"Eagle Rock: Where land use and
planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK
ASSOCIATION
-- e.letter --
December 27, 2001
In this issue:
1. PASSING OF A COMMUNITY GIANT -- JOHN LEE
2. SIGN THE
WALGREENS PETITION -- ONLY A NAME AND ADDRESS NEEDED!
3. COMMENTS FROM WALGREENS PETITION SIGNERS
(AND THERE ARE MANY)
4. POSTER PROBLEM
5. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
6. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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1. PASSING OF A COMMUNITY GIANT -- JOHN LEE
We
are sorry to inform you that John Lee died Friday, December 21. John had great physical
stature, and he had great civic stature as well. He was a founding Board member of TERA, an avid champion of
TERA's work, and a tireless volunteer for all of Eagle Rock. He was very actively involved in the Eagle
Rock Kiwanis Club and maintained a constant positive presence at Eagle Rock
High School working with the kids, among many, many other wonderful things. He was also a good friend to many of us.
We
extend our sincere condolences to John's wife, Gloria, and to his family. Funeral services will be held at the
Eagle Rock Baptist Church at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Loleta Avenue
TODAY, Thursday, December 27, 2001, at 10:00 a.m.
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2. SIGN THE WALGREENS PETITION -- ONLY A
NAME AND ADDRESS NEEDED!
* I
support positive economic development in Eagle Rock, which benefits business
and residents alike.
* I
support development that respects Eagle Rock's architectural history and
"hometown" feel.
* I
welcome Walgreens into our community, as long as Walgreens honors what we, the
people, want.
* If
Walgreens decides to locate in our community, I DO NOT want Walgreens to
demolish the Shopping Bag building and erect a corporate cookie-cutter
structure surrounded by a vast parking lot.
* If
Walgreens decides to locate in our community, I DO want Walgreens to
restore and occupy the Shopping Bag building at 2222 Colorado Boulevard.
My
name and address are:
My
additional comments are:
Send
your petition to us at artburn@earthlink.net. Pass it on to others in Eagle Rock, Northeast Los Angeles, and
the 14th District. Thanks!
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3. COMMENTS FROM WALGREENS PETITION SIGNERS
(AND THERE ARE MANY)
"It
is my sincere hope that the people at Walgreens will want to respect the wishes
of their future customers, the people who live and work in the vicinity of the
Shopping Bag building."
--
Cheryl Leutjen, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"This
block [where Walgreens proposes to build] is a key site. It defines the main intersection in Eagle
Rock, and thus anchors the community.
The last thing that we need in Eagle Rock is another commercial eyesore,
comparable to the totally useless mini-mall next to Blockbuster. (I avoid that place like the plague --
parking places are horrible, signage is ugly, proportions are totally
out-of-scale).
There
is no indication from the site-plan that the Walgreens development would be any
different -- in fact it could be worse.
Why force out small businesses, like Bricks restaurant, that we
support? Where is space for pedestrians? Why increase traffic at an already dangerous
intersection? Starbucks should move in
at the other end of Eagle Rock -- near the post-office -- and the freeway. We need small, user-friendly businesses or
public spaces in the heart of Eagle Rock."
--
Eunice D. Howe, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"I
shop and frequent this corner. All over
Los Angeles communities are finding revival and prosperity in preserving the
historic buildings in their areas. From
Pasadena, to Los Feliz to Mid Wilshire (L.A. Times earlier this week) the
buildings themselves are important to the success of the area.
The
Northeast has had good results with preservation. From Lawry's to Van de Kamp's this area has never had such good
press. Eagle Rock is seeing an influx
of business, especially in this area.
The charm of the area is a big reason for this. A big box would never land Eagle Rock on the
cover of the L.A. Times Magazine, with the attendant benefits of that
kind of buzz. Preserving this charm
helps local businesses and property values.
It is
not necessary to destroy to create. Rather
the opposite. It makes one wonder what
is truly going on that these highly obvious points even need be made, again and
again.
This
is also not in keeping with the Northeast Community Plan which calls for
historic preservation and keeping historic areas intact."
--
Miki Jackson, Highland Park resident and member, Northeast Community Plan
Advisory Committee (CPAC)
"I
am a Librarian at the Eagle Rock Branch Library located at 5027 Caspar
Ave. As the development in question is
close to our Branch, I am concerned that it be an attractive addition to the
community. In addition, a
pedestrian-friendly entrance is essential, as many students walk to the mall
after school. I am glad that your
organization is taking an active part in city planning."
--
Mary B. Wynton, Eagle Rock Branch Library
"Although
I'm currently living out of town, I have property in the area, am very
connected to Eagle Rock, and plan on returning in the future. I was born in ER and have spent my whole
life there. I remember the Shopping Bag
and have always wanted to see it restored and used to its fullest potential!
I
currently live in a 'new' community and am surrounded by 'corporate
cookie-cutter' architecture. It is
lifeless, without character or history, and has nothing to do with its
surroundings. What makes my home town
of Eagle Rock special is exactly what the Walgreens project, as planned, will
destroy. I support TERA's position and
hope the developers will come to see what is in the best interest of the
community.
P.S. I am shocked by the apparent lack of understanding
of the laws and their intent by our Councilman. During the campaign and after being elected I was impressed by
his intelligence and his connection to the community, but after reading his
letter supporting this project, I wonder if it was all an act to get into
office. How sad, if that is the
case."
--
Escott O. Norton, Corona resident and TERA member
"We
do not want another pharmacy so close to the existing ones."
--
Jackie and Bill Stutz, Eagle Rock residents and TERA members
"Walgreens,
please preserve our community. You've done it in other cities -- why not do it
here in Eagle Rock? Support us and we'll support you."
--
Cynthia Flores, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"Although
I prefer to see a different type of business than Walgreens occupy our historic
'Shopping Bag' building, I am open to their presence in my community as long as
they DO NOT demolish the building. It
is a part of our neighborhood's history as well as current charm and must be
preseved. Thank you."
--
John Hillman, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"Councilman
Pacheco's lack of interest for the concerns of his constituents just proves
once again that the Los Angeles City Council is and always has been in the
pocket of big money developers. It's
just too bad Eagle Rock can't vote to secede from big city government. However, if Pacheco and his cronies think
they can just ignore us and we'll go away, they are sadly mistaken. I hope that he can find the guts to stand up
with us and say no to overdevelopment and urban blight!"
--Sylvia
Sermons and John Yager, Eagle Rock residents and TERA members
"You
will take our concerns seriously if you truly want to be a part of our
beautiful, multi-cultural and civic-minded community. Residents will definitely support Walgreens if you support us by
saving this building and not creating another strip mall."
--
Helga and Alan Thomsen, Eagle Rock residents and TERA members
"When
I was standing on that corner trying to guess where Walgreens would be, that's
where I pictured it. Are they planning
to retrofit the existing structure or raise it and build something else? I wouldn't be opposed to a retrofit. Oh never mind -- just looked at your
webpage, saw the plan.
http://www.tera90041.org/walgreens-plan.htm
Oh
NO! that's horrible. We have the gas
station, the paint shop building and then the strip mall. This is a weak corner
that the Paint Shop barely holds together.
We
lose the Paint Shop we look like Santa Clarita. If I liked that look I'd have bought a house there. Are these people morons? Aren't there vacant lots to put their ugly
stuff in? Or why don't they
retrofit? The Paint Shop looks like a
perfect size building for Walgreens.
TERA,
I'm with you 100%."
--
Marino Pascal, Eagle Rock resident and new e.letter subscriber
"Do
Not Demolish the original Shopping Bag Building !!!! I will personally never shop in another Walgreens if you do. This building has much MORE to offer than
any new building you will build here -- it has HISTORY, something it seems you
care very little about. You should try
to improve your faulty reputation and stop tearing down historical parts of our
neighborhoods."
--
Carol Cetrone, Los Angeles resident
"The
city's performance in this transaction (councilman's office and the planning
department) are distressing and shameful."
--
Bob Gotham, Eagle Rock resident and TERA Board member
"I
am disturbed that, from the accounts I read, Mr. Pacheco seems to be aligned so
closely with the Walgreens people that he appears to be advocating against,
rather than for, the community. His
office's response to TERA's concerns about Walgreens' lack of compliance with
the development plan seemed intent on advocating the best interests of
Walgreens rather than the community. I am very disappointed. The current
economic interest in Eagle Rock deserves thoughtful and creative political
leadership."
-- Lynn
Sacco, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"We
live in a dynamite neighborhood -- don't change it!"
--
Linda Estrada, Eagle Rock resident
"Just
moved here permanently from New York because I like the small town feel of
Eagle Rock. I would hate to see the
things I like about it disappear."
--
Patrick McGreal, new Eagle Rock resident
"I'd
still rather have a bookstore!@!"
--
Laura Huffman, Eagle Rock resident
"I
am most definitely in favor of interesting and appropriate development on that
stretch of Colorado Boulevard. But
after attending the November meeting with Mr. Pacheco and the Walgreens reps
and seeing the proposed development, I am most certainly convinced that this
project is neither interesting nor appropriate. Nor was I impressed with Walgreens or Council person Pacheco's
ability to properly the gauge the seriousness of the community's sentiments on
this issue. After that meeting, I
remain more convinced than ever that any project that tears down a perfectly
functioning structure to replace it with a vast and immoral gray lake of
asphalt on our proud boulevard is a bad idea, and I will continue to do what I
can to stop this affront to our community from proceeding.
It is
bad business for an enterprise to try to come into a community with such utter
disregard as has been evidenced by Walgreens here. And bad government on the part of our elected representative to
have let things get to this sorry state.
Shame on you, Mr. Pacheco."
--
Vince Waldron, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"Please
understand that this is a community that is PASSIONATE about saving what little
history remains to us. Please work with
our community as you have elsewhere.
We'll love you for it! And,
please, no Starbucks, either! They're
an insult to our hard-working independents and they are NOT
community-friendly! Consider a Jamba
Juice or other 'healthy' food place as a second/third store."
--
Mary Tokita, Eagle Rock resident and TERA Board member
"We've
seen Walgreens can be adaptive elsewhere.
DO IT HERE!"
--
David Shumate, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"People
in Eagle Rock are already walking more, it seems. If Walgreens has a sidewalk storefront (like the existing
building) I think it will be more visible and welcoming -- and better for business
-- than a building tucked back behind a lot of tarmac."
--
Deborah Hosking, Eagle Rock resident
"Please
consider other businesses for this site.
We really need a good bookstore or a good market (Whole Foods, Bristol
Farms, Gelsons), not ANOTHER pharmacy."
--
Nancy King, Glassell Park resident
"I'd
really rather have a bookstore."
--
Crescent Byerley, Eagle Rock resident and new TERA member
"I
am replying to the petition for Walgreens. I hope my name helps. Keep up the
good work!!!!
--
Alma Valencia, Eagle Rock resident
"As
a native of Highland Park and Eagle Rock resident for over 17 years, I have
more than a fleeting interest in the development of the community. I grew up
living on Stratford Road in Highland Park, and I have fond childhood memories
of accompanying my mother 'all the way to Eagle Rock' on shopping trips to
Shopping Bag. Over the years I have always felt that the Shopping Bag building
was a special landmark in the area and was a prime target for someone with
imagination and integrity to thoughtfully rehab and turn into a valuable asset
to the area. This is that opportunity. To maintain and enhance the feeling of
community, architecturally worthwhile structures in the northeast area of Los
Angeles, such as the Shopping Bag building, must be treated with respect and
cherished for the history they represent."
--
Greg Cherry, Eagle Rock resident
"I
do feel that any business that comes into our area should comply with the
Specific Plan. It is very important to
me that we maintain the integrity of our community and help it to grow to its
full potential."
--
Miles Lichterman, Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center Board member, Eagle Rock
resident, and TERA member
"We
support TERA's commitment in helping our community grow for the better."
--
Frank Di Stefano and Steve Tirotta, Eagle Rock residents and TERA members
"As
a long time advocate of the cultural and historic fabric of our wonderful
neighborhood, I believe that the small investment to sensitively re-adapt the
old Shopping Bag Building will have a huge payback for Walgreens in our
community."
--
Heather Hoggan, Co-President, Arroyo Arts Collective, Eagle Rock resident, and
TERA member
"I
am pleased that you are willing to devote so much time and energy to provide a
forum for the local residents. Our
community is a better place to live and work as a result of your willingness to
fight for your concerns. Keep up the
good work."
--
Scott Wilson, founder and president, North East Trees, Eagle Rock resident, and
TERA member
"We
support this petition whole-heartedly!
Thank you for speaking up for the residents of Eagle Rock who support
progress with integrity!"
--
Nancy and Asher Rosen, Eagle Rock residents and TERA members
"Thank
you, TERA, for all your hard work."
--
John Le Blanc, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"Don't
give up the fight. I am so thankful to
TERA and all the volunteers who have given their time and energy to keep Eagle
Rock a true 'community' and not just an area folks pass through on their way to
Pasadena."
--
Mary Ellen Canniff, Eagle Rock resident
"Thanks
for listening to the people who live here."
--
Randy Kovitz, Eagle Rock resident
"TERA,
keep up the good fight and great work you do."
--
Manuel Montano, Eagle Rock resident
"I
am an active member of the Los Angeles Conservancy. Please [Walgreens] do not destroy our city's history and
treasured buildings."
--
Mark Skiles, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
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4. POSTER PROBLEM
There
have been posters put up in various areas around Eagle Rock during the last few
weeks maligning our Council member, Nick Pacheco, regarding the Walgreens
issue. TERA does not condone such
tactics.
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5. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
"That
Topping person is just amazing. I only read his awful little rag to see how his
ridiculousness has grown. I can't get what he wants either. I have had run-ins with him and 2 other of
our local mechanics, and they seem to be very hostile.
I
fully support you, and next time I see you at Fatty's I will say hello. I think Kim is just great. Yes you ARE the Queen of Government!"
--
Sean Harrington, Eagle Rock resident
"I
appreciate all of the hard work you do for TERA. Sincerely --"
--
Brooke Romano, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"On
the letter [from Sean Mitchell] to Tom Topping . . . THANK GOD SOMEONE FOUND
THE COURAGE TO SAY THIS!!!! I JUST WISH
IT HAD BEEN ME!!! The only thing I
would have changed would have been the last sentence -- it should have read:
"You give NO meaning to the term 'community newspaper.'"
--
Sharon Miro, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"Great
newsletter! I grew up in Eagle Rock,
and attended Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School from 1972-1978. I now live in Temple City.
We
had a similar situation [to Walgreens] in our city where a big developer came
into town with lots of promises. He was
going to demolish a historic movie theater and put in a Rite-Aid and
'hopefully' a Starbucks, a Baja Fresh, etc.
The politically astute among us could see that he wanted to force a
Rite-Aid on us, and the other stuff was just what we wanted to hear. He would build the large chain store and
then say 'Sorry, no one else was interested!' and walk away.
How
did we show our city council that we didn't trust their plan? Well, a few hundred people yelling 'RECALL'
gets a lot of attention in a town where 1,300 votes can get you elected. The
plan was dropped, and the theater is showing 'Harry Potter' as we speak!
DO
NOT LET Pacheco cram this down your throats!
DO NOT let him say he has no say in this. Believe me, 10 people with signs in front of his office will get
his attention a lot faster than polite petitions. Good luck!"
--
Joe Walker, Eagle Rock native, Temple City resident
"Those
of us that choose to live in urban Los Angeles make a lot of sacrifices and our
reward is close proximity to the center of town, lots of structures with
historical character -- like the recently saved Van de Kamp's. If developers continue to superimpose
suburban box-like structures with big parking lots and no city character, we'll
leave, because we would have no reason to stay. TERA, keep up the good work!"
--
Maryann Kuk, Board Member, Silver Lake Residents Association
"Merry
Christmas and keep up the wonderful work for Eagle Rock."
--
Bob Fairman, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"Here's
my signed petition regarding Walgreens.
THANKS for all of your efforts!
I'm so glad we have people like you in our community. Best --"
--
John Hillman, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
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6. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"DO
THE RIGHT THING."
--
Spike Lee
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We
welcome your comments. Please include
your name.
----------
Joanne
Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>
President,
The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)