Great news! TERA has thus far collected an over
six-inch stack of Walgreens petitions, we think very close to 2,000 signatures,
and more are coming in every day! Join the A-team and sign if you haven't already (see Item No. 8
below). Only a name and address are
needed! If you wish to help with this
effort, please e.mail Suzanne Prieur at enchanted_wds@hotmail.com.
"Eagle Rock: Where land use and
planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK
ASSOCIATION
TERA
-- e.letter --
February 14, 2002
In this issue:
1. GREAT ARTICLE IN OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
REGARDING WALGREENS
2. TERA'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
MEETING -- FEBRUARY 16
3. COLLABORATIVE EAGLE ROCK BEAUTIFUL MEETING
-- FEBRUARY 16
4. RINER SCIVALLY QUARTET -- JAZZ CONCERT AT
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE -- FEBRUARY 23
5. HIGHLAND PARK HERITAGE TRUST ANNUAL AWARDS
CEREMONY -- FEBRUARY 24
6. MEET COUNCIL MEMBER NICK PACHECO -- FEBRUARY
25
7. GREAT EAGLE ROCK WEB SITE -- HTTP://WWW.EAGLEROCKCA.COM
8. WALGREENS PETITION -- SHOW YOU CARE ABOUT
EAGLE ROCK'S PAST, AND FUTURE!!
9. MORE COMMENTS FROM WALGREENS PETITION
SIGNERS
10. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
11. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
----------
1. GREAT ARTICLE IN OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
REGARDING WALGREENS
The
following article appeared in the February 1, 2002, issue of the Occidental
Weekly. It was written by staff
writer Alessandro Morosin:
The
Occidental Weekly
A news and feature publication serving the
communities of
Occidental College, Eagle Rock and Highland
Park since 1904
Volume
116, Issue 14 Occidental College February 1,2002
Los Angeles, California
News
section, page 4 (continued on page 7)
===============================================
PHOTO (of current time Shopping Bag Building by
Andrew Pace)
Caption: HISTORICAL SITE: Walgreens hopes to build on the corner of Eagle Rock Blvd. and
Colorado Blvd.
_______________________________________________
PHOTO
(of poster with rendering of Shopping Bag Building taken by Andrew Pace)
Caption: TERA Responds: Posters protesting Walgreens' development have been distributed
around Eagle Rock.
_______________________________________________
"We're
not against business, but we're against anyone who would destroy ... the
character of our own architecture and history."
--
Kathleen Long
TERA
Opposes Construction of Walgreens
--
Alessandro Morosin, Staff Writer
In
September, the Los Angeles City Planning Department issued a permit to a
Walgreens developer to tear down the One Day Auto and Paint Building on the
corner of Colorado Blvd. and Eagle Rock Blvd. and construct a Walgreens drug
store in its place. Controversy has
mounted since The Eagle Rock Association (TERA), a community group, expressed
concern over the matter in a letter to the Planning Dept. dated Dec. 22.
According
to TERA, and much to the dismay of the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce, the
Walgreens Project Permit did not meet the requirements of Section 7 of the
Colorado Blvd. Specific Plan. As a
result, the planning department has put the Walgreens request on hold. The plan is a law approved unanimously by
the Los Angeles City Council and is dedicated to maintaining Colorado Blvd. as
a pedestrian-friendly area. Section 7
states: 'Every Project shall include a
Street Wall, which shall extend for at least 75 percent of the length of the
street frontage, and shall be located five feet from the front lot line,'
according to http://www.TERA90041.org.
Chain stores such as Albertsons and Rite Aid were constructed in Eagle
Rock prior to the passage of the Colorado Blvd. Specific Plan.
Jim
Beckham, editor of the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce Newsletter, wrote a
scathing critique of TERA's actions in the December edition of the newsletter.
'Walgreens
doesn't meet [TERA's] criteria for bettering our business district. They will do all they can to block/delay
until Walgreens meets their demands or until Walgreens says "to [heck] with
it" and goes elsewhere,' said Beckham.
However,
longtime Eagle Rock resident Kathleen Long, founding board member of TERA,
insists that TERA is not anti-business.
'We're
not against business, but we're against anyone who would destroy the hometown
feeling and the character of our own architecture and history,' said Long.
TERA
is not against a Walgreens, but advocates 'adaptive reuse' of the existing
building to see that it is preserved, along with some non-TERA members of the
community who were surveyed on the matter.
Concerns ranged from increased traffic to less personality as a result
of a new Walgreens store.
The
debate foreshadows more large chain businesses taking a serious look at Eagle
Rock for development. Walgreens is not
the first business to attempt to move into the community and face opposition,
nor will they be the last. As the
tension between businesses and community activists rises, the future of Eagle
Rock's atmosphere, look, feel, traffic and property values are all at stake.
Beckham
holds that a Walgreens would improve the business district.
'It
would promote a central business area within the community. I don't want to see another vacant building
on the Boulevard,' said Beckham.
Suzanne
Prieur, Outreach Chair of TERA, expressed pride in Eagle Rock's town
history. She welcomes Walgreens, but
not with their own 'cookie-cutter' building.
'It's
interesting that the Chamber's argument is that historic preservation is
detrimental to the economy of Eagle Rock, when there's all kinds of evidence
that proves the contrary. Historic
preservation is the key to economic revitalization,' said Prieur.
Beckham
said in the Chamber's newsletter that 'TERA wants to use the Plan as a crutch
to force new businesses into complying with their criteria, or else.'
The
General Manager of Sav-On Drugs in Eagle Rock declined to comment on the
Walgreens debate.
Ana
Belsinn, another Eagle Rock resident, was against having another chain store in
the neighborhood altogether.
'I
would hate [for Walgreens] to open. If
they're going to open businesses, they should not be big chains. Big chains do not seem to respect the
architecture or environment, and they push away community-oriented small
business,' she said.
Walgreens
may apply for a Project Permit Modification in accordance with the Colorado
Blvd. Specific Plan, which, if approved, would delay the project two
months. This would be more
time-efficient than filing a Specific Plan Exception to request a waiver for
the requirement, which will take six months to be processed.
Beckham
predicts Walgreens will 'take the path of least resistance' and 'expend further
monies on the project in order to avoid delays, frustration and endless red
tape.'
----------
2. TERA'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
MEETING -- FEBRUARY 16
TERA's
Historic Preservation Committee will be meeting this Saturday, February 16, at
11 a.m. in a beautifully restored 1910 Craftsman bungalow here in Eagle Rock. We have an exciting and educational
program planned.
1.
Jeff Samudio, our very own (TERA founder, Specific Plan author) architectural
historian will be speaking to us, Saturday, February 16, on The Importance of
Historic Preservation to Our Culture. Hear his thoughts on the Shopping Bag
building!
2. We
heard from our councilman regarding the building! Attend the meeting Saturday
for an update!
3.
TERA has joined a program with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and
we are entering the Shopping Bag building in their "white elephant"
contest! You'll hear more about it and
what the way cool prize is, at the meeting!
4.
Our stack of petitions to save the building is 6 inches high and growing!
Call
Suzanne Prieur 257-7042 for meeting location and details. See you there!
----------
3. COLLABORATIVE EAGLE ROCK BEAUTIFUL
MEETING -- FEBRUARY 16
The
Collaborative maintenance group will meet this Saturday morning, February 16,
2002, to weed and spruce up the planting at the Eagle Rock Cultural Center. Renate Crump and the
committee will be working between 9-10, followed by lunch in the Cultural Center
at 11- 11:30. Please join us, pull a
weed or two and help keep Eagle Rock Beautiful. All are invited! Should
you require further information call Renate Crump at 323 257-1475.
----------
4. RINER SCIVALLY QUARTET -- JAZZ CONCERT AT
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE -- FEBRUARY 23
The
Riner Scivally Quartet will perform the works of jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery
at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at Occidental's Bird Studio, located in the
Booth Music and Speech Center. Admission is $5 for the general public and free
for Oxy students. The performance is being sponsored by the college's faculty
artist series.
The
quartet includes Riner Scivally (guitar), a 1973 Oxy graduate and a teacher of
jazz and classical guitar at the college, Jim Szilagyi (piano), Zac Matthews
(bass), and Dean Koba (drums).
Occidental College is located at 1600 Campus
Road in Eagle Rock.
----------
5. HIGHLAND PARK HERITAGE TRUST ANNUAL
AWARDS CEREMONY -- FEBRUARY 24
JOIN US!
SUNDAY--FEBRUARY 24,
2002--2:30 - 5:00 PM
THE HIGHLANDS HALL
104 NORTH AVENUE 56,
HIGHLAND PARK
(former Highland Park
Masonic Lodge No. 382 Building--corner of Avenue 56 & Figueroa Street)
Please
join Highland Park Heritage Trust on Sunday afternoon to recognize and
applaud this year's award winners.
These awards are presented annually to community members for outstanding
restoration and preservation work in the neighborhood. Slides and photographs of the winning properties
will be shown, and a special commendation will be made to the firefighters of
Engine Company 12.
After
the presentations, HPHT will mark Route 66's 75th Anniversary year with a talk
by Scott Piotrowski. Scott will discuss
Route 66 and its many different routes through Los Angeles County, including
its course through Highland Park past the old Masonic Lodge Building.
Admission is free and
refreshments will be served.
At
former Highland Park Masonic Lodge 382. In
early August 1906, 13 Master Masons, believing the time opportune, conceived
the idea of forming a Masonic Lodge in the then sparsely settled suburb of the
city of Los Angeles known as Highland Park.
The first degree was conferred on the 13th day of the month, and the
numerals given the Lodge, 382, total 13.
Notwithstanding that the traditional unlucky "No. 13" appeared
frequently, the members ignored the so-called hoodoo and worked with the No. 13
as a mascot. Built in 1922, the
building was home to the Masonic Temple until 1981 when the lodge moved to a
new site on North Broadway in Lincoln Heights.
----------
6. MEET COUNCIL MEMBER NICK PACHECO --
FEBRUARY 25
Council
member Nick Pacheco invites all 14th District constituents to visit him during his
extended office hours at the Eagle Rock/Highland Park field office Monday,
February 25, 2002, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The field office is
located in the Eagle Rock City Hall, 2035 Colorado Boulevard, Eagle Rock. No appointment necessary. For more information, please call (323)
254-5295.
----------
7. GREAT EAGLE ROCK WEB SITE -- HTTP://WWW.EAGLEROCKCA.COM
This
Web site was developed by Eagle Rock resident, artist, and TERA member Anne
Richardson-Daniel to provide valuable information for Eagle Rock families. Read on:
An
announcement for you!
http://www.eaglerockca.com
My focus with this website is to give
local families a place to look for:
*
Community information - organizations, other calendars, and resources on
the internet
*
Events of interest to local families
*
History (the history section has photos and captions provided by the Eagle
Rock Valley Historical Society, Joanne Turner's earlier Eagle Rock story and
more
*
Recreation - local centers, links and addresses, Cultural Center, E.R.
Library, Children's classes (an area I want to expand with input from parents),
museum & local garden links
*
Kid's 'Net Fun - Includes information about Internet safety, homework help,
games and fun sites (a growing list - trying to stay mostly educational and
less commercial, but if parents have other recommendations, I'm open to
expanding).
EagleRockCA
is a non-commercial, non-political site -- mostly geared towards education and
entertainment. This will be of interest
to people on your e-lists! In addition to a 'family oriented' events list, I
also have several links to include all of Robert Mendel's calendar pages and
the L.A. Times, they give quite a bit of information.
As
you look at the website, you will also see a Special section. It wasn't
the reason I started the site, but it occurred to me after starting that it
might become a vehicle for building up some funds to put into the homework site
(which is going to grow at the high school this semester as we start the e-club
with Chris Zardaneta's help and Teacher Sponsor Rachel Lee (choir
instructor). This will be a group of
kids who e-mail me their assignments and meet once a month for a lunch-time
pizza party and maybe learn and share a little about the Internet.) Elementary
schools are going to be a later focus.
Also,
follow the link to the Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center website. It has been updated and
is now worthy of announcing! http://www.erccc.org
Anne
Richardson-Daniel
323/259-9766
----------
8. WALGREENS PETITION -- SHOW YOU CARE ABOUT
EAGLE ROCK'S PAST, AND FUTURE!!
It's
easy! Join numerous concerned area
residents by adding your name to our petition.
Only your name and address are needed.
Thanks!
* 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. Thanks!
----------
9. MORE COMMENTS FROM WALGREENS PETITION
SIGNERS
"When
the reality of Fatty's replacing my life-long mechanic (Dell Stapp) became a
reality, I had trouble adjusting. I was
losing a valued, life-long associate and for what? My opinion was that coffee shops are as over rated as their
coffee is over priced. However, I have
accepted the change, found a new mechanic, and am impressed with the
tastefulness of the new venue's design.
The new owner has kept, and improved, the original structure's exterior,
and it's a great addition as an entertainment option for a Friday or Saturday
night that might also include Casa Bianca.
It would be nice if all the businesses, such as Walgreens, which are
contemplating moving here to Eagle Rock, used Fatty's as a benchmark for their
structural plans."
--
Kevin Grace, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
[Editor's
note: Most of the petitions we are
currently gathering are hand-signed, not over the internet. It would be a lot of work to include these
signers' comments because they would have to be typed. Just know that their comments are many, and
very much in support of restoring and adaptively reusing the Shopping Bag
building. Thanks to all who have signed
and taken the time to add your voice to this debate! We appreciate it.]
----------
10. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
"Thank
you so much for your (and TERA's) support of our cause [public safety rallies
to insist on installation of traffic signal on dangerous section of
Figueroa]. Mayor Hahn sent a
representative down last Saturday to our rally and the girl's father, Manny,
got the call yesterday. WE WILL GET OUR
LIGHT IN 2 WEEKS!!! Council member
Pacheco's office has been a terrific help as well, sending Highland Park
representative Liberty Mesa every time.
Our area LAUSD Board member David Tokofsky has also been very
supportive.
Gloria
and I are taking a wait-and-see approach.
When they start the work, then we move up to Buena Vista Terrace, where
her son was killed by a drunk driver 4 years ago. I will keep you informed.
Be seeing you."
--
Anita Hultman, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
[Editor's
note: The rallies for public safety
take place every Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Figueroa and Burwood. All are invited to participate and SHOW HOW
YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS MOST IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.]
"Thank
you, and count on us to continue our strong support of TERA."
--
Jeannine Jaramillo and Alejandro Jimenez, Eagle Rock residents and TERA members
"I
just wanted to let you know I have a new e mail address. I also share your
feelings, and those of others regarding 'stucco' [Alice Hartwell, realtor,
Jordinelli & Associates, quoted in last week's e.letter]. When a house is meant to have stucco, in the
case of a Mediterranean, or Spanish Colonial, then that's great, but a 1920s
bungalow, no matter what the condition, can only get worse when someone slops
stucco on it.
Recently,
I noticed an adorable bungalow, one
block away from me that had just been sold.
Right away, the new owner chopped down two beautiful trees that flanked
the front walk. They must have been 70
years old! The next thing they did was
replace all the charming wood frame windows with those awful $69 aluminum
sliders, AND the new windows are much SMALLER than the original. Then came the stucco, making the front of
the house look like a guard shack. When
will these people realize they just threw away thousands in curb appeal?? Why wouldn't someone like this just buy an
UGLY house, since there are plenty of those around!
As I
write this, to the sounds of a chainsaw, a neighbor across the street is
cutting down every bit of greenery in front of their house, including a
40-foot-tall tree, that had been shading the house, and beautifying the
street. I had enjoyed the view, but now
I get to look at another barren stucco box.
I
also wanted to ask if there was any more news on the Eagle Theatre? I'd just love to have a real movie theatre
in walking distance!!"
--
Sean Harrington, Eagle Rock resident
----------
11. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"When
hard times come (which eventually come to every community no matter what its
size or wealth) what makes survival possible and desirable is not its
archeological identity but its ability to continue, and it continues because
some structures, some institutions and facilities represent continuity. These are the landmarks [and they] stand for
continuity, community identity, for links with the past and the future. In the contemporary American community these
roles are what counteract our mobility and fragmentation and forgetfulness of
history."
-- J.
B. Jackson
----------
We
welcome your comments. Please include your
name.
----------
Joanne
Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>
President,
The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)