A Sky-High Welcome

 

The community gathered on October 23 to celebrate SKY Properties’ new office at Village Square with a ribbon-cutting and mixer hosted by the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce. SKY Properties CEO Kari Negri delivered the following remarks, thanking community members — first and foremost, her husband, Mike Donatelli — for their support and eloquently expressing her love of the neighborhood.

Grand Opening Speech by Kari Negri

When Mike first asked me if I wanted to buy this building, I was so excited. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride ever since. However, Lori King and Jon Molin made it a little easier for us. We are so happy to be here in Toluca Lake and have our home and our business in walking distance, amongst friends, coworkers and neighbors. There are so many great businesses here in Toluca Lake, and I am honored to be one of them. Thank you, Malbec, Prosecco, Hungry Crowd and Social Pour, and a huge thank-you to Brian at Red Maple, who is one of those people who never say no. Last, but not least, our dear friend Harry, owner of Luxury Parking, who graciously volunteered to do valet parking.

Mike did a ton of work on my Suite #205 upstairs. Please take a look when you get a moment — he does excellent work. I so appreciate our ability to work together, and as a plus we are both still breathing. There is one small office upstairs that still needs to be rented; if anyone is interested, Mike can show you. We are looking for the perfect tenant for downstairs. We had high hopes for a restaurant and bar and are still working on that, but sometimes you get something better than you hoped for. We cannot disclose anything yet, but I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Mike started helping me with everything for SKY/GFY construction during 2020, when I had very little help and two companies to run, and I am truly grateful for all that he does. The fact that he does it better and also worships me doesn’t hurt. All kidding aside, you don’t get to be an owner of a business like SKY Properties without a lot of sacrifice and a lot of support. My family has been with me through thick and thin as we traveled 30 years through time building it, sacrificing several vacations, nights and weekends where I haven’t been able to step away from my phone. My daughter Skyla spent a lot of time on the floor of my office growing up, and being the last to be picked up from school on some days, but she was only taken to the fire department once and she had a blast. Enzo just got to reap all the benefits — just kidding, he knows from vacationing and living with me and being home with me through COVID with us that my work can be 24/7 and super stressful without help, and that’s the life of a property manager. However, it is a life that’s provided us with the opportunity to live here in Toluca Lake!

Now for a little fun with my Toluca Lake neighbors, and a toast.

You know you live in Toluca Lake if…

1. You’ve taken a golf ball to the face on Valley Spring, but can’t sue because you know their lawyer is probably better than yours.
2. For years you believed there was a store that didn’t really fix computers, they just sold LEGOs.
3. The sushi restaurants all have the exact same menu.
4. You occasionally win the lottery and find street parking for Trader Joe’s.
5. Every dog eats better than our college kids.
6. Your barista was once on The Young and the Restless.
7. You drive down Kling and there is a house completely covered in snow and it is over 100 degrees out and it’s August. There are reindeer on the lawn and a large man in a red suit yelling at them — just a regular day in the neighborhood.
8. Your neighbor is either a movie star, a producer or someone who says they used to be both.
9. You’ve seen more Teslas than squirrels.
10. Your Halloween decorations cost more than your first car.
11. You go out for a walk and come home with a screenplay. Third act needs work.
12. The local duck population has more political power than the Chamber of Commerce.
13. The Starbucks line includes a studio executive, a film composer and someone in full superhero makeup — and no one bats an eye.
14. You’ve dodged at least three production trucks on your way to yoga.
15. Someone says, “You know who used to live here?” and you have to respond, “Which decade?”
16. Your neighbor’s gardener once won a Daytime Emmy.
17. You’ve had to move your car for a film shoot more times than your Juvéderm injections.
18. You know it’s awards season because there are no Uber Black cars available for an hour.
19. Your Neighborhood Watch group doubles as a casting network.
20. Your definition of “traffic” is getting stuck behind Robyn’s golf cart.
21. You’ve had to say, “Sorry I’m late — Spielberg was filming on my block.”
22. Even your dog walker has a SAG card.
23. I have learned that if someone honks, it is not a great idea to show them the bird.
24. I have learned that my dog only likes to go on the lawns of people I know, so I have the humiliating experience of waving hello while holding dog poop — and let’s not forget the lawn has to be pristine before being picked. I am now avoiding Adrienne and Gail.
25. I have learned to never say, “Wow, you look familiar. Do you work at Malbec down the street? I think you might have been my waitress!” Anna Paquin was super nice about it, but my daughter was mortified.

There are many ways to give back in Toluca Lake! Join the TLHOA, get invited to the Garden Club, Toluca Lake Beautification — what could be better? Join the Chamber and come to a mixer like this one and support local businesses. Join the Neighborhood Watch and become one of those weird people who are always looking out their window at you — however, ours here in Toluca Lake has had incredible success. NHPD PALS is an amazing organization that always needs volunteers. What I do not recommend is doing all of them, as it is almost always the usual suspects who can never say no, like me, but I loveToluca Lake and I am so proud to be opening a second location here.

Thank you to my staff who are here tonight — too many to name, but a shout-out to Matt on guitar and Lynn on vocals tonight, both SKY managers, and a big shout-out to Ixia, who is here and helped make all of this happen.

Toluca Lake isn’t just where the stars live — it’s where we all shine a little brighter. Nestled in a rare corner of Los Angeles, Toluca Lake manages to feel both glamorous and genuine — where movie stars and next-door neighbors share the same Trader Joe’s parking struggle, and everyone still waves hello. It’s a place where history, creativity and charm meet a tight-knit community that somehow feels both Hollywood-famous and small-town neighborly.

Tonight — surrounded by good wine, great company and probably a few casting agents — we’re reminded that the real stars of Toluca Lake are its people. This little village sparkles with character, personality and stories waiting to be shared.

So cheers to the community that keeps Toluca Lake shining brighter than a Hollywood spotlight. Let’s enjoy the night, the laughter and the magic of a neighborhood that always feels like home.