This is the restaurant at 1305 Abbot Kinney Blvd being built by Fran Camaj. He owns Gjelina/GTA on Abbot Kinney and Gjusta at 320 Sunset. This one, which is yet to be named, has unofficially been dubbed the “Black Beast.”

Parking in area is normally underground. This is the first for Abbot Kinney on the roof. Residents are fearful that owner will once again use parking for service use. Although not permitted as a restaurant, 320 Sunset parking lot is being used as a dinning area. Gjelina on Abbot Kinney has a garage that is used for the restaurant, not parking.

California Coastal Commission (CCC) rejected the Amendment Request by Fran Camaj for providing bike parking inlieu of three car lifts originally planned and permitted for his project at 1305 Abbot Kinney.

CCC issued permits for the car lifts. Owner then got City to change permit to provide bike racks inlieu of three lift parking places. Permit changes have to be made by CCC.

The following video is of the commission hearing and is provided by Roxanne Brown whose commentary follows the video. Video is admittedly bad but audio is great.

By Roxanne Brown, Member of Concerned Neighbors
Restaurateur Fran Camaj’s promise of car lifts at 1305 Abbot Kinney (called the Black Beast by some local residents) seems to have been a bust.

Chronology of all Events
2010 – CCC decided that 1305 Abbot Kinney required 13 parking spaces. Camaj agreed to park 9 cars 3×3 in tandem with 3 single car lifts on the roof top parking lot, and one disabled space on ground level.

2012 — Construction commenced and lifts were not built.

2014 — Greg Shoop at City Planning granted a permit allowing Camaj to remove the lifts and replace them with bike racks.

OOPS: The City is not allowed to override the CCC.

2015–Concerned Venetians alerted the CCC and Building and Safety (B&S). B&S investigated and filed an intention to revoke permit.

Camaj agreed to rescind permit and said he would comply and build lifts.
Camaj then applied for an amendment with CCC to not build lifts and instead, to supply an electric charging station and bike racks.

Vitalich Testimoney
Stephen Vitalich, Black Beast architect and representative, said that the building at 1305 Abbot Kinney can’t support the weight of 3 lifts.

Vitalich went on to say that they would always have 3 attendants doing valet parking and that there are paid parking lots between Electric and Abbot Kinney. He also claimed that most of the time there would not be more than 10 cars requiring parking. If there were more, two cars could be parked on the (steep) access ramp to roof.

Venetians Presented
Meanwhile, the valet only rooftop “parking lot” was paved with beautiful stonework and planters with lovely vegetation were installed. Additionally, a gorgeous staircase was built to wind up from the small restaurant interior to the ample rooftop “parking lot.

Venetians presented photos of alley dining at Gjelina/GTA, “parking lot” dining plus unpermitted patio dining at Gjusta, and photos of the Black Beast’s beautiful rooftop “parking lot.”

One Venetian pointed out that Gjelina’s food has a great reputation and people come from far and wide for that food. He said it would be unlikely that these diners would be riding bikes or taking buses to 1305 Abbot Kinney’s Black Beast.

CCC Decision
One commissioner said that it was noble of Camaj to look outside the box for parking.

Commissioner Jana Zimmer commented that Venice residents and beach goers are already competing for scarce and on street parking. Outdoor “parking lot” areas are not permitted for dining. What is the record of enforcement?
Commissioner Roberto Uranga noted that the project seems to have been disingenuous from the start. It seems there was never any intent to build parking lifts.

COMMISSIONERS VOTE – 6 to 5
GREGORY COX – YES JANA ZIMMER – NO
DAYNA BOCHCO – YES CAROLE GROOM – NO
MARTHA MCCLURE – YES ERIC HOWELL- NO
MARK VARGAS – YES STEVE KINSEY – NO
WENDY MITCHELL- YES ROBERTO URANGA – NO
RANDY PESTOR – NO

Conclusion
Had Camaj been a good neighbor at Gjelina/GTA, Venetians would be clamoring to have one of his restaurants in their neighborhood. Unfortunately, Gjelina’s/GTA’s neighbors have complained that his restaurant/take away has not been in compliance and has been a nuisance for eight years. The consequences of residents experiencing this are that many Venetians do not want Camaj’s establishments near their homes.

Camaj’s restaurants include Gjelina/GTA, Gjusta, and the Black Beast. He will also manage 259 Hampton (Sauce). Currently all five seem to be ignoring permits and have compliance issues.

Listen to Us
Developers, please work with residents, work with transparency and within the City’s laws, permits, and compliance policies. This will save developers, the City, and Venetians time, energy, and money. Do the right thing. It’s easier.