One of the big unanswered questions at last week’s grand opening of Hollywood’s Tesla Diner was how its neighbors were feeling about the new, four-story tall movie screen placed directly outside their apartment building.
Turns out, many of them are not liking it, or the general chaos that the diner has brought.
First, there was the construction. “Last night they have installed a flashing security light up against our fence,” Kristin Rose, a former resident of the apartment building next to the Tesla Diner, said in an email to the building management and to Tesla in February 2024, during building works. “This light is flashing BRIGHT into our apartments, including bedrooms, all night. Even with the blinds closed it feels like we're at the world's worst rave. Video is attached."
Strobing light outside apartment. Video: Kristin Rose
Rose moved out in January of this year, which she says is “absolutely, 100 percent” because of the diner. “We were living through active construction six days a week from 7 a.m. to like 8 or 9 p.m.” she said. “Often that construction was starting at like 4 a.m. illegally.” She showed me several email chains where she discussed these issues with Tesla, the city of Los Angeles, her building management, and the construction company.