THE
EAGLE ROCK
ASSOCIATION
The Best Investment You Can Make in Your Neighborhood
April 15, 2004
What? You're not yet a member of TERA?
Join now!
Here's how:
Click on
http://www.TERA90041.org/teraform.htm
Now more than ever,
please support your residents association --
more than 1,000 members strong, and growing every day!
Please encourage
interested friends and neighbors to send their email addresses
to us at e.letter@TERA90041.org so we
can keep them informed, too.
This week:
President’s message: A new plan (item
#1)
Caffeine chronicles (item #3)
“Ghosts” gets reviewed (item #10)
Table of Contents:
1. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE — WALGREENS IS ON DRUGS
2. A CALL TO ACTION ON ALMA LODGE!
3. ENTREPRENEURS ALERT: A COLORADO BLVD. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
4. TOUR THE CITY’S HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY ZONES (HPOZ) THIS
SUNDAY — APRIL 18
5. NINTH ANNUAL “JACK SMITH TRAIL WALK” -- APRIL 18
6. YA GOTTA HAVE FRIENDS (ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE A LIBRARY) -- APRIL
24
7. WALK HISTORIC ECHO PARK — APRIL 24
8. BUNGALOW HEAVEN HOME TOUR -- APRIL 25
9. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BRUCE — APRIL 25, 2004
10. "GROWING WITH GHOSTS" ENCHANTS THE LA TIMES --
WEEKENDS THROUGH APRIL 25
11. “THREE STRIKES,” MEXICAN WRESTLING AND MORE, AT AVENUE 50 —
THROUGH MAY 2
12. “DAHLIA DAYS” IS COMING! AND YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! -- MAY 8
13. WE'VE GOT MAIL
14. THE LAST WORD—ROBERT BURNS
1. PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE — WALGREENS MUST BE ON DRUGS!
Thanks to TERA's letters to Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa and the
hard work of Antonio himself, we finally had our meeting with Jim Shuemaker
of CT Investors, (who is spearheading the development plan for Walgreens.)
But after all of that waiting, what did we get?
Jim provided me the new site map, which is attached to this week’s e.letter.
(You’ll need to have Adobe Acrobat reader on your computer to open the
file. If you don’t have Acrobat, you can download a free copy at Adobe’s
site, http://www.acrobat.com.)
The new plan is better than before. Walgreens listened to
Antonio’s focus group when we asked for more trees in the parking lot to help
mitigate the sea of asphalt in their parking lot. They have also added
stamped concrete features that will highlight sidewalks and pathways from
Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevards to the Walgreens main store. The
buildings will be Spanish style, with tile roofs and will be the same color as
the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock.
But where it really counts -- where TERA has always focused most of our
concerns -- is on the building along Colorado Boulevard, and Walgreens still
isn't listening.
A brief history lesson:
When TERA first learned that Walgreens was considering locating on the Shopping
Bag Building property, we fought for the preservation of the Shopping Bag
building itself. TERA fought to designate the Shopping Bag a historic
building, but were turned down by the City and the State. When the
developer refused to listen to the community on that count, TERA fought for the
full enforcement of the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan.
Walgreens has never understood the loss to Eagle Rock when Rich Development
demolished the Shopping Bag Building. We lost an Eagle Rock icon, full of
character, and we are left with a Walgreens drugstore building and a building
along Colorado Boulevard that Walgreens never wanted to build. Instead,
Walgreens wanted a full view of their parking lot and their Walgreens store
located 200 feet from Colorado Boulevard.
Despite the reluctance of Walgreens to have anything obstructing the view of
their store and parking, through TERA's advocacy and the correct interpretation
of the Specific Plan, the city permits for this development require that a real
building must front Colorado Boulevard. This building on Colorado
Boulevard must be built before Walgreens can get the Certificate of Occupancy
for its main drugstore.
But the Colorado Boulevard "building" is still a problem.
Despite TERA's protests, Walgreens got permits to build a structure that
is essentially a large roof with columns. Along Colorado Boulevard,
Walgreens proposes a 20' x 60' eating area attached to what will likely be a
Starbucks Coffee shop. The walls of this eating area will be
rolldown glass, between three archways nearly 14' high.
Essentially, this building will be a giant glass room, with fixed tables and
large potted plants. But from the street, you still see through to the
top half of cars in the parking lot, and (big surprise) a view through the
"building" to Walgreens itself. All this, despite the fact that
Walgreens will have its name displayed quite prominently on the
"building" fronting Colorado.
To the focus group and Antonio's credit, they agreed with me that more needs to
be done to screen the view of the parking lot, perhaps through tall decorative
plants, or other creative solutions. But the best solution would be a
true wall on the back of the Colorado Street building, rather than windows to
the floor.
Jim said he would go back to Walgreens and seek their approval. But this
is the same Walgreens that rejected a new design proposed by prominent Eagle
Rock architects and TERA members Tom Yang and Jeff Samudio, a creative
rethinking of the existing plan that featured streamline moderne architecture
and real green space between the parking lot and the "building" along
Colorado. Walgreens rejected Jeff and Tom's plans, despite
Councilmember Villaragiosa's staunch advocacy on our behalf. So it is very
likely that, since Walgreens has its permits already, Starbucks will get its
glass shoebox, and Eagle Rock will be stuck with the letter, not the spirit of
the Specific Plan.
This is not only Walgreens' loss, but all of Eagle Rock's loss because the development
will not be the best that it could be, which is the least Eagle Rock deserves.
So what should we do next?
1. Join
TERA or renew your TERA membership.
This is the best way to fund our
communications to the community and the efforts to ensure good development in
Eagle Rock. There’s a membership form on our website that has all the
information you need to join or renew your existing membership. Go to
http://www.tera90041.org.
2.
Come to TERA’s Land Use Committee meeting at the Eagle Rock Library,
There
we will discuss the Walgreens plan and hear presentations on landmarking other
commercial buildings in Eagle Rock. We will also talk about the
possibility of rewriting the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan to strengthen its
development criteria, while examining ways to support unique non-chain
commercial uses.
This
street is the gateway to Eagle Rock, and the Walgreens property itself defines
our main intersection. Rather than looking at a unique, vintage building
that was our Shopping Bag, we will now see the same cookie-cutter drugstores
invading California.
With their own money, the
owners of Fatty’s, swork, and the Coffee Table, have created real unique spaces
that we all are proud of. These establishments have preserved and
strengthened Eagle Rock’s unique character. These are places where we
enjoy gathering. We cannot allow these businesses to be displaced by the
predatory pricing practiced by national chains.
5.
Don’t allow yourself to be a mannequin in Walgreens' display window: the
Starbucks glass box!
I look forward to seeing you at TERA’s Land Use Committee. Only by
collaborating and combining our energies toward positive change will we ensure
that Eagle Rock remains the small town in a big city that we all love.
Cheers,
Hilary Norton Orozco, TERA President
2. A CALL TO ACTION ON ALMA LODGE!
Here’s a special message from TERA President Hilary Norton Orozco:
TERA is working with the office of Councilmember Villaraigosa and
Officer Galindo of the LAPD Northeast Division to address
incidents related to the Alma Lodge, located 1750 Colorado Boulevard.
The Alma Lodge is a 38-unit residential facility located on Colorado
Boulevard between Argus Drive and La Roda Avenue.
The residents of the Alma Lodge are often highly medicated, and, of late, have
been wandering the streets. I have personally experienced one of the
residents, who was sitting on the planter area in front of the Lodge, jumping
out at my son as we walked by. While people have a right to be on the
public sidewalks, we all should also be able to walk in our community in
safety.
It is time to enforce better management and compliance with the Specific Plan,
so that the building no longer looks abandoned. The appearance of the
Alma Lodge is a severe blight on our community!
If you have had a negative experience with the residents of the Lodge, or agree
that the Alma Lodge needs to be refurbished, please respond to this
e.letter. The more we hear from you, the more we can work to change the
management and look of this building. If there are enough recorded
negative experiences, TERA, the Council office and the LAPD will pursue
additional enforcement action.
Your help is crucial to this effort! I look forward to hearing from you!
-- Hilary Norton Orozco
3. ENTREPRENEURS ALERT: A COLORADO BLVD. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Our friend Trish at swork sends us this item of interest:
Any Eagle Rock Entrepreneurs out there? My next door neighbor, the Juice
Exchange has asked us to help them find a new owner--and at a great asking
price. If you have great ideas, an eye for design and an urge to bring
something great to Eagle Rock--than this is a great chance for you! The
business is currently set up for juice and yogurt. However, you can mold
it into an eatery of your dreams. You must have vision. And
remember--you would be near Swork and we already have built up a
customer base. If this person is you--call me personally at: (323)
309-7243. I believe the space will go fast!
-- Patricia Neal, swork founder
While we’re on the subject of swork, did you know that the coffee house
at the crossroads of Eagle Rock just extended their weekend hours? That’s
right. You may now enjoy that second cup of swork for an additional hour
every Friday and Saturday night.
Swork’s
new weekend hours are:
Free internet access on your
wireless laptop, new, limited edition swork 3rd anniversary mugs, a fully
equipped kid’s area, and now, extended weekend hours! If you
haven’t visited swork lately, what are ya’ waiting for?
4. TOUR THE CITY’S HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY ZONES (HPOZ) THIS
SUNDAY — APRIL 18
The Los Angeles Conservancy just sent us word of this exciting opportunity
to visit some of the neighborhoods that take part in the city’s Historic
Preservation Overlay Zone program:
The Los Angeles Conservancy, the HPOZ Alliance, and featured HPOZs
present our Third Annual Tour, “At Home with History: Exploring
Los Angeles’ Historic Preservation Overlay Zones.” This
self-driving neighborhood and home tour offers a rare opportunity to experience
five of Los Angeles’ historic districts, tour one house in each neighborhood,
and discover why HPOZs are sweeping our city. Guests can visit as many of
the five neighborhoods as they’d like, at their own pace. Each stop will
feature a tour of a representative house in the HPOZ, as well as “neighborhood
ambassadors,” area residents available to discuss what it’s like to live in the
neighborhood. Guests will receive a detailed tour map and guide, as well
as a booklet describing all of the city’s existing HPOZs.
This year’s tour highlights five HPOZs that rank among L.A.’s best-kept
secrets:
- Melrose Hill, a small community developed largely between 1911 and
1026, illustrates why Los Angeles is known as the “bungalow capital of the
world." Built in 1920, the featured home includes details
handcrafted by the original owner, Douglas Donaldson, a leader of Southern
California’s Arts & Crafts Movement.
- Spaulding Square, a charming neighborhood of modest Period Revival
homes built between 1916 and 1926, has a history closely tied to the
development of Hollywood, the entertainment industry, and the regional
transportation system (the Red Cars). The featured home is a 1917 Colonial
Revival.
- West Adams Terrace, the city’s newest HPOZ, is a trove of significant
buildings that reflect L.A.’s architectural evolution. The featured house is a
1910 Neoclassical Revival mansion that now serves as headquarters for the
Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles.
- Whitley Heights, an enclave of Spanish Colonial Revival homes
developed between 1918 and 1928, lies in the lush hills above the Hollywood
Bowl and reflects the ambiance of a Mediterranean village. Scores of early
Hollywood’s biggest stars lived in this community; the featured home once
belonged to actor Wallace Beery.
- University Park, developed as one of L.A.’s first suburbs in the
1880s, is filled with landmarks and diverse architectural styles. The featured
house is a Victorian Italianate residence, one of the oldest homes in the area.
Tour tickets cost $30.00 for the general public and $25.00 for Conservancy
members. Advance reservations are essential. To order tickets, visit the Conservancy’s
website at www.laconservancy.org or call the Ticket Hotline at 213.430.4219.
5. NINTH ANNUAL “JACK SMITH TRAIL WALK” -- APRIL 18
The annual Jack Smith Trail Walk, inaugurated nine years ago in honor of
the celebrated author and Los Angeles Times columnist, will take place on
Sunday, April 18. Renamed “The Jack and Denise Smith Trail Walk” in recognition
of the efforts of the late author’s wife to support the Mount Washington School
and other community institutions, the walk consists of a four-mile loop through
the historic and picturesque Mount Washington hillside.
Walkers will depart in small groups between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. from the
tunnel entrance of the Southwest Museum, 234 Museum Drive, Los Angeles.
Participation is open to the public and free of charge. Well-behaved dogs on
leashes are welcome.
The trail route, walked at a leisurely pace and taking between two and two and
a half hours, will wind through the slopes of Mount Washington, affording
walkers dramatic vistas of Mt. San Antonio, Mt. San Gorgonio and Mt. San
Jacinto --Southern California’s highest mountain peaks—as well as panoramic
views of the San Gabriel and Verdugo ranges. Docents will call attention
to many notable craftsman and contemporary architectural landmarks that dot the
area. Walkers will pass hillsides carpeted with blooming wildflowers and
stands of protected black walnut trees, habitat for many wildlife
species. Birdwatchers are encouraged to bring binoculars.
6. YA GOTTA HAVE FRIENDS (ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE A LIBRARY) -- APRIL
24
The Friends of the Eagle Rock Branch Library will hold its Spring Used Book
Sale on Saturday, April 24 from 10am to 3pm. A bake sale will precede the event
at 9am in front of the library. Children's books as well as adult best sellers
are available at reasonable prices. Proceeds benefit lbrary programs. For
additional information or to join the Friends of the Library, call Kent
Brinkmeyer, Branch Librarian (323)258-8078.
7. WALK HISTORIC ECHO PARK — APRIL 24
Echo Park’s most prominent historic landmarks will be featured during a
walking tour of the neighborhood business district and Echo Park Lake on
Saturday, April. 24. The tour begins at 10:00 a.m. A Spanish-language
version of the tour will be offered at 12 noon. The 1-1/2 hour tour
organized by the Echo Park Historical Society will include the colorful
histories of prominent neighborhood buildings and institutions that have been
recognized by local and national agencies as historic and cultural treasures.
The outdoor tour features Angelus Temple, Jensen’s Recreation Center and
the restored "Lady of the Lake" statue. The tours leave from
the southwest corner of Sunset and Lemoyne Street. The tour group is limited to
20 people. A $3.00 donation is requested for adults. There is no charge
for children under 12 or for Echo Park Historical Society members.
For tour information and reservations, please call (323) 860-8874.
Or visit the Historic Society’s web site at
http://www.HistoricEchoPark.org. The business district and lake tour is part of
the Historic Echo Park Walking Tours program organized by the Echo Park
Historical Society. The tours are held on the fourth Saturday of every month
and rotate among three different routes: Elysian Park, Echo Park stairways
and the business district.
8. BUNGALOW HEAVEN HOME TOUR -- APRIL 25
Celebrating its fifteenth year, the Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood
Association is proud to present Pasadena's premier historic home tour on Sunday,
April 25, 2004, showcasing eight outstanding examples of early twentieth
century architecture, many of which have never before been open to the public.
Hours of this walking tour are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The 2004 Historic Home Tour will feature homes within the Bungalow
Heaven Landmark District of Pasadena, California, which has been featured
in Sunset magazine, USA Today and most recently in the new books Bungalow
Nation and California Cottage Style. Each of the homes on tour is a fine
example of period architecture and style, and docents will be on hand to answer
questions as visitors enjoy this rare and intimate look through the interiors
of these unusual homes in this beautiful, tree-lined district.
From about 1905 to 1920, Bungalow Heaven saw the construction of hundreds of
Craftsman-style homes, and today Pasadena's first official landmark district
contains one of the largest collections of these homes in the nation. Many of
the homes will be decorated in authentic Arts & Crafts-era furniture and
appointments, and tour organizers have once again invited prominent antiques
dealers to furnish the homes in period style. A lecture, "Bungalow Heaven
and the Arts and Crafts Movement," will be presented. Lecture tickets are
$5.
Proceeds from previous Home Tours have funded local renovation efforts, such as
the award-winning MacDonald Park playground. Money raised by the 2004 Home Tour
will continue to fund neighborhood revitalization efforts and community events.
Bungalow Heaven is located north of the 210 (Foothill) Freeway in the heart of
residential Pasadena between the Lake and Hill exits. Home Tour tickets can be
purchased the day of the event at MacDonald Park at the intersection of Mar
Vista Avenue and Mountain Street in Bungalow Heaven. Tickets are $15 the day of
the tour and advance tickets are available for $12 by writing BHNA Tour, P.O.
Box 40812, Pasadena, CA 91114-7812. For recorded information call (626)
585-2172 or visit http://www.bungalowheaven.org.
9. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BRUCE — APRIL 25, 2004
Bruce Marchiano, the actor who portrayed Jesus in the Visual Bible film The
Gospel According to Matthew will speak at New Hope Christian
Fellowship, 777 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock during the 10:30 a.m. worship
service on Sunday, April 25, 2004.
A popular Christian speaker, Marchiano has addressed churches, businesses,
schools, conferences, and other groups around the world to reveal how his faith
went from simple belief in Christ to a profound awareness of God’s powerful
reality in his life. For further details about the services at New Hope
Christian Fellowship or directions to the church, call (626) 836-3199 or visit
the New Hope Website at http://www.newhope4all.org.
10. "GROWING WITH GHOSTS" ENCHANTS THE LA TIMES --
WEEKENDS THROUGH APRIL 25
“Growing with Ghosts,” the 65 minute multimedia performance extravaganza
that’s currently wowing locals and visitors alike at our very own Center for
the Arts, Eagle Rock got a nice write-up in the LA Times, which we’re happy to
share with you here in its entirety:
©2004 The Los Angeles
Times
One somehow doubts that when Eagle Rock's Carnegie Library opened in 1915, its
original librarian, Mrs. Blanche A. Gardiner, envisioned the demented masque of
"Growing With Ghosts." Subversive madcap Ken Roht sends his Orphean
Circus forces (and audiences) on an outré tour of the eternal cycle, using the
beautifully rebuilt structure (now the community's Center for the Arts) as
easel/kiln.
After passing through silk-screened tapestries, the alfresco ticket-holder
notes a polka-dotty matron casing the crowd. This male biddy is one of the
Blanches, auteur Roht's 10-member transvestite tribute to the venue's first
doyenne. Inside, four newsboys welcome us before a toy theater facade. The
Blanche contingent converges in a Dewey Decimal-decimated opening number (music
and arrangements by John Ballinger, with additional composers cited).
From there on, it's musical theater anarchy meets MOMA in a psychotropic PTA
pageant. A Garden of Birth finds pre-Raphaelite pregnant ladies alternating
stratospheric harmonies with a sitcom litany of physical indignities. Art
gallery walls shift into an Orwellian arena where the adolescent passage
unfolds before a totemic robot with Kilroy's face. More Orpheans, clad in
Crayola-boxy pinafores, mature through "Shindig" moves and
scatological doggerel. Their conformist nemeses are the Master Minds (the
Blanches, inverted) and those fertile females as postnatal tarts.
It all combusts in the basement, with a multimedia installation that suggests
Terry Gilliam on peyote. We end where we began, gone celestial, accompanied by
live chamber music recalling the Getty's salad days.
The reviewed performance betrayed technical and thematic discrepancies that
hindered unconditional surrender. The introduction and transitions could
better prepare viewers for migration; half the event's lyrics are unintelligible.
That could be the postmodern point.
For Roht's irreverent ingenuity continues untrammeled, his company displays
imposing devotion and Keith E. Mitchell oversees hallucinatory designers.
Perhaps the logistical site-specifics of "Growing With Ghosts"
prohibit the viscera of "He Pounces" or the dazzle of "Splendor:
A 99-Cent Only Wonderama." But Eagle Rock has never seen anything
like it, and neither have you. Wear sensible shoes.
Ticket Price: $15.00
Contact: (323) 226-1230
Running time: 65 minutes
Playwright Ken Roht's Newest Work,
Please keep in mind that the audience for this
event is limited to 50 people per performance. To avoid disappointment,
please call first to make a reservation.
For additional information regarding Mr. Roht and his company, Orphean Circus,
please check their website, http://www.orpheancircus.com.
For more information on the Center for the Arts, go to http://www.centerartseaglerock.org.
11. “THREE STRIKES,” MEXICAN WRESTLING AND MORE, AT AVENUE 50 —
THROUGH MAY 2
Tres
Caídas/Three Strikes
Art by José Lozano, Victor Gastelum, Ixrael
The Avenue 50 Studio will host an art exhibit of drawings and
paintings by three L.A. based artists, José Lozano, Victor Gastelum, and
Ixrael. Tres Caídas/Three Strikes refers to the ongoing interest these
three artists have in Mexican wrestling.
Tres Caídas/Three Strikes speaks to the three falls in a
wrestling match which determines who wins or loses. The word “caídas”
means falls, and can refer to religion as in the falls of Christ, or to one’s
state in society, as in fallen from grace or on hard times. The
number three has magical, superstitious and cabalistic properties. There
are three wishes, three chances, three strikes, three blind mice, three wise
men and three stooges. The phrase “Tres Caídas” envelopes an array of
interpretations, this exhibit will add a few more.
About our Artists:
José Lozano: “I would like people to look at my work as if
being let in on a joke, with the punch line sometimes being sweet, sometimes
unsettling, bitter, tender – like life”. Lozano uses popular iconography
to deal critically with the question of mass production and commercial
infiltration in our lives – a takeoff of Chicanismo, wit, and political
commentary. Lozano received in B.A., M.A. and M.F.A. at California State
University, Fullerton.
Victor Gastelum: “I mix iconography to create my own
icons.” Gastelum creates his “street art” by using a combination of
spray-paint, high-contrast drawings and acetate stencils, appropriating Chicano
icons and adding graffiti iconography.
Ixrael: Ixrael was born in Mexico City. He
studied at the Academy of San Carlos. His work was featured in the Salon
de Artes Plásticas in Mexico City, in Tijuana for his “Zona Norte” Proyecto de
Pintura Fronteriza show, and at the Casa de la Cultura for his Ando Grabando
Gráfica de Tijuana exhibit. Ixrael currently lives and works in L.A.
where he has presented several solo as well as group shows.
“Tres Caídas/Three Strikes” runs from April 6 through May 2, 2004 and
is free to the public. Studio hours: Tuesday through Thursday 10-12
noon; Saturday and Sunday 10-4 p.m.
Contact: Kathy Gallegos, Avenue 50 Studio, (323) 258-1435, ave50studio@msn.com; www.avenue50studio.com.
12. “DAHLIA DAYS” IS
COMING! AND YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! -- MAY 8
(On Caspar Ave., just off Eagle Rock
and Colorado Boulevards)
The Dahlia Days committee needs vendors and volunteers for this gala annual
event. And there are still plenty of sponsorship opportunities available.
Call (626) 577-9944 or (323) 881-4618!
Dahlia Days is offered with the kind generosity of State Senator Jack Scott,
Assemblymember Carol Liu, Supervisor Gloria Molina, and Councilmember
Antonio Villaraigosa.
For more information and vendor applications, call (626) 577-9944 or (323)
881-4618.
13. WE'VE GOT MAIL
Continuing our ongoing discussion on the issue of erecting sound absorbing
barriers along the 134 as it passes through Eagle Rock, we got the following
highly informative note from Teresa Acosta, the Field Representative for
State Senator Jack Scott’s office:
“I wanted to respond to you about something I read about in the TERA e.letter
-- specifically, sound walls along the 134.
“Over the years, Senator Scott's office has received many calls and letters
from Eagle Rock residents requesting that we look into plans for a sound wall
along the 134, eastbound between the Glendale 2 and Pasadena.
“When I first heard, in 2001, from Angel Corral and Eleanor Duffy, I did
extensive research on the subject and met with both California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
Per state legislation in 1998 (SB 45), ‘the responsibility for the
delivery of sound walls was transferred from Caltrans to county transportation
planning agencies, like MTA. As the transportation planning agency for
Los Angeles County, MTA inherited a huge backlog of soundwall projects totaling
nearly $1 billion without any corresponding funding from the State.’ MTA
was aided in prioritizing this huge task by a different, previous California
law, requiring prioritization of soundwall construction for soundwalls approved
prior to 1989. (The history of the MTA soundwall program is available at:
http://www.mta.net/trans_planning/cpd/soundwalls/soundwalls_information.htm#history
“According to the MTA: "Pursuant to MTA's adopted Sound wall
Implementation Policy, existing State criteria were augmented with a revised
ranking criterion. Retrofit Soundwall Program projects are divided into two
Phases: Phase I includes those projects on freeway segments where High
Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes were built without warranted sound
walls. Phase II contains qualified soundwall segments on freeways without
carpool lanes. Within Phase I, top priority is assigned to those soundwall
segments that have had soundwalls constructed on only one side of the
freeway."
“In 2001 and 2002, I reported on those meetings to the environmental
collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful. Then, to better share this
information with the entire community, I organized a public meeting on November
25, 2002, at the Cultural Center, so residents could hear directly from
Caltrans, MTA, Washington Infrastructure Group, Senator Jack Scott,
Assemblymember Carol Liu, and Los Angeles City Councilmember NickPacheco.
All the officials attended and listened to residents' comments and
requests. Residents in attendance all wanted more soundwalls, sooner.
“Eagle Rock was fortunate to be in Phase I, Priority 2. A study was
commissioned (from Washington Group) to determine if there was a need for a
soundwall, by conducting noise studies and collecting decibel levels at many
points along the south side of the 134.
“To date, Washington Group has completed its study and recommended to MTA the
construction of a soundwall in an area north of eastern Eagle Rock, between Mt.
Helena Ave and Figueroa St (not covering that entire area). However, due to
severe restrictions on its budget, MTA has temporarily placed Priority 2
projects on hold (until June, 2004).
“For more information on the status of this project please call MTA
Transportation Planning Manager Art Cueto at (213) 922-3052. As always,
if you have other questions related to state agencies or issues, feel free to
call me at (626) 683-0282.”
-- Teresa Rodriguez Acosta, Field Representative, State Senator Jack
Scott, 215 N. Marengo Ave., Suite 185, Pasadena, CA 91101, (626) 683-0282.
Email Teresa.Acosta@sen.ca.gov.
Thanks for sharing that background and bringing us up to date. It’s
interesting that the response you received at your public meeting on November
25, 2002 was unanimously in favor of the walls, as the response that we’ve
received on the subject here at the e.letter over the past few months has been
anything but unanimous. If fact, many of the folks who took the time to
respond seem to have mixed feelings about the walls at best, citing fears that
such a structure would hamper the wonderful views of our town from the freeway
above. We’ve forwarded copies of all the responses to this topic that we
received here at the e.letter to Senator Scott’s office, but if any of
our readers would care to express their feelings on the subject directly to
Senator Scott’s office, I’m sure Ms. Acosta would be happy to relay them.
(Her contact information appears at the end of her letter.)
* * *
“Thank you for including [the item
about our Avenue 50 Studio art exhibit, “Tres Caídas/Three
Strikes”] in the e.letter. (Also,
thank you for the e.letters pastel yellow pages, which always makes me feel happy
when I read it.)
“I have to tell you that our “Tres Caidas/Three Strikes” exhibit is more about
a fall from grace (“third time, you’re out”) rather than the three strikes law,
[which was implied by the headline that accompanied the item.] I just wanted
your readers to be clear on that, since a few people I've talked to thought
[the exhibit] was about the law.
“Once again, thank you for our inclusion in your newsletter.”
-- Kathy Gallegos, The Avenue 50 Studio
Our apologies for the somewhat confusing headline (“And It’s One, Two,
Three Strikes You’re Out of the Whole So-ci-et-teeee” April 8, 2004
TERA e.letter) that got affixed to your announcement last week. Guess
we’ll have to send our headline writer back to the dugout.
* * *
“Maybe you are aware of this already,
but in the April issue of Sunset magazine, (on page 46, I think,)
there is a 1 page article about Eagle Rock.
“Keep up the fight against the big
box stores and chains. They cause all the aesthetic problems and business
demise that you speak of -- plus horrendous traffic and litter. We know,
as we live here in Torrance, near "Fast Food Heaven."
Starbucks is one of them, and several other ugly big box cheap
clothing places. The visual blight is staggering.
“Courage and Strength to you.”
-- Nancy Shannon-Sinclair, Eagle Rock Homeowner (living in Torrance)
Thanks, Nancy. We ran a short item about the Sunset magazine
mention a few weeks ago, before it was published. For those of you might
have missed that item, check out this month’s Sunset on the newsstand or atop
your friend’s coffee table.
* * *
“I've been meaning to write for some time. Thanks for all the work you do
for our community. Perhaps you could help me with a problem.
Since the Target opened at the Eagle Rock Mall (a valuable
"chain store" addition to our neighborhood, in my opinion), I
have noticed a major traffic problem at the Mall.
“The exit from the parking lot onto Colorado Boulevard is a serious hazard.
As you know, this is a heavily travelled stretch of road, near the 134
and 2
Freeways, and the merge between Broadway and Colorado Boulevards. Though there
is a sign stating "no left turn," I see people attempting to do
so all the
time. I have personally witnessed two accidents and several close calls.
Last week alone, I saw two of the most insane traffic maneuvers I have
ever seen in
my life. Accidents were avoided because the eastbound drivers were very
skilled and alert.
“I assume the Westfield Mall people are unaware of this situation. If
they are, they have a responsibility to deal with this issue. Signs
should be posted directing drivers to the adjacent street exit, where cars may
safely turn left at the light. Secondly, I think the Colorado exit should
be permanently closed--or at the very least, a barrier should be erected to
prevent drivers from making that left hand turn.
“I am convinced that it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously
injured or killed at this intersection.
“If you could forward this letter to Westfield Mall, that would be great.
If you can provide me with a name and address of someone to whom I can
write, I would gladly send them a letter regarding this problem. Perhaps
Councilman Villarigosa's office should be made aware of this situation as well.
-- Pat Skipper, Hill Drive, Eagle Rock
We forwarded your note to Michael Cathey, the 14th City Council District
field deputy for Eagle Rock, who immediately dispatched the following reply:
“Thanks for your letter concerning the entrance/exit
ramp to Colorado at Westfield Mall. I will pass on your concerns to the
Department of Transportation and request that they study the area and see what
mitigations are feasible.
“Also, the person to contact at Westfield to relay your concerns is the General
Manager, Daniyel Gordon. She can be reached at 323 256-8763.
-- Michael Cathey, Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa, Council District
14, 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041, (323) 254-5295
A few days after we forwarded Pat’s note to Michael Cathey, Pat sent
us the following:
“I just thought I'd let you know that I received a nice note from
Michael Cathey in Antonio Villariagosa's office. He gave me the
phone number for Daniyel Gordon, General Manager of the mall, who was
extremely friendly and receptive to my suggestions. She promised to email
Michael Cathey today and follow up with him in person next week. I am
hoping that the city will install some sort of barrier in the median to prevent
left hand turns from both mall exits onto Colorado. She and I also
discussed some interim solutions like better signage, etc.
“Thanks so much for your help in the matter.”
-- Pat Skipper, Hill Drive, Eagle Rock
* * *
We welcome your comments,
complaints and/or compliments on the e.letter or any other topic of interest to
greater Eagle Rock. Please address your message to e.letter@TERA90041.org, and include your full
name, along with your city, neighborhood or professional affiliation.
Opinions expressed in the e.letter's "We've Got Mail" section
do not necessarily reflect the views of The Eagle Rock Association (TERA), the
e.letter editor, or The Eagle Rock Association Board of Directors, who reserve
the right to publish letters or other materials submitted to the e.letter at
their sole discretion. Letters or other material chosen for publication
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not wish to have your comments appear in the e.letter.
14. THE LAST WORD--
ROBERT BURNS
”The best laid schemes o’ mice and men Gang
aft agley;
An’
lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy!”
-- Robert Burns (1759–1796)
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TERA -- The Eagle Rock Association -- YOUR COMMUNITY IN ACTION -- http://www.TERA90041.org --
P. O. Box 41453, Eagle Rock, CA 90041 -- (323) 259-TERA -- a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit public benefit corporation
The TERA e.letter
The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)
Vince Waldron, editor
e.letter@TERA90041.org