This week we take a look at the garagmajal before and after, you rush to the defense of a now-defunct burger stand, and we begin to understand why every block below Pico and Fairfax will one day have a drug store, medical supply store or a funeral home. As always, thanks for playing and keep sending us your questions at la@curbed.com.
We start with the update first. Our close friend Anonymous sent us this lovely pic of the garagemajal BEFORE construction began. Lovely, isn't it?
After the jump, reminders of what that lovely patch of lawn has become.
And onto the new stuff:
1) We return to a question asked (and answered) oh-so-long-ago (two weeks). The heat must finally be getting to us. One reader asked "what's being planned for the corner of Orange and Fairfax, across the street from LACMA and behind the diner available for filming??" The incredibly non-specific answer we received included a mixed use project for the site that used to be a chicken place, The Johnies parcel remains with the Johnies parcel for now, as it's tied up in some preservation issues and one of our many vocal Pete's, this one in Mar Vista prognosticates some MTA eminent domain action to finally get that monorail subway built.
2) Another reader laments the demise of Mo' Better Meaty Meat Burgers on the corner of Fairfax and Pico and wonders what's coming next. Nope, its not a Peet's Coffee, or any other sign of gentrification. Instead, it looks like a Longs Drugs is moving in, just 3 blocks from another Sav-on/CVS? Why so many drugstores in close proximity? Another one of our Pete's blames all the old people:
There's a fair number of old folks--mainly black and Jewish--in the Pico/Fairfax area, so it's a good market for drug stores and medical supply shops. From a study of South Carthay I did for a class at USC last year, I found that three of the four corners of Crescent Heights Boulevard were occupied by things relating to the elderly--a retirement home, a medical office with a chiropractor and a physical therapist, and a store that sold stuff like wheelchairs and canes. This being Pico Boulevard in Mid-City, the fourth corner was an auto body shop. Excellent work everyone! And don't forget we have those "After" garagemajal pics after the jump!