Cool District Program
As part of the Cool District initiative the WCBID is about to embark on a program of helping building owners improve their energy efficiency, reduce their operating costs and take significant steps towards a greener and low carbon community. Electricity prices have gone up in excess of 30% in the last two years and the LADWP has just announced new rates from July 1, 2009 for Tariff A3-A which will result in further increases for our commercial buildings of at least 35% against last years prices. We will be taking steps to assist all our owners and tenants to mitigate the impact of these increases, which are expected to continue in the years ahead.

The WCBID will be approaching building owners in the coming months to get access to their buildings and billing data and undertake preliminary assessments of their buildings at no cost to the owner. Once our team has established the potential energy conservation measures and potential for retro-commissioning in the form of a preliminary assessment, we will then approach the building owners with a possible self-financing solution.

Due to the large volume of real estate within the district we are able to realize preferential lending rates for energy improvement contracts and as such we will be able to put together very attractive financial solutions that will enable building owners to reduce their operating costs funded against future energy savings. At completion of the preliminary assessments we will ask building owners to commit to 3-year and less payback measures, at which time we will undertake the Investment Grade Audit, again at no immediate cost to the owners.

Once the Investment Grade Audit is complete it will be presented to the selected financiers and the building owner to move forward into contract. The District will make all the arrangements and provide validation of the contract; the District will then take on the implementation contract arrangements to move forward with the measures.

Our intent is to embark on our journey of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% over the next 40 years and this will start with the energy efficiency of our buildings. This will help us make large strides towards the Cool District goals as well as save our building owners and tenants operating costs.

We are currently attempting to collect building energy usage data. If you are interested in participating in this program please call 213-487-7003 or send an email to energy@wilshirecenter.com. We will need only one of three things; your DWP billing code; a signed permission letter for us to access your DWP usage data, or; the last 12 months of your DWP bills. We would like to gather gas usage data as well, so your gas company bills will also be very helpful. For more information about this program please visit wilshirecenter.com/cooldistrict

8th Street Expansion
Proposed 7th to 8th Street expansion would increase the District area by 4,987,040 square feet. Letters were sent to all potential assesses explaining the proposed expansion. We had a meeting for the potential assesses on June 4th. At the meeting, which Board Member Mike Hakim attended, the potential assesses were very supportive of the idea of being a part of the WCBID. They liked the variety of services being provided, particularly the security services. The dozen or so calls and emails that we got were all supportive of the expansion. The WCBIC board approved expanding the District to 8th Street.

Camera Program Update
At this point both Council District offices (CD4 & CD10) have now approved to proceed with reviewing proposals from surveillance camera installers in order to secure the necessary funds, as allocated by the CRA. The LAPD Olympic Division has sent out an RFP to all major Surveillance Camera installers that are approved to work with the LAPD and the city. The Wilshire Center Business Improvement District staff will monitor the progress of this program with the LAPD Olympic Division and continute to advocate for this project to be completed ASAP.

New K-5 School Opens at Old Ambassador Site
Good news for parents in the area – the new K-5 school at the old Ambassador Hotel site will be open on September 9th. We had the good fortune to take a tour of the site recently with Ethel Fimbres-Lopez and Amy Meenan, both of LAUSD.

Students at the K-5 school can choose between two pilot schools at the site: UCLA’s duel language program or New Open World Academy’s technology program.

The school fronts onto 8th street, but the interior is very quiet thanks to the triple paned glass windows which were installed. The classrooms are bright and cheerful, and there is a library and auditorium in the complex. Behind the school is a grassy playground and other areas for sports. Enrollment started a few months ago and is almost completed. If you have any questions, they can be addressed to Ethel Fimbres-Lopez at 213-893-6832.

The high school and middle school are scheduled to open in 2010, and they are also quite impressive. Classrooms with floor to ceiling glass, some facing out toward Wilshire Boulevard, are light and airy. The north tower has retained the footprint of the Ambassador Hotel in deference to its history. The auditorium sports some of the Moorish soffit detail of the old hotel, and the library’s ceiling is high and scalloped, with side skylights for brightness. Click here to read about LAUSD Cutting the Ribbon at Cental LA Learning Center #1 K-5

New Website
The WCBIC has redesigned the wilshirecenter.com website in order to consolidate web content, eliminate outdated information, add more current data, draw in more web traffic and improve the overall website experience. We believe that this new website has the potential to help market the area to a wider variety of tenants and/or younger clientele. Send your input to mike@wilshirecenter.com.

Wilshire Watershed Project
Last month a meeting was held at the WCBID office with Mr. Wing Tam, Assistant Division Manager Watershed Protection Division of LA, and BID staff to discuss a possible watershed project for Wilshire Blvd within the WCBID area. If possible we want to look at the idea of coordinating with DOT & MTA with their work on the new bus lane along Wilshire Blvd. We would like to see if we can create a watershed project that could qualify for an MTA Call for Project in 2011.

Shatto Park Improvement
On Monday, July 13, 2009 Councilmember Tom LaBonge announced the groundbreaking of the capital improvement projects at Shatto Recreation Center. The capital improvement projects will include new outdoor exercise equipment, new lighting, new play equipment and benches, resurfacing of badminton courts and general greening and beautification of the park.

Pressure Washing
Due to excessive gum, dirt and stains around Vermont and Wilshire and 6th and Wilshire, all four corners of each intersection have now been pressure washed. We have also pressure washed corners of Western and Wilshire and Normandie and Wilshire. We will continue to survey the area and pressure wash as much as we can where needed.

A Peaceful Walk Against Crime
On a warm August 4th evening, hundreds of people from the area gathered to express their support and gratitude to the LAPD at the 26th Annual National Night Out. They marched to the new Olympic police station, carrying signs and chanting out against crime and criminal activity – in English, Korean and Spanish!!!

It brought out the best in us and represented what happens when people unite for a cause for the common good. At the station, there was a sense of fun and camaraderie as everyone mixed and mingled at the station and dined on salad, pizza, fried chicken and fruit under a full moon. We look forward to doing this again next year.

WCBIC Contact: Gary Russell, AIA, WCBIC Executive Director, at gary@wilshirecenter.com,
ph: 213-487-7003, fax : 213-386-5853, 3600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1032, Los Angeles, CA 90010