[Image by James Jones via Patch

Mad Mar Vista mom Linda Jones made good on her promise to stage a protest this past Sunday on Venice Boulevard over the street's deteriorating condition. About 20 protesters joined Jones over the weekend, Patch reports, and they were greeted warmly by drivers and cyclists navigating the street's pockmarked and rutted surface. The California Department of Transportation did inform Jones that Venice will be smoothed over this summer "at the earliest," but Jones is dubious: "I really don't think it's going to happen that soon, if ever." State Senator Ted Lieu was invited to the protest, but didn't show. His rep said "grinding and paving" has already taken place on Venice in the past few weeks and Caltrans has put out bids for a permanent fix. Meanwhile, Jones says, "Cars are almost hitting other cars or almost hitting bicyclists ... It's horrendous."
· Crowd Gathers to Protest Caltrans [Patch]
· Mar Vista Mom Fighting for Less Pot-Holey Venice [Curbed LA]

Curbed LA

Open House: Sunday, April 28th, between 2 PM – 5 PM

422 Rialto Ave, Venice
Price: $ 2,950,000
Beds, Bath: 4, 2.5
Floor Area: 2,705 sq. ft.
Per the Listing: “Equidistant from the ocean and Abbot Kinney, California beach meets New York Loft in this splendid architectural home. Sunlight and breeze flow freely through matching pivot doors of the great room comprised of living, dining and kitchen in open plan. Magnificent white lacquer cook’s kitchen opens to a patio with built-in seating around a fire pit. A handsome redwood ceiling adds warmth with floors of polished concrete in public spaces and white oak above. The second level shares a private living room draped in glass with 2 bedrooms, a bedroom/office and 3 balconies. The master suite atop offers a wet room/steam shower and expansive Venice views from north and south rooftop decks. Bathrooms feature European fixtures and glass tiles in ocean hues. Three wood burning fireplaces illuminate living rooms and master bedroom.”

All of this nice weather has us thinking of beach adjacent properties this week. And while most of the stuff we’re seeing is terrible, we did find this crazy nice house. We were smitten the first time we saw the redwood ceilings. The acoustics in that house must be intense. Why doesn’t every house do that, hmmm?
· 422 Rialto Avenue, Venice, CA 90291 [Redfin]

Curbed LA

VENICE: The LA Conservancy is celebrating the oft-maligned modern architecture of the 19790s and ’80s with, among other things, a tour this Saturday of Venice highlights from Frank Gehry, Frank Israel, Brian Hopper, Steven Ehrlich and Chuck Arnoldi (including Dennis Hopper’s house). There’ll also be a panel discussion with some of the architects and there’s a related Instagram photo contest (Curbed’s own photographer Elizabeth Daniels is a judge). All the tour details are here. [Curbed Inbox]

HOLLYWOOD: Today the city was set to dedicate Highland and Selma as Carol Burnett Square. The ever-delightful Burnett went to nearby Hollywood High and “grew up in the surrounding neighborhood.” So file that away in your encyclopedic list of “Los Angeles’s honorary intersections.” [Curbed Inbox]

Curbed LA

Open House: Sunday, April 14th, between 2 PM – 5 PM

705 Broadway Street, Venice
Price: $ 1,395,000
Beds, Bath: 2, 1.75
Floor Area: 1,258 sq. ft.
Per the Listing: “Whimsical remake of a classic Venice bungalow set in a lush private garden. Warm & welcoming gated retreat features gorgeous cedar floors, vaulted ceilings, mosaic & stone-tiled Euro kitchen & baths, generous master suite, den/2nd bedroom, library & separate dining room. Originally a duplex. .. and easy to convert back or use as creative live/work space… this sunny beach bungalow has French doors off the living space opening to a large deck, Craftsman wood detailing, custom nautical ‘porthole’ windows, expansive private yard with tropical plantings, koi pond & top-of-the-line spa. Close to Abbot Kinney & the beach. Absolutely enchanting. .. an oasis in the heart of Venice.”

This home comes with an upside if we really are in a mini-bubble. You can convert it back into a duplex and help pay off the costs of your brand new home. Plus, there’s a hot tub. That’s all we got, but if you need something to gnash your teeth about, here’s the latest Better Shelter flip!
· 705 Broadway St, Venice, CA 90291 [Redfin]

Curbed LA

Longtime Mar Vista resident Linda Jones has had it with the beat-up state of Venice Boulevard between Overland and Lincoln, so she’s planning a protest over the rutted, pot-holed mess, which is scary for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and baby carriage-pushers. For more than a year and a half, Jones went through the normal channels to complain about Venice, according to the Mar Vista Mom blog; she was first told by her City Council rep that the boulevard is actually considered a state highway and thus under the purview of the California Department of Transportation. Caltrans hasn’t gotten back to her about her complaints nor have other agencies or government officials–so she’s taking it to the streets, encouraging others to join her protest on the morning of April 28 at Venice and Grand View. “There’s portions of Venice Boulevard you cannot walk across, bike across, and certainly you cannot drive through,” Jones says in a video.

· Venice Blvd. Pot Holes — Protest [Mar Vista Mom]

Curbed LA

[Photos via Architectural Digest]

Cher is holding a great SoCal sell-off for some unknown reason–she’s just unloaded a condo in West Hollywood’s Sierra Towers, relisted her spread in Malibu, and relisted a house in Venice. She listed the Sierra Towers unit just a couple months back, asking $ 5.5 million and, according to TMZ, has just sold it for $ 5.25 million. The 4,000-square-foot duplex has “Indian Fantasy” interiors by decorator Martyn Lawrence Bullard.

[Photos via Architectural Digest]

Meanwhile, out in Malibu, Cher has relisted her big compound for $ 41 million. She originally tried to sell it way back in 2008 for $ 45 million. The 1.7-acre Pacific Coast Highway property includes a six-bedroom Italian Renaissance mansion with gym, theater, pool, walled tennis court, subterranean garage, and guesthouse, according to an old post by the Real Estalker.

Click here to view the full photogallery.

And finally out to Venice, where the singer’s trust is selling off a three-bedroom house on a walk street near the beach and Abbot Kinney. It has sliding glass walls; a roofdeck with built-in barbecue, sink, and fridge; and what the LA Times describes as “a Cher signature amenity — an outdoor shower.” However, Real Estalker seems to believe this house actually belongs to Cher’s son Elijah Blue. Asking price is $ 1.8995 million.
· CHER Unloads W. Hollywood Condo … For a FORTUNE [TMZ]

Curbed LA

FAIRFAX: Topshop‘s opening yesterday at The Grove drew 10,000 shoppers, some who had lined up as early as 5 am for the 4 pm store debut–a new record for the outdoor shopping center. To keep people entertained, singer Demi Lovato performed her radio hit “Give Your Heart a Break”; there was also a cotton candy machine, a DJ, t-shirt screen printing, and temporary tattoos.

VENICE: Eyewear company Warby Parker has commandeered a yellow school bus and will be driving it to Venice today. The first stop on the Warby Parker Class Trip will be 1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; they’ll be parked there for a few days.

WEST HOLLYWOOD Tommy Hilfiger has returned to LA with a massive new flagship that’s now open on Robertson and Beverly. Of the store, Tommy said, “LA is the best place in the world to bring fashion together with the entertainment industry. I’m excited we’ve found the perfect location … to showcase the brand; it has a global retail presence and its blend of luxury and accessibility makes it ideal for the classic, American, cool spirit of our brand.”
· Racked LA [Official Site]

Curbed LA