Textile Exec Duels With Actor
Textile executive Yahouda “Youdi” Emrani has done battle with Asian importers and other rival fabric companies, but he never thought he’d be having a row with bad-boy actor Johnny Depp.
Emrani, a principal with Los Angeles–based Emday Fabrics, also has a thriving real estate business with brother Joseph at Venice Investments, which develops lofts and retail projects around Southern California.
Venice’s latest development, a 100,000-square-foot retail project in West Hollywood called Sunset Park, is the cause of consternation for the actor. Depp has been fighting Emrani for the past year and a half, contending the five-story proposed building at 8305 Sunset Blvd. would block views from his Hollywood Hills home on Sweetzer Avenue.
Despite failing to sway the city of West Hollywood, which unanimously approved the project in 2004, Depp has been unrelenting in trying to halt or reconfigure Emrani’s project.
The actor, who spends most of his time in France with actress Vanessa Paradis and their children, sued the city of West Hollywood and Venice principals, but the city and the Emranis prevailed. Now, Depp is appealing the case.
“They’ve been toying with us so we recently broke off negotiations,” said Emrani, who added that Venice Investments has spent about $150,000 in legal fees fighting the case in addition to the costs incurred due to frequent delays during the last 18 months.
“I think we can go ahead with construction now,” he said. “Everything [including construction materials] has gone up about 30 to 40 percent in the meantime.”
Emrani contends that Depp’s argument is without merit, claiming the project does not impede views from Depp’s house. Representatives for Depp, however, believe the project would obstruct a partial view from a lower terrace of Depp’s property.
Emrani, who does not think Depp will win his appeal, said he plans to start construction shortly. —Robert McAllister
