Willowbrook, CA

WAYNE — California Pizza Kitchen has permanently closed its bar and restaurant at Willowbrook Mall due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The West Coast chain, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week, shut multiple locations for the same reason, but a spokesperson for the company would not say how many. The virus outbreak led to rent issues with landlords of some restaurants, including the one in Wayne, the spokesperson said.

"We loved serving the Wayne community and thank our guests for their patronage," the rep wrote in an email.

Nancy Barbary, senior general manager for Brookfield Properties, a Chicago-based firm that leases space at the mall, did not return a call placed to her cellphone.

The dining scene at the mall is a revolving door of openings and closings.

Brio Tuscan Grille shut its location there in January. But, that closing was preceded by openings last year of Buffalo Wild Wings and P.F. Chang's China Bistro. The mall has five sit-down restaurants.

California Pizza Kitchen opened at the mall in June 2002. Before the virus outbreak, the chain had more than 240 locations across the globe, plus 16 others at airports, casinos and sports venues in the U.S.

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The Wayne restaurant was the chain's only one in the county. Its nearest location is at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus.

The recent bankruptcy filing does not mean that California Pizza Kitchen is going out of business.

In a statement posted to its website, the chain explained that Chapter 11 protection will allow it to restructure its debt and to "emerge as a stronger company."

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Lehrer Architects creates Willowbrook Apartments in LA for disabled veterans

Bright colours provide an uplifting environment for formerly homeless tenants at a Los Angeles complex with micro-apartments and a community building that was designed by local studio Lehrer Architects.

The complex, Willowbrook Apartments, provides permanent, supportive housing for veterans with disabilities who have experienced homelessness.

Located in the Willowbrook neighbourhood in South Los Angeles, the complex sits next to a popular church and near public transit options. It was built on a trapezoidal site that had sat vacant for years.

Meant to be a model for future projects throughout LA County, the complex was created in partnership with LA County and a nonprofit development consortium, RETHINK Housing, which Lehrer Architects helped start.

The complex consists of a linear bar with vinyl roofing and a taller, angular building with a sloped roof covered in asphalt shingles.

The buildings are set around a courtyard and plaza-style parking lot, and the whole assembly is "orchestrated to become a coherent urban campus, even on a small scale", the team said.

Exterior walls are clad in cement planks. The planks were chosen for their "great durability, aesthetic and resilience – not to mention, no termites", the team said. The elevations facing the courtyard are finished with stucco.

The bar holds seven micro units – each measuring 300 square feet (28 square metres) – while the other building contains a multipurpose room, restrooms, storage space and refuse services.

Weaving through the complex is a yellow-painted pathxway designed to provide "an enriched sense of arrival".

"Each bend and turn in the path provides real or implied mindful pause from the street to the front door, enhancing the separation from the public realm to the private," the team said.

"This is something that is meaningful and critical for all residents, but even more so for those that have previously been unhoused."

Apartments are fronted with covered patios that are shared between two units. The patios provide both individual and shared space and allow for indoor-outdoor living.

The studio apartments are set side by side, with mirrored layouts that helped maximize efficiencies of construction.

Along one side are an entry closet, a galley-style kitchenette and a countertop that morphs into a shelf and desk. Along the other side are a spacious bathroom and a combined living-sleeping area.

"Whilst petite, the units are designed to have the longest interior view possible as well as the longest counter space possible, and an overall generosity of natural light and exterior view," the team said.

High ceilings give the studios an airy atmosphere, and skylights usher in daylight.

Interior finishes include white-painted drywall, standard residential cabinetry and quartzite countertops. Floors are a mix of concrete and epoxy.

In addition to universal design elements, such as wide passageways, the team incorporated splashes of bright yellow throughout the complex.

"It's fresh and very California," said Lehrer Architects.

"The yellow – along with apricot, fresh green and a touch of sky pool blue – is used to define the couplets of units, energize the place without over-energizing it and keep it livable with a joyous edge."

Willowbrook Apartments is meant to be a model for similar developments, which historically have faced numerous challenges, said Lehrer Architects founder Michael B Lehrer.

"For these communities to be realized – with a level of beauty, intention and design-consciousness not often seen in these types of projects – everyone involved must go beyond their professional and, often, financial comfort level," he said.

Lehrer added that to destigmatize affordable housing projects and their residents, it's important to support the idea of "complete neighourhoods," which have multiple forms of housing. Willowbrooks Apartments is a good example of this concept.

"This project is a model of how a complete community should include multiple forms of housing existing in harmony together and caring for every resident, especially the most vulnerable," he said.

Lehrer Architects has been creating shelter for vulnerable populations for over two decades.

Six years ago, it began working with the nonprofit developer Restore Neighborhoods Los Angeles and the community bank Genesis LA to create prototypes for affordable starter homes in South LA.

He also mentioned that significant challenges lie in trying to proliferate these projects.

"Bureaucratic challenges remain extreme, if not deadly, particularly leading up to permitting and construction," said Lehrer.

"When it comes to tackling the housing crisis in Los Angeles, innovation often stalls because there is no clear path to financing new housing models," the studio added.

That effort evolved into the consortium RETHINK Housing, which has several sites that are built or permit-ready. The group often buys land that is overlooked by the developers and covers the cost of creating housing.

Other projects by Lehrer Architects include two micro-home projects in North Hollywood for homeless residents – Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village and the Whitsett West Tiny Home Village. Both feature brightly coloured micro homes on narrow pieces of land.

The photography is by Michael B Lehrer. Drone photographs are by Lehrer Architects.

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Gayle Anderson was live with Thomas Safran & Associates for the official grand opening and public unveiling of The Gateway at Willowbrook at 11740 Bandera Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059. There will be tours of The Gateway at Willowbrook at the grand opening as well as a presentation with remarks by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Tom Safran, and other invited, distinguished guests. Striving to provide housing for seniors and curb homelessness in Los Angeles County, Thomas Safran & Associates (TSA), a leader in developing and managing high-quality affordable housing communities, and Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas have completed a new development designed to accommodate seniors aged 62 and above. The development also includes thebrand-new 8,000 square foot Willowbrook Los Angeles County Public Library. Also within walking distance are the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital and the Willowbrook-Rosa Parks Station. Andrew Gross, President of Thomas Safran & Associates Development, remarked, “This project truly serves as a new gateway into the neighborhood of Willowbrook, providing much needed affordable housing – and public gathering space – supporting the entire community.” Located in Willowbrook, TSA and the Los Angeles Community Development Commission have invested over two years and $44 million in the development of The Gateway at Willowbrook. The 105-unit affordable living development features one and two-bedroom units. Twenty-two units are reserved for formerly homeless individuals. Each non-smoking unit features new wall-to-wall carpeting, vinyl flooring and a modern kitchen, complete with appliances. The property is beautifully landscaped with an outdoor barbeque area and seating. Residents may enjoy a spacious community room, computer room, state-of-the-art fitness center, laundry facilities, and a secured entry with intercom. Community movie nights, arts and crafts, bingo, monthly birthday parties, and more are provided by the onsite management staff. First-rate amenities and vital community services are provided along with a lower-than-market rent for its senior residents. Rents range from $864 to $1,126 per month. Residents may use Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers. About Thomas Safran & Associates: Thomas Safran & Associates has built over 6,000 units of rental housing in California, and has been dedicated for more than 40 years to enhancing the world in which we live and enriching the lives of its residents. TSA has received such distinguished awards as the Golden Nugget Award for best mixed use and affordable housing; Lieutenant Governor Commendation for outstanding service in the public interest; Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing award, recognizing TSA for Project of the Year; Urban Environmental Design award for TSA’s housing project design; and commendations from the California State Assembly and the State of California Senate, among many more. If you have questions, please feel free to call Gayle Anderson at 323-460-5732 or e-mail Gayle at Gayle.Anderson@KTLA.com