GPCenter

The Glassell Park Community and Senior Center was opened on August 1, 2005 after a
unique agreement was reached between the Public Storage Corporation, L.A. Council District 13 (Eric Garcetti), The Glassell Park Seniors
Club, The GPIA, and The Glassell Park Neighborhood Council. It is located at 3750 N. Verdugo Road, next door to the Glassell Park
Recreation Center Swimming Pool. Free parking (44 spots) is available on a first come, first serve basis. Click on the map below for driving
directions.

SENIOR LUNCH PROGRAM: Each weekday, hot lunches are served in the Great Room for seniors 60 years or older for a low cost of $1.65.
For more information on the Senior Lunch program call (323) 255-3117 and ask for program coordinator, Maria Perez. The city of Los Angeles
funds the program and meals are provided by the International Institute of Los Angeles/Senior Services Division in Boyle Heights.

In the evenings, the center is reserved for the Glassell Park Stakeholder groups: The Glassell Park Neighborhood Council, The Glassell Park
Improvement Association, The Glassell Park Seniors. Council District 13 has a satellite field office at the Center.

COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTER AT PUBLIC STORAGE (GPIA News, March 2005)
By Mitch O’Farrell, Director, Constituent Services for Council President Eric Garcetti

Two and a half years ago, our Office was approached by Public Storage Corporation regarding their desire to change the use of their Eagle
Rock Blvd. site from pick-up-and-delivery to personal storage. This change of use necessitated a public process as per the city code for
commercial structures, meaning the surrounding community had to give its approval before any permits could be granted to alter the building in
any way.

Although we had concerns based on the controversial history of the site, we agreed to set up a meeting between community members (who
had institutional knowledge of the isuse) and Public Storage Officials. This led to a dialogue and several meetings that went on for over a year.
The result of this dialogue was an agreement between the community of Glassell Park, Public Storage, and the City of Los Angeles that will
create a 7,400 sq.ft. community and senior center within the existing building, 20 additional trees, and 40 designated parking spaces. The
community gets the center and Public Storage gets its conversion.
The lease agreement is for 30 years, and the Department of General Services will have oversight through the Council Office. For the purpose
of regulating use, our office will draft a Memorandum of Understanding with the community. Public Storage estimates that the center will be
open sometime this summer. Public Storage is very generously granting to the community, through the GPIA, $30,000 to outfit the facility with
furnishings for the center.

There is still much work going on behind the scenes. Many people in the community have worked on this diligently throughout the years in
different capacities and at different times. Together we have blazed a new trail, as there is nothing quite like this anywhere else in the city.
There will be so much to celebrate at the grand opening. It will likely be the social event of the season and will benefit our community for years
to come!

GLASSELL PARK COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTER IS OPEN (GPIA News, September 2005)
By Brian Frobisher, GPIA Vice-President

On Monday, August 1st the community of Glassell Park turned out to attend the dedication of the new 7,400 sq.ft. “Glassell Park Community
and Senior Center.” On hand were Councilman Eric Garcetti, officials from Public Storage, community activists and supporters including Helen
Jacobs, Ann Wheeler, Miriam Escobar, and Myrian Magana.

The community was given the use of this facility for the next 30 years for a $1.00 per year lease fee. Public Storage did this as a way to get
approval from the community for some changes they wanted to make to the inside of this building that would increase square footage,
requiring a conditional use permit. Public Storage approached councilman Garcetti’s office and Mitch O’Farrell in particular with this proposal
and it all sounded “too good to be true” at first, according to Mitch. There were numerous committee meetings with the officials from Public
Storage to make sure that what was built would work for the various groups needing space. Public Storage got approval for their new
construction and the community got a say in what was being built.

In 1998 Public Storage tilted up a three-story, very large
building that obliterated the pleasant view of the Glassell
Park hills. The speed with which this took place sparked
the GPIA and community into action, protests, and public
hearings, chanting, "Mr. Public Storage, tear down that
wall!" Then Councilmember Jackie Goldberg
attended the protests and hearings and closed a loophole
in city regulations to keep this from happening in
residential areas in the future.