Lunch & Learn: LA’s New Development Services Bureau
Earlier this year, zoning review shifted from LADBS to the Planning Department — and if you're processing applications in the City of LA, that change has real day-to-day implications. Join us for lunch and an open conversation with Craig Weber (Deputy Director, Development Services) on what's new: how Universal Planning Review Services can work in your favor, what pre-application milestones belong in your project timelines, and what to expect as the new Development Services Bureau finds its footing.
Space is limited to WUF members and sponsors. Bring your questions.
Closing Time: The Precarious Existence of Bars and Restaurants in L.A.
In a region as vast as Los Angeles, bars and restaurants serve a crucial civic function, providing “third spaces” for people to gather and crucial sources of employment for everyone from celebrity chefs to bussers and dishwashers. L.A. restaurants have earned Michelin stars, developed loyal followings, and influenced entire culinary movements. And yet, many of them are in peril. Meanwhile, storefronts—including those in newer mixed-use developments— sit empty in many neighborhoods across the Westside, each one a void where Angelenos might otherwise gather, break bread, or raise a glass.
This month, WUF will explore the economic and policy challenges facing restaurants, bars, the property owners who host them, and the property owners who might want to host them. We’ll discuss how the challenges of making rent and building out kitchens and dining rooms compound upon the time and money operators must spend to get permits and, in some cases, battle the very neighbors whom they hope to welcome. And, we’ll discuss ways that cities are protomting—and neglecting—these crucial civic institutions.
Moderator
TBD
Panelists
David Houston – Owner/Operator, Barney’s Beanery and Q’s Billiard Club
Daniel Neman – Co-Founder and Principal, RYDA
Zachry Card – First Vice President, CBRE
Laura Biery – Director of Economic Development, West Hollywood
Thursday, May 21st, 2026
Helms Design Center
7:45 am - 9:30 am PDT
Panel from 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Doors open at 7:45 for registration, breakfast and networking.
In a region as vast as Los Angeles, bars and restaurants serve a crucial civic function, providing “third spaces” for people to gather and crucial sources of employment for everyone from celebrity chefs to bussers and dishwashers. L.A. restaurants have earned Michelin stars, developed loyal followings, and influenced entire culinary movements. And yet, many of them are in peril. Meanwhile, storefronts—including those in newer mixed-use developments— sit empty in many neighborhoods across the Westside, each one a void where Angelenos might otherwise gather, break bread, or raise a glass.
This month, WUF will explore the economic and policy challenges facing restaurants, bars, the property owners who host them, and the property owners who might want to host them. We’ll discuss how the challenges of making rent and building out kitchens and dining rooms compound upon the time and money operators must spend to get permits and, in some cases, battle the very neighbors whom they hope to welcome. And, we’ll discuss ways that cities are protomting—and neglecting—these crucial civic institutions.
Panelists
TBD
Moderator
TBD
Thursday, May 21st, 2026
Helms Design Center
7:45 am - 9:30 am PDT
Panel from 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Doors open at 7:45 for registration, breakfast and networking.
In a region as vast as Los Angeles, bars and restaurants serve a crucial civic function, providing “third spaces” for people to gather and crucial sources of employment for everyone from celebrity chefs to bussers and dishwashers. L.A. restaurants have earned Michelin stars, developed loyal followings, and influenced entire culinary movements. And yet, many of them are in peril. Meanwhile, storefronts—including those in newer mixed-use developments— sit empty in many neighborhoods across the Westside, each one a void where Angelenos might otherwise gather, break bread, or raise a glass.
This month, WUF will explore the economic and policy challenges facing restaurants, bars, the property owners who host them, and the property owners who might want to host them. We’ll discuss how the challenges of making rent and building out kitchens and dining rooms compound upon the time and money operators must spend to get permits and, in some cases, battle the very neighbors whom they hope to welcome. And, we’ll discuss ways that cities are protomting—and neglecting—these crucial civic institutions.
Panelists
TBD
Moderator
TBD
The 2026 Annual Westside Mayors Forum
Join us for our Annual Westside Mayors Forum, where the mayors of our four vibrant Westside communities come together for a candid conversation about their land use priorities and the challenges shaping their cities in 2026.
The State of Development in LA
With so many legislative changes at the state and local level, why aren’t we seeing more development? Westside Urban Forum is very excited to discuss the state of development in LA with Donna Shen Tripp (Craig Lawson & Co., LLC), Jack Wickersham III (AMJ Construction Management) and Gabe Hungerford (Trammell Crow).
Reinventing Community: Start in Your Own Backyard by Steve Nygren
Join us for a conversation with author Steve Nygren about embracing optimism, challenging the status quo, and reinventing community!
Hosted by Westside Urban Forum, Steve Nygren of Serenbe will discuss his national bestseller, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live With Radical Common Sense, which chronicles the rise of Serenbe, a pioneering model of biophilic living outside Atlanta. Josh Stephens, former Westside Urban Forum President and contributing editor to the California Planning & Development Report, will join in conversation.
The book provides a blueprint for developing sustainable communities where citizens of all generations can thrive, and awe is found in everyday moments. Topics include:
The unintended consequences of sprawl, and why clustered development supports more green space, more housing, and lower costs
Why being disconnected from nature and each other is at the root of many environmental, societal, and health-related woes
Tactics to encourage a local food-based economy
How small yards, front porches, and blueberry bushes at crosswalks lead to strong, supportive neighborhoods
The benefits of aging in place and nurturing connections between generations
Whether you're a placemaker, developer, civic leader, business owner, or parent wishing to improve your community, this book educates and inspires, demonstrating the impact of local action and sparking hope that one person can change the world by starting in your own backyard.
MORE INFO AT VILLAGEWELL.COM
Design Awards Ceremony
Westside Urban Forum is excited to invite you to our 2025 Design Awards Celebration on November 12th, where we'll celebrate the projects and leaders shaping the future of Los Angeles. Join us at The A-Frame Theater in the Wende Museum's newly opened Glorya Kaufman Community Center. We'll recognize excellence in design and the lasting positive impact these projects have on our communities, while also experiencing one of Culver City's newest cultural destinations.
The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP here.
Annual California Legislative Roundup
Join us for an engaging and informative panel discussion to review the significant legislation passed--and not passed--in the 2025 session. This event aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest legislative changes and their impact on our communities and cities. Whether you are a government official, urban planner, developer, or community advocate, this discussion is essential for understanding how recent legislation will impact your work and our communities.
Fantasy Football
Westside Urban Forum Fantasy Football. Draft will take place in person on Thursday, August 28th. Competition will last all season.
Members-Only Tour of Habitat LA
Join us as Lendlease offers a private tour of their new placemaking development, Habitat! Get an early peak at the project's 260-unit residential tower, next-generation 250,000 SF office campus, and one-acre public park.
Westside Urban Happy Hour
Celebrate summer with fellow city-shapers!
Join Westside Urban Forum, Livable Communities Initiative, and Westside for Everyone for a laid-back August happy hour bringing together a dynamic mix of voices passionate about the future of our region. Whether you're a land use professional, a community advocate, or simply someone who cares about how our neighborhoods grow and thrive, you're invited to connect, unwind, and spark great conversations.
This is a 21+ event open to all sectors—no panels, no presentations, just good people, good ideas, and a toast to livable, sustainable communities.
Let’s build community while we reimagine it.
Project Spotlight: Habitat Los Angeles
Westside Urban Forum Breakfast Panel: Project Spotlight on Habitat Los Angeles.
Members Only Tour: Enlightenment Plaza
Enlightenment Plaza is a 454-unit modular supportive housing development located within the Vermont/Western Station Neighborhood Area Plan (aka “the SNAP”). Join the project’s architects, KFA, for a guided tour of the newly completed first phase. They’ll share insights on key design decisions and how the team navigated challenges throughout the process.
This tour is ideal for professionals working in development in the City of Los Angeles, as well as anyone interested in the benefits and trade-offs of modular construction.