The 101 freeway cuts through the neighborhood of East Hollywood and leaves deserted islands of underutilized space. Ironically, residents in the neighborhood cut off by the freeway, have little access to open public space in which to enjoy all the trappings of suburbia. Caltrans, however, owns acres of land between the rivers of moving cars on the 101, yet only uses them for storage.

In October, 2001, neighborhood residents won a suit against Caltrans, calling for them to give back open space and other amenities to the neighborhood. During testimony, residents spoke of the need for places to work on cars, play loud music, hold farmers’ markets, cultivate vegetable gardens, and celebrate local culture.

In response to these needs, Caltrans hired respected local architect, Avi Laiser, to work with local residents to design a suburban oasis in between the elevated channels of speeding traffic. If one stands between the freeways for any length of time, the relentless noise of the traffic begins to sound less like laboring engines and more like an effervescent river. The monotonous noise, coupled with the varied topography and sprawling expanse of grass, provides an opportunity to create a suburban atmosphere in the city, making at least part of the American Dream possible in a neighborhood were 88% of families live in multi-unit housing.

The plan of "Off the Road Islands" seeks to provide suburban amenities to these local families, for whom traditional suburbia is financially out of reach.The site is currently used for a self storage facility, and though the storage units serve a function similar to that of the suburban garage, they lack the life and activity found in these suburban icons, with people outside fixing their cars, teenagers practicing grunge tunes and children putting on plays. Residents living near the site could use Off the Road Islands for these activities, as well as cultivating trees, buying fresh produce and having garage sales on weekends. The site is surrounded by many educational institutions, including Los Angeles Community College, Cleveland Chiropractic College, the American Career College, and the Braille Institute.

Off the Road Islands will provide opportunities for students from these schools to interact with neighborhood residents, learn skills in addition to their conventional educations, such as cooking, music sampling, street fashion, or just lie in the grass on a sunny day. The site is accessible to the neighborhood via two underground passages which continue the existing city streets, particularly Madison and Kenmore. A "Cruising Road" winds through the islands providing internal circulation and the pleasure of driving slowly to show off your fabulously souped up car. There are two breaking points who divide the site, Vermont overpass which allow vertical access to the islands, and also provide additional parking on the bridge, and Helitrope underpass which provide grounded access.

Off the Road Islands are an oasis in a dense urban fabric that use the leftovers space in the city.