A PALentines day event on February 16 at the Belasco theater ballroom (1050 S. Hill between 11th and 12th Streets) is being hosted by SPNA (South Park Neighborhood Association). Mingle with your neighbors in this iconic venue while you listen to live music, munch on food, enjoy the cash bar, join a tour of the historic building, or preserve this memory at the photo wall. Reserve your discounted pre-sale tickets now as they are limited. See link below.

SPNA (South Park Neighborhood Association) hosted its first Wellness Fair in Wishbone Park on Sunday, Jan 29. Companies representing fitness, nutrition, and wellness for South Park residents included The Sauna Labs, Orangetheory, 9Round Boxing, MedBeauty L.A., DTLA Fitness, Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies, F45 Fitness, GreenQween, Nutrishop, and Hardcore Fitness. 

South Park residents are collecting signatures on the recall petition of CD 14 City council member Kevin de León after he, two other city council members, and a lobbyist used racist insults as they worked to reshape the council district maps to their benefit. The three in conversation with de León have resigned/left office leaving only de León who refuses to take responsibility for his actions. Hence the reason for the recall petition. It is time to sign.

A gem of a Mexican Restaurant at 421 Venice (between Hope and Flower) was where I visited with the Chef/Owner Rodrigo Hernandez and learned his tale of a classic immigrant success story. 

Come to the Wellness Fair on Sunday, January 29 from noon to 4 pm at South Park Commons/Wishbone Park

Councilman de León has been caught making racist comments and has lost the trust of his constituents and colleagues yet has refused to resign. If you agree that the South Park neighborhood (which is within CD14 district) currently has no effective representation and believe we should not keep de León in office for another 2 years, the next step is to sign the petition for the removal of the Councilman.

Think massages, exercise equipment demonstrations, kick boxing exhibitions, physical therapy, BMI analysis, yoga, health spas, healthy foods, and discounted gym memberships. You can expect all that and more at the SPNA First Annual Wellness Fair hosted by SPNA and The Sauna Lab. The fair will be held at South Park Commons (Wishbone Park on Grand between 11th and 12th) on Sunday January 29th starting at noon until 5 pm. Free admission.

The remodel of a prime commercial space at 1040 S. Grand Ave. has just been completed and is waiting for its next lucky tenant! The space, previously an electronic parts warehouse in the 60’s and 70’s, had been vacant and neglected for years before it’s recent updating with a new floor to ceiling glass façade and a cheerful new paint job. In addition, new drywall has been installed, the roof replaced, and air conditioning has been repaired and updated. As a bonus, there is a wide, high traffic sidewalk right on Grand Ave.

Featuring a special cider cocktail, 200 South Park residents showed up in their ugliest holiday sweaters for an evening of brews, pizza, and contests at SPNA’s first holiday party at HiDef Brewery in December.

I had the pleasure of touring the grandiose Belasco (1050 S. Hill) and talking with the enthusiastic, efficient, multi-talented General Manager, Danielle Rubio. The Belasco was purchased by Live Nation in early 2020. After a total of 3 events, the venue shut down because of the COVID pandemic. Before the pandemic, The Belasco Theater was primarily known as the home for Hillsong LA Church services.

The South Park Neighborhood Association was organized by caring residents from the South Park neighborhood in early 2021. 

With work experience in business and neighborhood improvement organizations spanning 15 years, Nolan Marshall III now joins the South Park Business Improvement District (SPBID) as Executive Director.

A new banner spanning 3 stories at the front entrance of Packard Lofts at Olympic and Hope says, “Stand with the women of Iran. Woman. Life. Freedom. #MahsaAmini.” It’s a bid for solidarity with the women in Iran facing unimaginable crime and persecution and need the world’s support.

The Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) is a link between neighborhoods and LA city agencies. The South Park neighborhood has 4 representatives on the Council – 3 residential and 1 business representative. All positions are open for the next election.

Mark your calendars for December 14th. The SPNA (South Park Neighborhood Association) is hosting our first holiday party for South Park! Mix and a-mingle with your neighbors and celebrate the upcoming holiday season at HiDef Brewing (corner of Olive and 12th Street).

A period of no news or, at best, murky news on the stalled, three-towered development project known as Oceanwide Plaza has started finding its way out of the fog.

The LA City Council voted to permanently close 11th Street/Chick Hearn from Figueroa to Georgia at their November 22 meeting. SPNA (South Park Neighborhood Association) submitted a letter to the City Council noting 11th Street is a direct route to the 110 for a neighborhood of 20,000 residents and future residents from 9 new residential units in progress. However, there was no discussion at the City Council meeting, the vote was combined with other measures on the agenda, and the vote was 10 in favor of closing 11th Street/Chick Hearn and 0 opposed.