Summary
Two vacant historic gas station buildings in Old Towne will become a restaurant with walk-up service, outdoor dining and a full bar. Neighbors worried about the six-foot fence, the mechanical roof screen, and maintenance of decomposed granite. The committee approved it with conditions on lighting, fence color and trees.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jun 3, 2026.
Impact analysis
The owners say they're investing about $4 million and creating roughly 50 jobs.
The owners and future diners get a new gathering spot, and a long-vacant corner comes back to life.
Preservation advocates say the six-foot fence and mechanical screen still read as more institutional than historic.
Mentions & discussions (2)
Design Review Committee — June 3, 2026
Two vacant historic gas station buildings in Old Towne will become a restaurant with walk-up service, outdoor dining and a full bar. Neighbors worried about the six-foot fence, the mechanical roof screen, and maintenance of decomposed granite. The committee approved it with conditions on lighting, fence color and trees.
Design Review Committee — May 20, 2026
A popular LA-area burger-and-bar concept wants to turn two vacant historic buildings at 237 W. Chapman into an outdoor restaurant with 225 seats. Preservationists worry the fencing and heavy site programming overwhelm the historic buildings; the committee wants better details before approving.
Related development
The Win~Dow restaurant adaptive reuse
Would activate a long-vacant historic corner; fencing, landscaping, and screening details must be revised first.
The Win~Dow (Design Review No. 25-0025)
A blighted corner at a gateway into the Plaza gets a $4 million restaurant renovation and about 50 new jobs, though some preservationists remain unhappy with the fence and roof screen.
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