Sherman Oaks Images

Facts:


1. Important Facts:

In 1993 the Sherman Oaks boundary was redrawn to include the area north of Magnolia Blvd up to Burbank Blvd leaving Van Nuys Blvd a part of Van Nuys. A clear oversight of that effort did not recognize the similarity of the neighborhood just north of Burbank Blvd, which mirrors the same demographics, housing types, and housing mix.  Also, the industrial zoned Oxnard Blvd creates a clear, physical northern boundary that includes the Orange Line bus-way which bisects the area in a real and meaningful way.
See "Community Recognition / Maps" for more

  • Property taxes, city services and school districts will not be affected in any way
  • This proposed area equates to less than 3% of the Van Nuys community. As a result, there can be no significant impact on the Van Nuys statistical info related to demographics, property value, crime data, business development, etc
  • It includes only 1800 homes representing less than 5,000 residents
  • The northern Sherman Oaks boundary line was moved in 1992 from Magnolia to Burbank Blvd. It should have been extended up to Oxnard at that point, where a physical community dividing line exists due to the zoned industrial area and Orange Bus Line
  • There are many beautiful neighborhoods in Van Nuys, but the proposed area is not close to any of them. The area is physically separated from the rest of Van Nuys, but is part of the community and neighborhood immediately south, which is Sherman Oaks.
  • The proposed area consists of adding only two more blocks to that prior change; east to Hazeltine, west to Sepulveda, north to Califa / Tiarra
  • It is the resident’s on-going extensive economic impact and existing involvement in the Sherman Oaks community that are the driving motives for this request.
  • It is possible that home values may increase but that will benefit the overall community - there is no negative side to a possible increase

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2. Business Support:

The Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce as well as businesses throughout the proposed area are in overwhelming support of this name change. Every business that was approached in the area has offered written support (with the exception of a few who are prevented from doing so by corporate policy - i.e. Target, Starbucks). Many businesses in the area already use Sherman Oaks in their address; notably Subaru of Sherman Oaks, located north of Burbank Blvd on Van Nuys Blvd.

  • The vast majority of the affected businesses on Burbank Blvd and Sepulveda Blvd fully support this initiative
  • Current border creates an innaccurate perception - businesses on south side of Burbank Blvd. are in Sherman Oaks, while those on north side are in Van Nuys. Name change would resolve this confusion and potentially help businesses on the north side of Burbank Blvd. This is especially important given the current state of the economy.
  • Sherman Oaks Chanber of Commerce President Dr. Robert Cohen has provided a written letter of support to Councilperson Wendy Greuel. Click here to read the full letter

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3. Similar Efforts:

Over the last 15 years a precedent has been set throughout Los Angeles. Neighborhood names are important, and citizens have the right to ensure their neighborhood is identified correctly. The LA Times on Febuary 19th, 2009 said "...residents take their neighborhood names so seriously. Those designations are part tradition and history -- but also part economic and political...In the Valley, there's a grand tradition of seceding from traditional neighborhoods".

  • Since the 1990's, six valley communities have lobbied and all have successfully changed their name: Valley Glen, West Hills, Winnetka, Valley Village, North Hills, and most recently, West Van Nuys to Lake Balboa
  • In 2007, Lake Balboa consisted of ~18,000 residents while ~25,000 West Van Nuys residents lobbied to join their community. The motion was passed when 75 people spoke at the Council hearing. Lake Balboa now consists of over 43,000 residents

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4. Commerce:

As a result of geography, specifically the industrial strip and orange line that separates the proposed area from the rest of Van Nuys, residents conduct their business almost exclusively in Sherman Oaks. Furthermore, the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce has given full written support for the name change.

  • All the day-to-day basics such as grocery shopping, buying gas, the bank, the cleaners, post office, restaurants, the mall, etc. all take place in Sherman Oaks for these residents because of their immediate proximity and separation from the area to the north
  • Despite the relatively small size of the area, due to these expenditures this group has an impact on the vitality and job creation for the Sherman Oaks community.
  • Sherman Oaks Chanber of Commerce President Dr. Robert Cohen has provided a written letter of support to Councilperson Wendy Greuel. Click here to read the full letter

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5. Real Estate:

  • The area already shares a common zip code with Sherman Oaks 91411
  • Property tax bills have already been written to new homeowners in the area with Sherman Oaks listed as the city
  • Since the area makes up only 3% or less of Van Nuys, the effort will not adversely affect the Van Nuys or Sherman Oaks statistical info related to demographics or property value
  • It is possible that home values may increase but that will benefit the overall community - there is no negative side to a possible increase
  • This issue will never again be raised since the neighboring communities of Sherman Oaks are already set with Encino & Tarzana on the West, North Hollywood & Studio City on the East and Bel Air to the South.

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6.Community Recognition:

Just by looking at the Google satellite map below, it is easy to see that the proposed area is physically part of Sherman Oaks. There is a clear, visible border north of the area that separates it from the rest of the Van Nuys community.
Residents of the area live their lives as part of the Sherman Oaks community, and will continue to do so because of physical location, boundaries, and the many other reasons provided here. It is time to officially recognize this and give the residents a clear sense of identity with their community.

  • The City of Los Angeles recognizes the area as demographically part of Sherman Oaks, and has included it in the district of the same Councilperson as Sherman Oaks
  • Many residents and businesses already use a Sherman Oaks address without issue, but would like official recognition of their part in the Sherman Oaks community.
  • Real estate is often listed as Sherman Oaks
  • Van Nuys organizations, including the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the LAPD and other Van Nuys organizations, hold an annual clean up day.  For the past 25 YEARS they have only gone as far south as Oxnard - EXCLUDING THE PROPOSED AREA from Van Nuys clean up.
  • Alternatively, the Sherman Oaks Beautification Committee, a board comprised of members of the Sherman Oaks Chamber, The “Business Improvement District”, Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association and The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, organizes quarterly clean up days. Last year’s event cleaned as far north as Oxnard - including the proposed area as part of Sherman Oaks. 

View Larger Map


View large land use map of the area from LA City Planning


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7. Community Support:

The community is in overwhelming support of this name change. Of course, there is opposition - as the LA Times states in its Febuary 2009 article, "nailing down names that everyone will agree on will be difficult...You'll also get some blowback from Van Nuys -- it's been chopped up."
However, this is not a reason to ignore the obvious facts and the will of the residents in and around the proposed area.

  • Over 1000 electronically signed petitions have already been e-mailed to councilmembers from residents throughout both boundaries. The number continues to grow rapidly as awareness increases.
  • Over 700 signed petitions from residents within the proposed area
  • More than 400 signed petitions from residents within the current Sherman Oaks boundary
  • Signed petitions from the majority of businesses along Burbank and Sepulveda Blvd.

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