All stories about "Beverly Hills"

The times are a'changin': West Hollywood is set to end its long, but typically unenforced, ban on bicycle riding on city sidewalks, reports the Los Angeles Times' Bob Pool. Referring to WeHo's streets as pedestrian-packed (by LA standards?), Pool points out sidewalk riding will be allowed in areas without bike lanes, and that bikers will be expected to share the cement with walkers. Los Angeles already allows sidewalk biking (except in parts of Venice), Beverly Hills doesn't permit bikes in its business district (Rodeo Drive?), and Santa Monica prohibits them entirely on sidewalks. Also in today's LA Times, a piece on the surge of bicycle purchases in LA; Santa Monica's Cynergy Cycles has seen a 20% uptick in the past month. Sad sidenote: Bike demand was witnessed firsthand by this Curbed editor, whose bike was stolen in broad daylight last week in front of Rosewood Ave., near Western Avenue. Damn thieves cut the bike cord. Via flickr user mike_1630
· WeHo wants cyclists, pedestrians to share [LA Times]
· Biking on sidewalks [WeHo News]
· Bikes help commuters get around gas prices [LA Times]

Click the image above to view the full photogallery.

Before becoming a starchitect obsessed with bendy metal, Frank Gehry did some small but impressive architectural design work which can be found all over LA. Known as the Wosk Residence, this building in Beverly Hills is one of Frank Gehry's early-80's designs (completed in 1984). The four story, six-unit building features a funky penthouse unit highlighted by the chimney stack decorated with blue tiles. We would never have guessed this was a Gehry if the internet hadn't told us so. Via Arcspace: "The kitchen is housed within a blue-domed form topped by a stained glass skylight. The dining room occupies a gabled greenhouse structure and the adjoining livingroom is housed in a block-like structure whose corner chimney is clad in custom blue shingled tiles. A ziggurat form coated with gold auto-body paint contains the den. The vaulted corrugated aluminum shed at the far end of the rooftop contains the owner's studio. A sweeping curved stairway, enclosed within a black granite baldachino form, links the third floor master bedroom, guest room and two large bathrooms to the upper living/working areas." More ziggurats please.
· Wosk Residence [arcspace]
· BuildingSpotter Archives [Curbed LA]

The latest store info, retail gossip and sidewalk scenes from street-obsessed Racked LA, the newest member of the Curbed family.

The rooftop at Blü; a look from Bill Blass New York summer '08 collection

BEVERLY HILLS: Racked LA reports that Blü Beverly Hills, that kooky rental building on Wilshire Boulevard, is hosting a Bill Blass New York summer '08 collection showcase/trunk show this weekend. Yes, it's all about selling Bill Blass, but it's also clearly about moving $7,000/month units, writes Racked. From the press release: "After the show, guests will have opportunity to view the Bill Blass New York collection first hand at the private onsite showroom and tour the luxury residences at blü."

LOS ANGELES: Wow. Project Runway is moving operations from New York to Los Angeles. On the show, the contestants are always put up in some NYC new rental or condo building. (From how much loving coverage the building gets from the cameras, it looks like it's a marketing deal.) What Los Angeles building will the contestants live in?

SILVER LAKE: Racked heads to Le Pink & Co., the local apothecary and discovers all their pink-hued stock: "The true-to-color apothecary has many mini curated elements—products and beauty knick-knacks on a little round table, shelving, a desk, and in a basket." Girly!
· On the Racked Archives [Curbed LA]

Despite concerns about traffic and density, the Beverly Hills City Council on Wednesday approved 9900 Wilshire, the condominium/retail development designed by architect Richard Meier, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Mayor Barry Brucker said the 9900 Wilshire project, approved by a 4-1 vote Wednesday evening, would secure about $60 million in upfront fees for Beverly Hills -- "more than any other project in the history of the city" -- to help fund street improvements and other work." Full gallery of Meier's project. Next Tuesday, the City Council is expected to approve new condos at the Beverly Hilton and a new Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, according to the paper, projects that have homeowners howling about increased traffic around Wilshire and Santa Monica.
· Beverly Hills approves condo project [LA Times]
· 9900 Wilshire: Beverly Hills Weighs In On Richard Meier's Green Building [Curbed LA]

Click the image above to view the full photogallery.

If you've zipped along Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, thinking "Yes, what are they building at the corner?", please refer to this construction guide. Starting at Robertson Boulevard and ending at San Vicente Boulevard, there are five under-construction or just completed projects going up in this stretch of Beverly Hills. Click through the gallery for details and information.
· Miracle Mile Construction: Know Your Developments [Curbed LA]

Click the image above to view the full photogallery.

Whatever your feelings about Beverly Hills' Trousdale Estates, an area full of so-called "spec housing for the rich," it's still fun to check out this new listing, a Richard Dorman-designed, three-bedroom mid-century built in 1959. Do we love that kitchen? Oh, yes, we do. More from the listing: "Beautiful koi pond, a fantastic oversized lot with a generous and impressive motor court. Big yard with pool, spa, patios and open treetop vistas. A perfect example of the hip contemporary style which Trousdale is renowned. Tremendous value." Admittedly, our knowledge of home values in Beverly Hills is rather limited--is this a tremendous value for $4.295 million?
· 1030 N LOMA VISTA DR [MLS Los Angeles]

Who would have thought? Despite the irrational fear of all of those hooligans pouring into town to steal and pillage, Beverly Hills is endorsing public transportation in their boundaries. And it’s not just more buses for their servants. The clusterf**k of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards has gotten the best of residents here, too, so BH officials are recommending the placement of two stations on the proposed Red Line “subway to the sea” within their fair city. The hope, of course, is that everyone else will take the subway, so locals can drive their Maseratis in without congestion.
· Beverly Hills May be Ready to Campaign for a Subway [ABC7]