Greg Wilcox: NoHo Arts District project nearing completion

The redevelopment of a major section of the NoHo Arts District is nearing completion.

Last week, the historic Phil's Diner reopened in the 5200 block of Lankershim Boulevard; and this week construction is scheduled to start next door on the Laemmle Theaters seven-plex.

That will complete the third phase on J.H. Snyder Co.'s NoHo Commons along both sides of the boulevard from Magnolia Boulevard to Cumpston Street.

"When we took the project over it was a mess, a blighted area," said Jerome H. Snyder, founder and senior partner of the Los Angeles-based company.

"It's a major change," he said of this section of the boulevard. "This is a great example of what redevelopment can do."

Phil's and the theater complex are in front of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the landmark El Portal Theater is across the street and down the block and the recently opened Federal Bar is across the street from the diner.

Politicians have been wanting Laemmle, a Los Angeles-based art-house chain, to come to the district for a long time.

"That's very exciting. That's called a grand slam," Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge said of Phil's and the theater complex. "This is a great day for the Valley ... and a dynamic transformation."

Greg Laemmle, president of the theater chain, said that he hopes the complex will open by the year-end holidays.

The complex will also feature a small retail and office space

on the second floor.

Domestic movie box office is down about 20 percent this year versus a year ago but that's not a big concern for Laemmle.

"We like this neighborhood. We feel reasonably confident about what's going on. Yes, box office is currently down but the art house box office has been reasonably solid," he said.

The company currently operates seven complexes and this will be its third in the Valley. Laemmle owns the Town Center 5 in Encino and the Fallbrook 7 in West Hills.

"We hope to make an impact on the area both in terms of nighttime visitors and nighttime traffic. This now energizes the boulevard 24/7," he said.

Phil's Diner, which had been serving up comfort food in North Hollywood for 40 years, was purchased by Casey and Malissa Hallenbeck in 1998.

Casey, set decorator in the film industry, restored the diner, originally a dining car built in 1926. Hallenbeck's website claims it's the oldest facility of its kind in California and one of the oldest in the nation.

The diner was featured on a Phil Everly album cover and in the television shows "Barreta"and the "X-Files."

Phil's was boarded up and sat idle over the past few years as the NoHo Commons took shape.

The Hallenbecks finally were able to move it from its old location at 11138 Chandler Blvd. to the new 2,000-square-foot site on Lankershim.

"They promised me a spot in a future phase of the redevelopment," Casey Hallenbeck said. "It's a little tiny, but it's a great location," he said.

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