Revitalizing Hollywood's Supporting Spaces

After decades spent redeveloping Hollywood's starring attractions along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, its alleyways are the focus of an on-going beautification effort, reports Jessica Gelt.

1 minute read

March 12, 2012, 2:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


The opening last month of EaCa Alley (for East Cahuenga) signifies the commencement of a new program poised to remake Hollywood's 26 alleys as dining, shopping, and cultural destinations.

Growing out of the master's thesis of planning student Sarah MacPherson, who had been at the Business Improvement District for 13 years, and backed by such prominent local officials as City Councilman Eric Garcetti, "the passage between Selma and Hollywood Boulevard has been paved with attractive red bricks; 13 trash bins have been eliminated; and the businesses lining the east side of Cahuenga have begun placing tables and chairs in the alley, although a few permits are still needed before the bulk of businesses can serve food and alcohol outdoors," reports Gelt

As major redevelopment projects such as a proposed new downtown football stadium and convention facility continue to dominate local real estate headlines, the alley project resonates with a series of small-scale interventions that the city is spearheading to incrementally improve pedestrian environments throughout the area.

However, with EaCA Alley's $800,000 cost having been supplied primarily by the City of LA's now-defunct Community Redevelopment Agency, the prospects for future renovations are in doubt.

Friday, March 9, 2012 in Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Route 66 motel neon sign.

Albuquerque Route 66 Motels Become Affordable Housing

A $4 million city fund is incentivizing developers to breathe new life into derelict midcentury motels.

15 minutes ago - High Country News

Green public transit bus at stop in Silver Spring, Maryland.

DC Area County Eliminates Bus Fares

Montgomery County joins a growing trend of making transit free.

1 hour ago - The Washington Post

Close-up of full beer glass with purple train-themed design sitting on bar between two frosty tall cans.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?

TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

June 30 - Cities Today

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.