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Veteran real estate broker J. Richard Leyner is taking a stab at politics.
The former proponent of Valley secession has been appointed to the North Valley Area Planning Commission, filling a post vacated by Valley businessman David S. Honda.
Leyner, senior vice president of NAI Capital who has been with the brokerage for 17 years, has long been active in the community, holding numerous posts on chambers, business improvement districts and other trade associations.
But the planning commission post will be his first foray into the political arena.
“I just thought this is a way for me to be active civically,” Leyner said. “I’ve never done anything like this except when we were trying to secede from the city.”
Leyner is currently chairman of the board of Valley VOTE, the pivotal group behind the secession movement which has since continued to operate as an advocate for the San Fernando Valley.
He’s also on the executive committee of the Encino Chamber of Commerce, president of the Encino Business Improvement District and past president of the United Chambers of Commerce, among a number of community and philanthropic activities.
In 2005 he received the Fernando Award for his volunteer efforts.
Leyner figures he’ll be drawing on all those experiences now that he’s received this planning commission appointment from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
“I think my experience as president of the neighborhood council for five years gives me the ability to be a conciliator,” Leyner said. “I’m the guy they call in when there’s a problem. I think it’s the same concept. The biggest challenge is to be very moderate. If you go for the business community you’re classified as not caring about the neighborhood. If you go for the neighborhood you’re seen as someone who doesn’t understand the economic impact of business.”
So is Leyner taking a seat square in the middle of a rock and a hard place?
He says the answer lies in reviewing each project on its merits.
He has represented landlords as an expert witness and he was a staunch proponent of the controversial AvalonBay Communities mixed use project on Ventura Boulevard currently under construction in Encino.
“People said, it’s going to bring in riff raff,” Leyner said. “I said, what kind of riff raff is going to afford a $2,000-a-month apartment?”
At the same time, he successfully fought a proposal to build a JiffyLube on Ventura Boulevard at Louise Avenue.
“I said you’re not putting it there. That’s the heart of Encino,” Leyner said. “Where it’s anti-neighborhood I’m going to fight it. If it’s beneficial for the neighborhood, I’ll go that way.”
The Northridge resident said he is particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of helping to upgrade the Northeast Valley. The commission’s area runs from Chatsworth east to Sunland-Tujunga, north of Roscoe Boulevard.
Insurance Deal
Zenith Insurance Co. has inked a deal for a 21,987-square foot office space in Woodland Hills.
Consideration for the five year lease at 21300 Victory Blvd., is $3.3 million.
Zenith had been subleasing space in the Warner Corporate Center building.
Jeremy Dee of Corp. Realty Advisors, represented the tenant.
The landlord, Arden Realty, was represented by Mark Leonard, a broker with Lee
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