Jim Murez of Venice Neighborhood Council’s Land Use and Planning Committee was asked how the sale of Firestone-Walker Brewery, which is only proposed at this point, how the transfer of a license, how the sale of a license, would trigger a new review if it were sold, transferred.

Note:  All feel secure that Adam Firestone and David Walker want to open a restaurant/brewpub here.  But, those in Venice have been thru the conditioning process only to find out the next day that there is a new owner.  All feel Adam and David are solid but one must condition in case.  No offense, just experience. 

A person, a neighborhood goes thru the conditioning process only to find out the place is sold to someone else who no one knows immediately after the conditioning process.  Jim Murez, who is handling the Firestone-Walker Brewery case for LUPC, had this to say when questioned as to the transfer, sale, etc of the license.

“This is a condition I worked out with Challis Macpherson, former chair of LUPC, several years ago.  We can only hope the City enforces our wishes here in their conditions of approval.

“What does it mean … When a license is issued to a corporation, the ownership of the license is not tied to a human.  If the stock in the corporation is transferred to a new stock holder, the license is still in the name of the original corporation.  Because no transfer of license occurred, the license stays in effect without any notification or re-visiting of the original conditions of approval.

“How does this affect the community?  Well for example in this case, we are believing in the spoken words of Adam Firestone.  He seems like a straight shooter, up front and honest. I believe what he says and his intent to do good by the neighbors and community.  But under the case that the license does not have his name on it and was issued solely to his corporation, he could sell the business and the license would stay in affect with the new owner.

“Let’s assume this occurred 10-15 years out, and all these years he has been a good neighbor.  However, the new owner has no reputation and is only interested in turning a buck.  This could create a very negative impact on the community.

“So to prevent this, the condition that requires the owner (who we trust and believe in) must be personally listed on the ownership of the license.  This is not to say the corporation can’t also be listed, it can but Firestone must sign along with his corporation as an individual.  Then if there is a change in ownership where he wants his name to be removed from the license, it automatically triggers a review process.

“There have been far too many licenses transferred in Venice without having a re-approval process.  And in most cases they have led to problems for the community.  Mind you most of them were retail stores, never the less, it can happen on a restaurant.

“This is a safe guard for the community, we don’t want some scum bag moving in without being able to change the conditions.”