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Comment by zach | Hacker News Reader

I'm totally in on this. This is an amazing development for the LA startup community.

As an LA native (it made the radio news here on Wednesday), I'm very curious where in the Los Angeles area this is.

Santa Monica/Venice is the startup juggernaut of this area, but media startups tend to run farther afield and I don't know if Disney even has any offices there (maybe ESPN?). I would think, given the realities of the startup world, advisors and investors in particular, not to mention LA traffic, it would have to be on the Westside, right?

Also extremely curious how the IP access works out. Time from, say, a Disney Consumer Products artist to create new art is a big deal (and not cheap). And could DA companies put Disney characters in the iPhone app they're going to sell or is this just to make an effective demo?

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Most Disney Studios/Interactive people are in the Burbank/Glendale area. I agree it'd be smart to offer everyone some co-working space in Santa Monica.

I really hope it isn't on the westside. I want some options for tech work that don't require me to buy a house on the westside or drive 1 1/2 hour one way for my commute.

Agree completely. Do it properly and LA will not have the kind of class war affecting NorCal.

Forcing people to work out of the most congested and expensive parts of LA is going to compound the misery. Why anyone thinks it's a good idea to base themselves West of the 405 is beyond me.

I sincerely hope they base this out of Burbank/Glendale which gives ready accessibility to Pasadena, East LA, Hollywood and further North without commute hell.

Well, why anyone thinks it's a good idea to base themselves East of the East River is beyond me, but different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

You mean the Los Angeles river?

Honestly, me too. I grew up in the Valley and used to live in Burbank and commuted to Hollywood and (of course) Santa Monica — which is, yeah, a harsh drive. It would be awesome if Disney could effectively bring technology startups somewhere beside the Westside.

However, I have to think that Techstars, of anyone, has the data to back up the arguments in favor of accelerators being located near a region's startup ground zero.

Even if Disney was insistent, what would the first advice be from every advisor? Put the central location on the Westside or you're a B player.

And I don't think Disney would necessarily be insistent. For example, Grantland's offices are off on their own in downtown LA. Especially since they can just do a deal with one of the many tech office spaces that operate on the Westside.

Still, perhaps there can be a compromise, like two demo days (one in the studio area, one on the Westside). But I've seen the Westside win too many times to hold out much hope...

That's the best part of LA silly

I think Disney has an office in the Burbank area. Co-worker has mentioned he used to contract for them in that area.

Most likely at the Glendale Creative Campus.

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