End of Magnolia Widening Delayed 1 Month

The effort to widen a stretch of Magnolia Boulevard in North Hollywood is going to wrap up around the end of November--about a month past the projected deadline-- though most of the major road work has been completed.

Crews began working on the major street between Cahuenga Boulevard and Vineland Avenue around the end of winter to add an extra westbound lane on Magnolia.

Now all that's left to do is some touch up work, including some beautification, said Richard Lee, a spokesman with the city's Department of Public Works.

"After we complete our portion of the paving work on Magnolia Boulevard between Vineland Avenue and Cahuenga Boulevard this week, we have other contract work to perform which includes the following: stripe Magnolia Boulevard, perform some miscellaneous concrete and electrical work, plant about 30 street trees, and install some ornamental street lighting poles which provide secondary lighting," he said.

One reason for pushing some of this work back was to accommodate recording studio Salami Studios, which has had to cease operations on several occasions because of construction noise.

"It's been ongoing, we've been shutting down and moving clients to other studios," said Gary Falcone, owner of the business located at 10733 Magnolia Blvd. He added the effort has cost him money and that he questions whether opportune times to get construction work done were utilized enough.

Jeremy Oberstein, communications director for local LA City Councilman Paul Krekorian, said city hall has tried to maintain a good level of communication with businesses along that street.

"As requested by Council District 2 (CD2), we informed our contractor to start their paving work on Magnolia Boulevard during the week of Oct. 28 so as not to interfere with the planned operations of Salami Studios due to vibrations caused by this paving work," Lee said.

But, as Falcone pointed out, the contractor hired to do the paving was signed on to work until Oct. 31

The city's Bureau of Street Services will step in to finish the job, but the earliest they can get to work is Nov. 18 to wrap things up by the end of the month, Lee said.

The councilman's office also set out to find satellite parking for businesses that lost curbside parking, but that effort came up short.

Additional tasks left to be completed include re-installing refurbished light poles removed to make way for the widening, Lee said.

Raymond Hill, a barber at Mr. Z Barber & Beauty Salon at 10650 Magnolia Blvd., said the loss of curbside parking has cut into profits, though he has faith that additions like new trees could help get those lost customers back into his seat.

"I'm sure it's going to look a lot nicer and may even help businesses grow more, but right now, it just sucks," he said. "I can't wait until they finish and see the final result."

Editor's Note: This article incorrectly stated that Magnolia was getting an extra southbound lane. Magnolia runs west and east.