Our neighbor, who is 94 years old, has been a long-term resident of Carlton Way. She now faces the horrifying prospect of seeing the apartments surrounding her home be demolished and fifty of her neighbors being evicted and displaced. Her home has been her sanctuary for decades. This is not just a matter of displacing her, but an ordeal fraught with trauma for someone of her age. Sadly, she's just one of the 50 tenants at risk, many of whom are elderly, disabled, and from low-income families, including first-generation immigrants, young families, and single mothers.

The proposed demolition of seven apartment buildings in favor of constructing an immense 105-foot luxury building threatens to wipe out not only our homes but the unique spirit and character of our neighborhood in Los Angeles. Carlton Way has always been a community where diversity thrives, where neighbors look out for one another. The transformation into a haven for high-rise luxury apartments is nothing more than a manifestation of corporate greed, jeopardizing the very essence of a community built over the years. Our Neighborhood of East Hollywood/Little Armenia/Thai Town includes a number of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments. Poet Charles Bukowski once lived at 5437 Carlton Way, across the street from this proposed development.

Statistics show that similar developments across Los Angeles have driven up rent prices, making it near impossible for everyday people to afford housing. The city is already grappling with a massive housing crisis, where affordable options are shrinking. LA's homeless population was estimated to be almost 75,000 in 2025, underscoring the dire need for preserving affordable housing rather than eliminating it. 

Perhaps the most important takeaway we have learned is that there isn’t just one housing market in Los Angeles: there are submarkets. This is rarely acknowledged in policy debates, but it is integral. This new 105-foot building would add housing in one submarket (Class A, where there’s the least demand) and diminish it in another (Class C, where there’s the most demand). The supply is Class A, but the demand is Class C!  

Affordable class C historic bungalows are being demolished in favor of luxury class A apartment buildings which then in turn sit empty.  The vacancy rate on these luxury buildings is apparent to us, but doesn't seem to be apparent to our reps in CD13.

Our goal is realistic and clear: halt the destruction of these buildings to protect the vulnerable among us. We call on our Los Angeles City Council rep in CD13  Hugo Soto-Martinez and Emma Howard, his community Development and Planning Director as well as LA Mayor Karen Bass to intervene immediately. A comprehensive review must be conducted to explore alternatives that respect the lives of existing tenants while considering the city's development needs. Development should not come at the cost of our communities and the people who define them.

Please stand with us in this fight to save Carlton Way and protect our neighbors. Sign this petition to demand that our city prioritize its residents over developer profits and preserve the character and inclusivity of our neighborhood.

We are long-time residents of East Hollywood, where we live on Carlton Way, N. Serrano Ave, and Hollywood Blvd. We are deeply disturbed by the proposed development project recently passed by Mayor Karen Bass's appointed members of the City Planning Commission: Case No. CPC-2024-914-DB-SPPC-VHCA was passed with a motion by Commissioner Karen Mack and seconded by President Monique Lawshe.  We urge CD13 to file a Section 245 appeal immediately.

We are appalled and disgusted by the potential evictions of the 50 residents who currently live in the seven buildings slated for demolition at 5416-5430 W. Carlton Way   The people being forced out of these rent-controlled apartments are not just names on a lease, they are elderly women, single mothers, working-class families, immigrants, and longtime Angelenos who have built their lives in this community. Many live paycheck to paycheck, and this building is one of the last few places in the area where they can afford to live with dignity.

The proposed demolition and replacement with unaffordable luxury units reflect a broader and troubling pattern in Los Angeles, where community needs and housing stability are often sacrificed in favor of profit-driven development. What kind of city are we becoming if we push out our most vulnerable neighbors to make room for high-end apartments that sit empty or serve only the wealthy? We need leadership that protects people, not just property values. These tenants deserve better and our community deserves better. This development will not only displace residents but will chip away at the character and cultural fabric of East Hollywood. Once these rent-controlled units are gone, they are gone forever. We are urgently requesting a Section 245 motion on this project. By stepping in, you can help prevent yet another blow to affordable housing in Los Angeles and take a stand against the erosion of our communities. Housing can be built on top of the 99 Cent store down the street which has been boarded up for months.  Over 700 units are already being built one block south on Sunset and Western.  We do not need a 105 foot tall building on a residential side street, demolishing rent controlled apartments that currently house some of our most vulnerable residents. 

Please do not let this injustice move forward unchecked. The residents of 5416-5430 W. Carlton Way and the broader East Hollywood community are counting on your support.