Monday, February 3, 1997
TAKE OVER:
Ties to cultural outlets, offices signals UCLA’s absorption of
WestwoodBy Gary Avrech
I admit that much of my writing is done late in the evening,
after I have finished my day’s work. Sometimes, I fear, the rigors
of working 80 plus hours a week is getting to me. I sometimes tend
to analyze and over-analyze certain phenomena until the most
bizarre of ideas or concepts can become perfectly obvious and
totally plausible scenarios. The following rantings of an admitted
conspiracy theorist confirm this tact.
Lately, I have been hung up on the issue of how the expansion of
UCLA stores and restaurants, including the new Ackerman, is
ravaging Westwood Village’s retail stores and restaurants. If you
have been following the recent news stories about this issue,
you’re probably aware that the impact has been severe and many
Westside businesses are paying the ultimate price.
For the last couple of years Associated Students of UCLA
(ASUCLA) operations were allowed to operate at a loss by offering
products and food at artificially low prices, in order to give the
students a better deal. Simultaneously, ASUCLA conducted an
advertising blitz in the Daily Bruin, taking advantage of the
historically low prices for ads in their own newspaper. And, all
the while they were preparing to open Ackerman, the $35 million
dollar "mother of on-campus shopping malls."
The net effect of all these actions, from what I have seen, has
been a reduction of probably 80 percent of the foot traffic into
the village from UCLA. Westwood businesses and restaurants have
probably lost an estimated $50 million in revenues over the last
couple of years, with the annual loss growing to around $30
million. To put it bluntly, Westwood is dead in the water.
Help …
Somebody up in the ranks at UCLA must have anticipated this
effect. After all, these are educated people. How come nobody spoke
up and questioned whether the policies of ASUCLA or the expansion
of their operations would impact the local community. Is it to be
assumed that since most of the students only live here for a few
years, they are therefore not expected to fully embrace Westwood
Village as their neighborhood. I doubt it. I think that the
students of the ’90s are much more sensitive to their
environment.
So why has this been allowed to continue? Aha!, now for the
conspiracy theory.
Could it be that UCLA, the regents and perhaps others have
devised a devious long-term strategy to expand south and absorb
Westwood Village. They certainly can’t expand north, east or west.
The property values are just too high. They must "grow south young
man!”
But, in order to buy up Westwood the property values in the
village had to be lowered. This goal has now been successfully
achieved by allowing and supporting ASUCLA’s expansion plans and
business policies over the last few years. Any business person with
half a brain, considering opening a business in Westwood Village,
would come to the current ghost of Westwood, look around and then
quickly get the hell out of Dodge before they were recognized.
UCLA has meanwhile laid the groundwork for this annexation to
proceed. They have partnered with the major cultural outlets in
Westwood including The Geffen Playhouse and the Armand Hammer
Museum of Art and Cultural Center. Also, UCLA now leases or owns
offices throughout Westwood, including the Peter Ueberroth Building
and the UNISYS skyrise office building.
The retail businesses and restaurants of Westwood Village might
be next in line to be purchased. Just imagine, the state could buy
up Westwood retail properties at a fraction of what they would
otherwise be worth. And of course, there would be no public
hearings required because the state has rights of eminent
domain.
I have to admit, it would bring an intriguing aspect to UCLA. A
model for the rest of the state and perhaps the nation. Just
imagine, neighborhoods everywhere could be co-opted by the state.
The hell with the private sector! A wonderful vision if you’re into
George Orwell.
Oh well, this is just one gadfly’s twisted theory. I wouldn’t
worry about it unless I saw any real incursion into Westwood’s
retail space. For instance, if UCLA should purchase any of the
larger retail space in the village such as Macy’s or Circuit
City.
Let’s hope I’m just having a nightmare.