Silver Lake's New Crosswalk Doesn't Please Everyone

The new crosswalk and stoplight over Silverlake Boulevard into the Silver Lake meadow is up and running.

Council members Tom LaBonge and Eric Garcetti stopped by to help  launch the new safety feature Saturday.

It's designed to protect folks crossing over to the meadow and lake trail from the east side of the very busy street, where parking is allowed.

The crosswalk and light sit pretty much directly in front of the famous VDL Research House, designed by Richard Neutra, at 2300 Silver Lake Blvd.

Neutra's son Dion is among those who question the location of the stoplight, which mars the view of the house from the lake.

Neutra recently called the project "an example of community planning gone wrong" on his blog, noting that "they've managed to erect an incredibly ugly POLE in the middle of the favored view that everyone wants ot catch when they view or photo this building."

Meantime, joggers circling the lake late at night--including, sometimes, myself--may find it a good source of extra light on that dark side of the loop.