"Eagle Rock: Where land
use planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
May
8, 2003
"Thanks for the TERA weekly update. I am continually amazed
by the level of professionalism and technical detail your group is able to
provide
to your ever-increasing constituency. What an asset to a community
buried in the LA bureaucratic shuffle. I've only seen such vigor and
intelligence
in Larchmont and Brentwood in LA, and even they don't compare.
Keep up the fine work -- while frustrating --
very rewarding for the betterment of the community."
-- Tom Eidem, noted economic development advisor, San Clemente
In this issue:
1. DAHLIA DAYS SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL IS COMING -- MAY 10
2. ER BEAUTIFICATION DAY: RAIN DATE -- MAY 10
3. CITYWIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE-- MAY 10
4. TERA e.LETTER HAS A NEW ADDRESS -- e.letter@TERA90041.org
5. PUBLIC FORUM ON PROPOSED EAGLE ROCK DASH TRANSIT LINE -- MAY 12
6. VOTE BY MAIL APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS -- DUE MAY 13
7. CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT SUMMER INTERNSHIPS -- DEADLINE: MAY 15
8. THE LA CITY ETHICS COMMISSION WANTS YOU!
9. CITY COUNCIL PASSES SCALED DOWN REFORMS
10. MERCADO! AT SOUTHWEST MUSEUM -- MAY 17, 18
11. GLASSELL PARK WEIGHS IN ON PUBLIC STORAGE PROPOSAL
12. NE LA COMMUNITY PLAN ADVISORY BOARD MEETING -- MAY 14
13. TERA SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD
14. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
15. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
1. DAHLIA DAYS SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL UPDATE -- MAY 10
The Eagle Rock Community Cultural Association, the Eagle Rock Chamber of
Commerce and Councilmember Nick Pacheco present the SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL 2003
on May 10th from 10 am to 6 pm. The festival will start on the corner of
Caspar and Colorado. The event will feature Los Angeles area artists and
craftspeople, an international food court, ponies and children crafts, a taste
of our Farmer¹s Market and many local community and arts¹ organizations.
Live entertainment will perform on the main stage all day.
Here's the latest update on the festival's entertainment schedule:
10:15A -12:15P New Rhythm (Reggae)
12:30-2:30P Sam Robles Tango Band
2:30-2:45P Presentations from Assemblymember Carol Lui
and Councilmember Nick Pacheco
2:45-3:30P The Magic of Harvey Simpson
4-6P Charangoa (Cuban Jazz)
Come and make or purchase your Mother's Day Gift.
For more information call 323.226.1617.
2. ER BEAUTIFICATION DAY: RAIN DATE -- MAY 10
To make up for our rained-out Workday last weekendŠ.
The Collaborative, Eagle Rock Beautiful and
The Neighborhood Watch of Rockdale, Shelby & Lanark Avenues are having...
Saturday, May 10, 9:00-noon
A project made possible by the Los Angeles Neighborhood Matching Fund.
We've already planted trees, now it's time for succulents, weeding and
mending fences in open space at the NE corner of Shelby and Lanark
1 block east of Figueroa, just south of La Loma & the Edison Towers.
Help increase our neighborhood¹s property values! Bring digging/planting
tools, work clothes, and get dirty with your neighbors!
Information/Donations (big rocks, succulents):
Mary Tokita: 323/257-5886
OR: If you can contribute to our potluck lunch, call Lois Kerns 323/258
7118.
NEIGHBORS: PLEASE BRING YOUR GREEN LA YARD RECYCLABLES BIN TO THE SITE!
3. CITYWIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE -- MAY 10
Fire Service Recognition Day
All Los Angeles Fire Department Stations will be open and expecting your visit!
Saturday
May 10, 2003
10AM to 4PM
"Fire Service Recognition Day"
Ask questions, see equipment and view procedures used by the Firefighters and
Firefighter/Paramedics who protect you and your family!
Don't be shy... visit your Neighborhood Fire Station on Saturday, May 10!
Los Angeles Fire Department
Fire Station 44
1410 Cypress Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90065-1256 USA
Los Angeles Fire Department
Fire Station 47
4575 Huntington Drive South
Los Angeles CA 90032-1940 USA
Los Angeles Fire Department
Fire Station 12
5921 North Figueroa Street
Los Angeles CA 90042-4229 USA
Los Angeles Fire Department
Fire Station 42
2021 Colorado Boulevard
Los Angeles CA 90041-1238 USA
4. TERA E.LETTER HAS A NEW ADDRESS -- e.letter@TERA90041.org
Please note that our e.letter has a new address. Please
discontinue sending your notices, letters, and news to artburn@earthlink.net
and use our new address instead -- e.letter@earthlink.net. Please take a
moment to revise your mailing lists. Thank you!
5. PUBLIC FORUM ON PROPOSED EAGLE ROCK DASH TRANSIT LINE --
MAY 12
On April 21 2003, Members of the Coalition for Educational Justice, The
Northeast Transportation Committee and Mont Eagle Hills Association met at
Toland Way Elementary School Auditorium to formulate a plan to secure DASH
service for the communities of Eagle Rock and Glassell Park.
Residents whose children attend TW were excited at the thought of the new
DASH service and gave many reasons why this proposed bus line would improve the
quality of their lives and help insure the safety of their
children. Other area residents who depend upon public transportation
are looking forward to having a greater choice when it comes to shopping
locales. Since the DASH route would operate every 15 minutes the savings
in time and effort were considered a great bonus.
Students in this area who travel to the Eagle Rock Library and the Rock (a teen
computer study center), to do research for school assignments, would have more
time at those facilities and this would help raise student
achievement in our community.
On Monday May 12, the Coalition will sponsor a Public Forum to continue
discussion and gather support for the DASH Proposal. The meeting will
take place at at 6 PM at Toland Way School Auditorium, 4545 Toland Way.
Child-care provided.
For more information contact E.L. Sarabia at
323-254-3512.
La Coalición de la Justicia Educativa y
La Asociación de las Colinas de Mont Eagle
Un Boletín de Prensa
El miércoles 23 de abril, 2003
Una propuesta para una nueva ruta de DASH para
Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, y Highland Park.
Eagle Rock: El 21 de abril 2003, Los miembros de la Coalición par la Justicia
Educativa (CEJ), El Comité de transportación del Noroeste (NET-C) y la
Asociación de las Colinas de Mont Eagle (MEHA) se reunieron en el auditorio de
la escuela primaria Toland Way para planear como obtener el servicio de una
ruta de DASH para las comunidades de Eagle Rock, Glassell Park y Highland Park.
Residentes y miembros del comité cuyos hijos asisten a las escuelas Toland Way,
Irving, Eagle Rock Middle and High School, estaban muy emocionados, proponiendo
ideas de como mejorar el transporte público por medios de una nueva ruta DASH,
al mismo tiempo como se mejoraría el estilo de vida de sus hijos. Como por
ejemplo: Los Alumnos que viajan para visitar la biblioteca de Eagle Rock y el
³Rock² (un centro de computación para los estudiantes) con esta ruta solamente
esperarían 15 minutos y tendrían más tiempo para estudiar y hacer sus
investigaciones escolares y de esta manera los alumnos tendrían un buen
progreso académico.
También se dijo que el comércio aumentaría en esta área, porque con esta nueva
ruta DASH las personas mayores saldrían hacer sus compras con mayor facilidad,
en menos tiempo y más seguros.
El lunes, 12 de mayo, la Coalición va a patrocinar un foro público para
continuar la discusión sobre la propuesta para una nueva ruta de DASH. La
reunión tendrá lugar al auditorio de la escuela Toland Way, a las 6:00 pm. 4545
Toland Way. Habrá servicio de cuidado de niños.
Para más información, llame al E.L. Sarabia al
323-254-3512
6. VOTE BY MAIL APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS -- DUE MAY
13
Elections for representatives to the LAUSD and Los Angeles Community College
boards will be held on May 20. To register to vote by mail before that
date, you must file a Vote by Mail application with the Los Angeles City Clerk
no later than 5:00 pm on May 13, 2003. For more information,
contact the City Clerk, PO Box 54377, Los Angeles, CA 90054-0377. (213)
485-4615.
7. CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT SUMMER INTERNSHIPS -- DEADLINE: MAY 15
The City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department is accepting applications
for two summer internships funded by the Getty Undergraduate Multicultural
Internship program.
The internships pay $3500 for 10 weeks @ 40 hours a week.
DEADLINE to apply is MAY 15, 2003.
Requirements:
*Individuals of African American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Native American &
Pacific Islander descent may apply
*You will not graduate before Dec. 2003
*Currently enrolled undergrad with at least 1 semester by June 2003
*Resident of LA County or attending college here
*Not received Getty Internship here or at more than one other organization
*Not related to Board or Staff
Please send a resume and cover letter to:
Carrie Roche
Cultural Affairs Department
Public Art Division
433 S. Spring St., 10th floor
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Or fax it to:
(213) 473-8357
8. THE LA ETHICS COMMISSION WANTS YOU!
From the April 28, 2003 edition of The Los Angeles Times:
Patt Morrison:
An Ethical Role Is Waiting for You
©2003, The Los Angeles Times
Laura Chick wants YOU for the ethics army!
No money in it, just the gratitude of citizens and the enmity of some
politicians.
Los Angeles' city controller is conducting an open casting call to find
"new voices and leadership in City Hall" to fill the seats at the
city Ethics Commission.
"I am casting a very wide net by reaching out to the people of Los Angeles
who are often unaware of the many city commissions in which they are eligible
to serve," Chick said.
You don't need 8-by-10 head shots, but you must be a registered voter in the
city of L.A., you can't hold any other public office, give money to or work in
a city election or for a candidate, or be a lobbyist or work for one. And no
revolving door, please: If you do get the job, and cast a vote about any
elected city office, you have to observe a cooling-off period of two years
before you run for a city office yourself.
It's a five-year gig, and you'll have to be able to play nicely with the other
four members, appointed by the mayor, the city attorney, the council president
and president pro tem.
Still want the part? Send cover letter and resume to City Controller Laura
Chick, 200 N. Main St., Room 300, Los Angeles 90012.
http://www.lacity.org/ctr/ethiccomm.pdf
9. CITY COUNCIL PASSES SCALED DOWN REFORMS
Here's a press release from California Common Cause on the LA
City Council's recent actions on campaign reform measures:
Los Angeles City Council Passes a Scaled Down Campaign Finance Reform
Package:
California Common Cause, L.A. Vows to Continue Reform Battle at City Hall
After two years of study and hearings and despite considerable lobbying by
California Common Cause and grassroots activists rallied from every corner of the
City, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a significantly scaled-down version
of the City Ethics Commission recommendation, intended to preserve L.A.¹s
world-class public matching funds program under siege from so-called
Independent Expenditures by monied special interests.
Victories Were Important
While it was in some ways a disappointing month in which there were four
marathon City Council sessions on the campaign finance reform measure
stretching, over 14 hours, there were some significant victories.
€ The practice of funding Independent Expenditures from
for-profit corporation and union treasuries was banned.
€ Reporting requirements and disclosure of Independent
Expenditures and their makers were strengthened. All IEs must now be
reported within 24 hours.
€ An acceleration of the matching funds from 1 to 1 to
3 to 1 was approved for the disadvantaged candidate in those instances when an
opponent of a participant in the public financing program contributes large
sums to his/her own campaign.
€ Restrictions were placed on the use of funds from an
elected official¹s officeholder account for mailings after the official had
become a candidate.
€ For the first time, limits were placed on the balance
of officeholder accounts.
€ The time in which campaign debt can be paid off was
set at nine months; a limit was set on the amount of a personal debt that a
City candidate can repay to himself/herself (through fundraising, usually
directed at Special Interests) after winning election.
Much Remains to be Done in 2003-2004
But two significant measures meant to reduce an emphasis
on fundraising, particularly from the special interests went down to defeat and
will be sure to be the focus of California Common Cause and our coalition of
reform supporters when a new City Council with a new configuration is convened
on July 1, 2003. Here's what is left to do:
€ A provision that would have shortened the period in
which candidates can fundraise for office was first passed 11-0, then brought
back by Councilmember Janice Hahn (who had been on a bathroom break during the
first vote), only to go down to defeat by a vote of 38.
€ The recommendation to eliminate what was referred to
as the ³irrational windfall² of our public matching funds program went down to
defeat, 7-8. The provision currently lifts the spending limits in the event of
an Independent Expenditure for all candidates in a race, including the cap on
spending for the candidate benefiting from the Special Interest spending.
At the same time, an amendment introduced by Council President Padilla and
seconded by the Council¹s newest member Bernard Parks, that would have allowed
the lifting of not only the spending limits for all candidates in the event of
Independent Expenditures but the contribution limits as well, went down to a
sound defeat 10-5, after impassioned debate on both sides. Defeating
this opportunist seizing of the reform package to create non-reform that
would eviscerate the heart of the public financing system in Los Angeles had
been the primary focus of California Common Cause efforts over the last two
weeks.
Thank you to all who helped!
It was a team effort, all the way. California Common Cause thanks the
many, many, grassroots activists and organizations that joined in our
grassroots effort to protect the integrity of our elections and the public
matching funds program in Los Angeles.
Between this measure and the lobbyist recusal measure passed in January, there
were 15 hearings in all in Committee and before the Council, this year.
Some grassroots activists attended as many of 13 of 15 hearings, even on
the two occasions that there was a steady downpour, and when the meetings
started early in the morning or late in the afternoon. (Remarkable!)
Over 400 e-mails, faxes and Action Alerts were sent to members of the City
Council through CauseNet and old-fashioned word-of-mouth networking efforts.
Testimony and organizing assistance from groups like CalPirg, California Clean
Money, Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy made a real difference.
Special thanks to those who came the farthest‹from the Harbor and the Northwest
San Fernando Valley‹and those who came with the shortest notice‹from Northeast
Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, and Koreatown.
We will be back, and soon!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the City Council voted on two key provisions
€ Measure to remove contribution limits for all candidates in the event of
an Independent Expenditure, opposed by California Common Cause,
California Clean Money and grassroots reformers:
For: Galanter, Holden, Padilla, Parks, Perry
Against: Bernson, Garcetti, Greuel, Hahn, LaBonge, Miscikowski, Pacheco,
Reyes, Weiss, Zine
€ Measure to end ³irrational windfall² for candidates benefiting from
Independent Expenditures, favored by California Common Cause, California
Clean Money and grassroots reformers:
For: Garcetti, Greuel, LaBonge, Miscikowski, Reyes, Weiss, Zine
Against: Bernson, Galanter, Hahn, Holden, Pacheco, Padilla, Parks, Perry.
Joan H. Leonard
California Common Cause, Los Angeles Democracy Action Project
2936 8th St., #304
Los Angeles, CA 90005
Voice/Fax: 213-388-1988
e-mail: CommonCauseLA@sbcglobal.net
state website: http://www.CommonCause.org/CA
10. MERCADO AT SOUTHWEST MUSEUM -- MAY 17, 18
The Southwest Museum honors California's rich Hispanic
heritage with our 3rd
annual Mercado! Spend the afternoon with artists and dealers of
beautifully
crafted arts from Mexico, South and Central America and the Spanish Colonial
Southwest. Treat yourself to regional traditional foods and music.
Purchase
unique items including textiles, jewelry, pottery, santos and musical
instruments. Admission to the Mercado! is free to all.
Saturday, May 17, 2003 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 18, 2003
Museum Patio
Pamela Hannah
Southwest Museum
234 Museum Drive
Los Angeles, California 90065
323-221-2164, ext. 230
pamhannah@aol.com
11. GLASSELL PARK WEIGHS IN ON PUBLIC STORAGE PROPOSAL
From our friends at the Glassell Park Improvement Association comes this report
on their May 1st community meeting with representatives of the Public Storage
facility on Eagle Rock Boulevard:
On Thursday May 1st, the Glassell Park Improvement Association hosted a special
community meeting on the proposal set forth by
Public Storage. Briefly, Public Storage will create a 7,396 square foot
community center and provide 40 parking spaces and better
landscaping of the exterior. Public Storage will also set up a $30,000
trust fund for furnishings and the other amenities Public
Storage has publicly and privately committed to - including a kitchen,
restrooms, office space and the seniors room, (this is contingent upon a
memorandum of understanding from the City Attorney's office through the Council
office). In exchange, Public Storage is asking for the community to
approve the conversion of the interior to have two floors constructed so the
building could be converted to traditional self-storage. Public Storage
also asked the community to consider forgoing a Conditional Use Permit hearing
for this project.
As a side note: Public Storage has also agreed to pay for the ongoing DWP costs
for GPIA member Suzie Wilkinson's Neighborhood Matching Fund project at the
triangle median in front of the Public Storage facility at Verdugo and Eagle
Rock Blvd.
The meeting on Thursday included a history of the Public Storage facility in
Glassell Park, presented by CD13 Field Deputy Mitch O'Farrell and a governmental
perspective shared by CD14 Field Deputy Linda Herbert. A presentation of
the proposal immediately followed and was given by Public Storage VP of
Development Jim Fitzpatrick. After Mr. Fitzpatrick's presentation was a
very informative and probing question and answer session from GPIA members and
Glassell Park residents.
Two referenda were presented to those who attended the meeting. Please
find below the ballot questions and the results representing
the consensus of those present:
Ballot Question 1:
I support the proposed usage plan as presented by Public Storage this evening
at the Glassell Park Recreation Center.
Yes - 85.7%
No - 8.6%
No Position - 5.7%
Ballot Question 2:
I support waiving the Conditional use Permit (C.U.P.) hearing for the proposed
usage plan as presented by Public Storage this evening at the Glassell Park
Recreation Center.
Yes - 34.3%
No - 51.4%
No Position - 5.7%
Did not vote - 8.6%
We thank the members of the Glassell Park community who took the time to show
up and vote. The results will be given to Councilmember Garcetti and the
CD 13 office as well as representatives from Public Storage.
12. NE LA COMMUNITY PLAN ADVISORY BOARD MEETING -- MAY 14
The Northeast Los Angeles Community Plan Advisory Committee (NELA CPAC) will
have its May meeting this coming Wednesday, May 14, 2003 at the Southwest
Museum Library at 7 PM. The Southwest Museum is located at 234 Museum Drive,
Los Angeles, 90065
The committee was appointed by members of the Los Angeles City Council more
than twelve years ago to oversee preparation and
implementation of the Northeast Los Angeles Community Plan. The Community Plan
was adopted in 1999 and the committe continues to meet monthly to monitor the
implementation program and to provide a public forum in which major project
proposals can be reviewed and discussed.
The agenda for the evening is as follows:
I. Call Meeting to Order
II. Introductions
III. Neighborhood Council Status Report
Marco Perez, Department of Neighborhood
Empowerment (DONE)
IV. Plan Implementation
1. Zoning Ordinances
2. Atwater Village Pedestrian
Oriented District
3. Lincoln Heights Historic
Preservation Overlay Zone
4. Lincoln Heights Community Design
Overlay District
5. Gold Line Station Area Planning
and Zone Changes
6. Cypress Park - Glassell Park
Community Design Overlay
District
7. Ad Hoc River Committee
8. Mt.
Washington/Glassell Park Specific Plan
V. Community Information
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
The public may address the Committee on the items on the agenda or on items
within the jurisdiction of the Committee of a cumulative time of up to 10
minutes. The chair may limit the time allocated to each speaker. In
order to speak, a speaker card must be completed and given to the Chair prior
to the public comment period.
For further information, contact Terry Speth (213) 978-1180.
13. TERA SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD
The TERA Board of Directors consists of at least five but not more than 15
members, all of whom serve a renewable three-year term. The TERA
membership votes every year for one or more new Board members, depending on the
number of positions open. The annual addition of new Directors promotes a
fresh exchange of ideas, and it encourages new and more creative solutions to
problems. These conditions are vital to the health, welfare, and
advancement of a well-run civic organization.
Directors must pledge to uphold TERA's mission and purposes (stated below), and
they must have been TERA members for at least one (1) year prior to election.
Directors shall be residents and/or property owners in the Eagle Rock
community. No member may be elected Director who holds a federal, state,
county, city, or other public office representing Eagle Rock or be a salaried
appointee of an elected official representing Eagle Rock. No member may
be elected Director whose business consists primarily of land development,
representation of land developers, or activity in zoning or planning or
land-use matters, which would conflict with TERA's mission and purposes.
The broad mission of this organization is to work for improvement of the
quality of life in the Eagle Rock Community in Los Angeles, California, by
providing research and education about Eagle Rock, participating in land-use
and planning activities, and promoting positive community growth and
beautification.
The specific purposes of TERA are as follows:
1. CHARACTER. To work to retain the community character of the Eagle Rock
area, the Association's geographical focus, by participating in and initiating
activities suited to that end.
2. PRESERVATION. To encourage preservation of single-family low-density
residential land use, open space, ecologically important areas, cultural resources,
historical sites and landmarks, aesthetic integrity, safety, and the high
quality of life in the Community.
3. PROTECTION. To protect the entire Eagle Rock area from incompatible
land uses and encroachment upon its basic residential character and its best
qualities as a place to live.
4. DEVELOPMENT. To seek and abet harmonious development of land and
buildings within the Community that is consistent with the character and
history of the neighborhoods, and to foster harmonious relationships between
Community residents and developers pursuing those same ends.
5. COOPERATION. To promote cooperation among Community residents and
Community organizations concerning land-use, planning and zoning matters and
other matters affecting the quality of life in the Community, to disseminate
data and information on pertinent problems and issues, and to cultivate good
relationships with other communities in the Northeast Los Angeles District, the
surrounding cities of Glendale, Pasadena and La Canada Flintridge, as well as
all communities citywide.
6. KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. To promote comprehensive knowledge and
understanding of the Community and its heritage, and of the need to protect the
area's "small town" atmosphere and character.
7. GOVERNMENT. To work with the City and County of Los Angeles and the
State of California toward the implementation and enforcement of legislation
pertinent to the Association's objectives and welfare.
8. LOCAL SCHOOLS. To work with all parts of the community to improve
local schools within Eagle Rock.
9. EDUCATION. To promote public awareness and education of issues
affecting Eagle Rock.
The TERA Board generally meets the third Tuesday of each month except around
the holidays, and we hold public meetings at the Eagle Rock Community Cultural
Center approximately four times each year. Attendance at public meetings
is preferred but not mandatory. It is highly desirable for Board members
to be computer-savvy or at least be computer-acquainted. All nominees are
asked to submit a biographical statement of 150 words or less explaining their
qualifications, experience, and what they can offer to help TERA reach the goal
of high quality of life for all who live in Eagle Rock.
If you know a TERA member who meets the foregoing qualifications and who would
be willing to devote a certain amount of time and energy furthering
TERA's goals, any TERA member may submit that individual's name for nomination.
A final slate of nominees is determined by the Nominating Committee, consisting
of at least two but not more than five Board members, excluding the president.
Please call Kathleen Long at (323) 259-TERA, or Email her at KTLN@aol.com
with your submissions. Deadline for submission of nominees and their bios
is June 15, 2003.
--Joanne Turner
President, The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)
14. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
Just like to know what's happening on the former movie theater and the
proposed restaurant [to be built on the site of the old Eagle Theatre at
Yosemite and Eagle Rock Boulevard.] They have been vacant for quite
sometime. Your response is much appreciated.
--Robert Dy,
Los Angeles
EDITOR'S NOTE: We contacted Fred Eric, who tells us that he's indeed moving
ahead with plans to reopen the Eagle Theatre and the former discount store next
to it as a theater/cafe/entertainment destination. Fred didn't offer an
opening date, though he did volunteer that he's expecting a baby girl in June,
which he anticipates might keep him somewhat busy over the next few months.
* * *
What a wealth of information. I am astounded. Thank you for
this great treasury of community happenings!
--Elena Velarde,
Mt. Washington
* * *
Finally, a reader from the Sycamore Grove neighborhood in Highland Park
shares her second thoughts after allowing a developer concessions in their
plans for a proposed apartment complex at 4733 North Figueroa:
In Sycamore Grove we are facing a construction project that required a zoning
variance and compliance with our Historic Preservation OZ. The area
lot was zoned for 6 units, at most and the developer requested and received a
variance for 9 units. These owner/developers have received their funding
from public funds.
The lot has difficult access. We were a block with historical homes,
bungalow courts, and the casa de adobe serviced and entered from Figueroa St.
A back alleyway provided access for trash pick up and to back yards.
Over the years the city took a great deal of Figueroa for bus stops and
the school added more school bus parking on Figueroa. Consequently, the
back alley was used more and more. Apts. blocked their Fig
entrances and people began to use the backs of buildings, cloaked with trash as
their main entrance. People tolerated these new entrances to new apt.
buildings without questioning the burden on the alley during apt.
construction in the 60's and 70's. Ziegler mansion day care was
added and also Southwest Museum Train station. The traffic is very heavy
and often too fast on Woodside drive. There are fights over parking
spaces. The problem has increased as the apts. added people and
consequently more vehicles without the needed parking for their residents.
This is some of the background on the block situation. We all have
worked hard to meet each other, get along and enjoy our closeness. The
apts. have worked with homeowners. We all were in big shock when we
learned that the Glen Mary owners were granted a variance and would be adding
to our traffic issues.Woodside drive cannot support another apt. building..so
residents did not want to see more apt. construction that would require
woodside drive use. There seems to be no room for another car. The
block has also just tolerated months of construction for the new metro line.
Residents are "construction weary". Woodside drive
follows the railroad track so we have also lost any shoulder area or turn
arounds when metro installed their new fencing. Woodside drive is a
"dead end". Children play on Woodside Drive and animals
are walked on Woodside Drive. The block is looking at the UNKNOWN for
Woodside drive when the train opens.
We [in the neighborhood] agreed to live with the situation after Glen Mary
pleaded a case for "good development", working with our HPOZ board to
gain an okay for their project. They were granted concessions from the
Councilman's office and allowed to increase to the 9 units. They are
building a big building in Eagle Rock, as well.
Over the past few weeks they have begun their project. Their first action
was to knowingly erect a construction fence across their property boundaries
and impose it upon their neighbors. Their supervisor has said that this
practice is common for "safety reasons". This has caused the
neighbors to have to bear heavy equipment near their windows. The supervisor
said a survey will follow later and the lines will be drawn accurately, until
then the neighbors must tolerate their presence. There is a historic
upper sidewalk along the terrace area on this block, it cuts through most
properties and is used for access from Figueroa. Some people still park
or walk up stairs at different points on the block and then traverse to their
address on the mid sidewalk. The Glen Mary people have decided to ignore
this sidewalk, cut off access and not restore areas where it has
deteriorated..this will diminish the use of the sidewalk by neighbors and the
people on the block.
Yesterday, their crews hit and bulldozed the large oak tree on the lot.
Under their zoning ordinance variance these Glen Mary people promised to
preserve the oak tree and build it into their plan. Yesterday they said
they felt the tree was actually two trees and bulldozed fully one side of the
tree off and left 1/2..Connie Saxe a former employee of Huntington Gardens and
a fine plantsman says the tree will die from this bulldozer action..An arborist
was also called. The neighbors are outraged. Neighbors feel conned
and angry.
The need for low income housing is great, and this is a plan to help by these
developers. Yet, on our particular block there are only a few homes
remaining and owners have accommodated many low income apts. Our
renters here are most opposed to this development, too, as we are already so
very crowded. Block people have been engaged in a 10 year improvement challenge
for this block and we now are seeing good results.
We are disappointed in these beginning actions by Glen Mary owners, who call
themselves the Bradford Group. The said at zoning meetings that they
would protect the very large oak..They most likely have destroyed it at
the very beginning of their project. They are not being good neighbors.
There may be ways that you can help with ideas or [suggestions for] action, or
learn from our situation.
Thank you so very much for your attention.
--Sheryl Getman,
Los Angeles
15. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Spring has many American faces. There are cities where it will come and
go in a day and counties where it hangs around and never quite gets
thereŠ"
--Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982)
The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)
e.letter@TERA90041.org