We are really concerned about Walker's Cafe. Last week, in response to community complaints, an inspector from the Department of Building and Safety issued a stop work order for unpermitted construction. But the owners have ignored LADBS and are still doing work daily. This is NOT okay. Property owners are required to obtain permits for construction and alterations, and the rules are more strict for a potential city landmark. We don't know the extent of what they're doing, and the fact that they're ignoring a stop work order is deeply upsetting.
We need your help. We all need to start making noise and get the city to make it stop.
Here's how to file a complaint with LABDS:
(See step-by-step screenshots here)
1) Go here. Enter "700" and "Paseo del Mar" (note: do NOT enter W/West as part of the address)
2) Select "no" for the three questions that come up.
3) Enter your contact details.
4) Describe what's been going on. Here's what you could write: "Unpermitted work is taking place at Walker's Cafe on 700 W. Paseo del Mar in San Pedro, CA 90731, a pending Historic-Cultural Monument. The owners were cited by a LADBS inspector last week but daily construction on the premises is still ongoing, and the community is very concerned about what's happening to the historic fabric of this neighborhood treasure."
Select "Commercial Property."
In the drop-down menu below, select "Construction In Progress Without Permits Or Inspections."
Click Submit.
The more we can direct the city's attention to this, the sooner we can make it stop. Please share this and tell your friends. Let's make a big noise together to save Walker's Cafe!
And while making complaints to the city can help with enforcement of the ignored stop work order, you might also like to send a message to the people responsible for this work. Prospect Group is the development company that bought Walker's Cafe in an off-market deal and promised the Cultural Heritage Commission and the community that they planned to change nothing about this local treasure except reopening it. If you're concerned about what they're doing to Walker's, you can reach Prospect Group at 8182321445 or vartan@prospectgroup.net.