Astralab, a small community-run "third space" tucked into the Granada Buildings in Westlake, is staring down a 60-day notice to vacate and says it has to be out by next Sunday. Founders warn that losing access to the courtyard would effectively shutter a rare refuge where Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) immigrants gather for bazaars, dance nights, and grief-support circles. They say the notice landed while they were in the middle of negotiating a lease extension, and now they are scrambling to keep the program alive in any form.
Co-founders Christina Lila and Yusuf Misdaq say they poured most of their personal savings into launching Astralab and had only recently moved beyond breaking even when the 60-day notice arrived in February. They say they have enlisted a pro-bono lawyer to contest the notice. A person at the building's real estate office told LAist that Astralab's tenancy ends next Sunday and that the group will need to vacate.
Building and landlord
Astralab operates out of a suite in the Granada Buildings, a block-long Mediterranean-style complex that fronts La Fayette Park Place. Commercial property listings show the address as 672 S La Fayette Park Pl and list JMF Development as the manager. The building's leasing pages identify JMF as the listing company, according to Rofo.
Community is medicine
Regulars describe Astralab as a "home away from home," saying the venue runs bazaars that open the courtyard to roughly 30 to 40 creators and has hosted more than 200 artists, musicians, and small businesses over the last two years. Attendees say most paid events use sliding-scale or free tickets so programming stays accessible, and the group has a Middle Eastern and Persian celebration scheduled for next Saturday, as reported by LAist.
Legal fight and tenant rights
The founders say they have hired pro-bono counsel to challenge the notice and are preparing legal options in case the owner moves ahead with eviction. Recent expansions of right-to-counsel programs in Los Angeles have broadened access to free eviction representation for qualifying renters, NBC Los Angeles reported.
What's next
With the clock ticking and lease talks stalled, the founders say they may take Astralab's programming on the road if they cannot reach a deal, while neighbors say they are watching to see whether the building manager follows through on the notice. For now, one of the city's few SWANA-focused cultural hubs remains at immediate risk as community organizing and legal efforts play out in real time.
