Neighborhood Council Gets OK for Depot Office

Update: Without discussion, the Los Angeles City Council Friday voted to lease Chatsworth Train Depot office space to the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, according to Patch reporter Tiffany Kelly.

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The City Council today is scheduled to consider a motion to finally give the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council a home.

After eight years of using family rooms as office space, and a rented storage unit as a closet, the Neighborhood Council is set to take over a lease at the Chatsworth Train Depot. The office at 10038 Old Depot Plaza Road is currently occupied by the Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce. The Neighborhood Council will become the primary tenant.

Many neighborhood councils across the city have long had commercial office space. Among them locally are the Granada Hills North, Panorama City, Mission Hills, Foothill Trails, Reseda, Sun Valley Area, and Sylmar neighborhood councils.

If approved by the City Council, rent will be at the below-market rate of $250 a month because the Neighborhood Council will take over management of the Hal Bernson Community Room which is within the office space.

Councilman Mitchell Englander, then chief of staff for Councilman Greig Smith, approached the Neighborood Council about two years ago because of concerns that the community room would be locked up if the depot office space became vacant. All Neighborhood Council committee meetings are held in the community room.

"The Neighborhood Council put a priority on keeping the community room open. Not only is it important for the Council, but many other local groups also depend on using that space," said Council Vice President Judith Daniels.  

"Fortunately, we were able to work out a deal that ensures that the community room will continue to be available for public use," said Daniels, who was Neighborhood Council president when the discussion about a lease began. "Although some details haven't been worked out, we don't anticipate there will be any major changes in how the room is used," she said.     

The Chamber of Commerce will close out its lease with a $1,000 payment to the Department of Transportation.

The office space motion was sponsored by retiring Councilman Smith and Councilman Paul Krekorian.