and really appreciate the sanctuary that our neighborhood provides. Recently a developer purchased the lot across the street, and due to an antiquated loophole, planning permission was granted to tear down the original property and build a massive apartment development. We are a very close-knit community; we want to see our neighborhood preserved.  Desperate for help, we reached out to the candidates running for City Council in District 4, as that is where we reside. Only one candidate, Tomás O’Grady, stepped up to the plate. Tomás not only responded, but worked with our neighborhood to create a robust appeal that was half technical, half emotional and totally compelling. Working together with Tomás, his team of architects and researchers, as well as with Renee Weitzer, Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s planning chief, we prevailed. Last night, Nov. 13, 2014, the planning commission ordered the developer to return in January with the following instructions: 1) Bring back a plan that is compatible with our lovely little neighborhood, and 2) Work with the neighbors to create something that they can live with. We have come to realize that the Tomás O’Grady campaign is a very different kind of operation to the ones we’ve seen in the past. Instead of serving us with platitudes and fake concern, Tomás has rolled up his sleeves and worked alongside us to see what could be done – and boy did we get something done! We are apparently not alone. In the Hollywood Dell neighborhood we’ve learned that Tomás managed to secure a land purchase from a developer thus saving the community’s beloved La Rocha trail.  Whilst up in Hollywoodland, we’ve heard from friends that he has drawn up a set of plans to restore some of the most sensitive parkland, that for years has been overrun by inconsiderate visitors. We have always voted, but in the past we have  been disappointed by the predictable rhetoric and lack of action.  Next March, however, we will be excited to vote for Tomas O’Grady because he is a new and dynamic politician that has the passion and drive to make real changes to the district we call home. As a neighborhood, we know that hard work still lies ahead in regards to ensuring the proposed development satisfies neighborhood compatibility concerns. We also know that Tomás will be with us every step of the way. Sincerely, Sarah Hunt | 3701 Fredonia Drive | sarah@spincycle.tv Melanie Contreras | 3700 Fredonia Drive | trabecca@sbcglobal.net