"Eagle
Rock: Where land use and planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
August 22,
2002
In this issue:
1. WALGREENS UPDATE -- DESIGN REVIEW BOARD (DRB) HEARING --
THURSDAY -- AUGUST 22
2. ANNUAL "STATE OF THE TOWN" ADDRESS -- SEPTEMBER 17
3. YOUR BUNGALOW HOME COULD BE FEATURED IN UPCOMING BOOKS!
4. NEW TERA BOARD MEMBER -- MICHAEL THARP
5. SMALL BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR -- SWORK'S PATRICIA NEAL
6. TOWNSEND GALLERY UPCOMING ART OPENING -- JAVIER CORTES -- SEPTEMBER
7
7. "DRUG WARS" POSTERS
8. JAZZ AT COLOMBO'S -- THE MELTING POT OF EAGLE ROCK
9. SO . . . WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE EAGLE THEATER?
10. OUR CONDOLENCES TO NANCY SCHER
11. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
12. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
1.
WALGREENS UPDATE -- DESIGN
REVIEW BOARD (DRB) HEARING -- THURSDAY -- AUGUST 22
The Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan's next Design Review Board (DRB)
hearing will take place this Thursday, August 22, at 6:00 p.m., at the Eagle
Rock Branch Library, 5027 Caspar Avenue, in Eagle Rock. The only
item on the agenda is the latest Walgreens proposal. This means there
is more time to discuss the issue.
It is very unfortunate that the plans don't seem to have changed much, but they
have changed enough (buildings being "shifted," etc. -- see
description below) that the entire proposal, and not just the silly
"canopy" modification, is now under the purview of the DRB.
This is your chance to attend this hearing and SPEAK UP. By
law, you can address whatever issue you want during the public comment period,
even the "restoration/adaptive reuse of the Shopping Bag building"
issue (since the project is now back to square one), and no one can legally
stop you from speaking within your allotted time.
Please remember that the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan states the following
as one of many of its purposes and objectives:
"I. To the
maximum extent feasible, cultural resources, architecturally-significant or
historic structures or community related landmarks shall be preserved."
With the upwards of 2,000 petition signatures community members gathered within
a few-week period supporting preservation and restoration of the Shopping Bag
building, it is more than clear that the building is a "community
related landmark" and should be preserved, especially since the developer
said it could be done.
Remember -- Walgreens has restored and adaptively reused many older or historic
buildings in various locations throughout the nation, and they have done this
while sacrificing the "visible parking lot" feature, which they claim
is absolutely necessary for the success of their business here in our town.
Baloney! Are we going to let them treat us as second-class
citizens? Why do they not think that Eagle Rock deserves the same
consideration as other cities in the nation, even other areas as Los Angeles
(Miracle Mile)?
The agenda description regarding the Walgreens issue reads as follows:
Public Hearing
DIR-2001-3476-SPP-MOD-DRB: 2222 Colorado Boulevard & 5041-5051 Eagle Rock
Boulevard. Design review of the modified plans, which shifts and
enlarges Building "A" [the actual proposed Walgreens store], shifts,
reconfigures, and reduces Building "B", and extends
Building "C" from the previously submitted plans identified
as Schematic Site Plan in Exhibit A from the previous determination in
DIR-2002-3476-SPP. (This item is continued from the Board's July 11, 2002
Public Hearing.)
There is a new developer on this project, the Rich Co.
(http://www.richdevelopment.com), and we hope to be able to convince this
developer that restoration and adaptive reuse will be a win-win solution for
everyone. It would be extremely helpful if our Council member would step
up to the plate and work tirelessly and use his power to see that the needs and
desires of his constituents and the objectives of our laws are met (which is
his job), and that means he must press hard for keeping and restoring the
building.
It is vitally important that we show up in great numbers to let the DRB, the
Planning Department, the Council office, and the developer know that Eagle Rock
deserves to have its history saved.
2. ANNUAL "STATE
OF THE TOWN" ADDRESS -- SEPTEMBER 17
Please join TERA at our next public meeting to hear Council member Pacheco
give his annual "State of the Town" address. It will take
place on Tuesday, September 17, at 7:00 p.m., at the Eagle Rock Community
Cultural Center, 2225 Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock. Refreshments will
be served.
Come hear what's been happening around Eagle Rock over the last year, and what
will be happening in the future. Public safety, parking problems,
commercial development, and other issues will be discussed. There will be
a question-and-answer period, so bring your questions!
Please attend! This particular meeting was the favorite among TERA
members when surveyed earlier this year.
3. YOUR BUNGALOW HOME
COULD BE FEATURED IN UPCOMING BOOKS!
Dear Bungalow Homeowner --
Jane Powell and Linda Svendsen, co-authors of Bungalow Kitchens & Bungalow
Bathrooms, (see it at http://www.bungalowkitchens.com) are writing
three new books on bungalows. TERA has invited them to come to Northeast Los
Angeles in October to photograph our wonderful houses for inclusion in these
books!
Bungalow Kitchens is a book about how to restore or design a period or
period-style kitchen for a bungalow or other early 20th-century house. It
provides a wealth of ideas about cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring,
and all the other elements that make up a bungalow kitchen, as well as advice
about integrating modern technology while maintaining the bungalow look, all
presented in an entertaining and even humorous way. A hundred and fifty
color photographs of original restored and new kitchens, as well as detailed
illustrations, provide inspiration.
Not finished with your restoration project? Cobwebs in the corner? No
problem! They are seeking interesting interior and exterior features to
show as well as whole-house shots. This is our chance to promote
Northeast Los Angelesēs historic communities, thereby encouraging preservation.
Do you have old photographs of your house? Jane and Linda are especially
interested in combining them with the current photos in the book.
Please contact me, Suzanne Prieur at enchanted_wds.com or call me at (323)
257-7042, if you should want your house immortalized in a quality book, or two
or three!
Warmly --
Suzanne Prieur
Outreach Chair
TERA
4. NEW TERA BOARD
MEMBER -- MICHAEL THARP
We are pleased to announce that Michael Tharp has been elected to the TERA
Board. Michael brings to TERA extensive experience as a land-use expert
and serves as chair of our Land-Use Committee. Welcome, and
congratulations, Michael!
5. SMALL BUSINESSWOMAN
OF THE YEAR -- SWORK'S PATRICIA NEAL
For the third annual Women in Business awards, which honors outstanding
businesswomen throughout the 21st State Senate district (Senator Jack Scott)
and the 43rd and 44th State Assembly districts (Assembly members Dario
Frommer and Carol Liu, respectively), Patricia Neal (Pioneer of Swork) was
nominated by TERA president Joanne Turner as Small Businesswoman of the Year.
Tricia was chosen as the winner among many other well qualified nominees!
The awards luncheon will be held in September. Congratulations,
Tricia! We're very proud of you!
6. TOWNSEND GALLERY
UPCOMING ART OPENING -- JAVIER CORTES -- SEPTEMBER 7
Townsend Gallery, the newest addition to Eagle Rock's growing art scene,
announces their summer exhibition, "Wax and Ashes: The Abstract Oil
Paintings of Javier Cortes." Townsend Gallery specializes in Latin
American fine art, hand-crafted folk art, and ethnographic antiques from exotic
artisans of Africa, Afghanistan, China, Guatemala, India, Mexico, New Guinea
and Peru. Townsend also offers custom and museum-quality framing and installation
services.
WAX AND ASHES / CERA Y CERIZA
ABSTRACT ENCAUSTIC PAINTINGS OF JAVIER CORTES
September 7, 2002
Once again, the Townsend Gallery is our window to the world. One of Mexico's
finest contemporary artists shares his gift in the shadow of the famous Eagle
Rock. Presenting a bold collection of over 30 paintings entitled "Cera
y Ceriza" ("Wax and Ashes") through November 2nd, Javier
Cortes presents his remarkable homage to the elements of nature -- the
evolutionary cycle of life, death and rebirth. Carefully, in almost
ritual fashion, Cortes technically applies and layers iridescent mineral colors
with nature's castoff materials. Leaves from a secret walkway, dust from the
rafters of a church, a crumpled broadside -- mundane ingredients bonded magically
together by layers of wax, infusing the paintings with the smell of fire, the
crunch of fallen leaves, the dampness of morning dew. The rhythms are
subtle, without beginning, without end. The genius of Javier Cortes
infuses them with the elements of life. Ashes and dust, birth and death.
Born in Zacatecas in 1965, Javier Cortes studied at the Universidad Autonama de
Zacatecas and the Escuela National de Artes Plasticas in Mexico City. Cortes
was honored with a solo exhibition at the Museo Francisco Gottia, Zacatecas, in
1998, featured in a group exhibition of Mexican artists in Los Angeles in 1999,
and most recently, in 2001, at Boudreau-Ruiz Gallery in Newport Beach,
California.
The artist will be in attendance at the opening events. The media is invited to
schedule press interviews on Friday, September 6th. The open reception will be
held Saturday, September 7th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Hischier Collection
TRADITIONAL ASMAT ART AND ARTIFACTS FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Traveling by longboat from village to village, trekking in the land of the tree
house people, paddling up river, being shot at with bows and arrows -- this is
the life of collector and trader of Asmat art Phyllis Hischier. Her collection,
like the perilous collecting trips, is rich with mystery and tribal magic.
Following the ancient traditions, virtually every item is made and named for an
ancestor -- stressing the spirit power of each ritual and utilitarian object
from the Asmat carvers.
Erasing the myth that only the pre-1960 pieces reflect true Asmat Art, the
Hischier collection of soul boats, spirit figures, ancestor poles and
ceremonial masks and more awakens the inner connection to the primal heartbeat
of our own ancient beginnings. It makes one's heart beat faster just being in
the presence of these intriguing artworks.
Townsend Gallery is located at 1581 West Colorado, on the north corner of
Townsend Ave. and West Colorado Blvd., in Eagle Rock, California. Hours are
Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 11a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday by
appointment. For further information and images, please call (323) 478-9513.
7. "DRUG
WARS" POSTERS
It has been brought to our attention that several posters (four different
designs, it appears) regarding the Walgreens issue have been placed on various
electrical boxes and other prominent areas around town. A few people have
assumed that TERA is responsible for this. We are not, and we don't know
who is.
8. JAZZ AT COLOMBO'S --
THE MELTING POT OF EAGLE ROCK
All-Star Celebrity Jazz Jam Session every Monday evening starting
around 8:30 PM, hosted by Eric Ekstrand with Frank Wilson; drums
and Leslie Baker; bass. All musicians and singers are welcome to
come by and sit-in. Participants will earn "Colombo-Bucks" good
for discounts on food and drinks at Colombo's. Last session will be
August 26.
EVERY AFTERNOON JAZZ AT COLOMBO'S with the ERIC
EKSTRAND TRIO
Eric Ekstrand; piano, vocal
Leslie Baker; bass
Frank Wilson; drums
2-6 PM every day
COLOMBO'S -- "The Melting Pot of Eagle Rock"
1833 Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock
(323) 254-9138
[Editor's note: My husband and I go to Colombo's every Friday night.
It's terrific, and I would encourage all of you to stop by any night of
the week. The menu is extensive, the food is very good, the service
excellent, the music wonderful, and the drinks are the best in town. You
might even get crazy, lose your head, and . . oh no . . join a conga line!!
The atmosphere might be described as "retro bordello,"
including lot of red decor and paintings of sea captains and scantily-clad
women (ooooh, my feminist friends will get me for this). We always see
people we know at "the melting pot," the name manager Vic Parrino, a
really good guy, has given Colombo's, and it's a name that couldn't be more
appropriate. Hope to see you there!]
9. SO . . . WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH THE EAGLE THEATER?
Several of you have asked. Everything's still a go, but Fred is facing a
few glitches with the tenant of the 99-cent store. Fred's as enthusiastic
about the project as ever and has in the meantime opened a new restaurant in
Beverly Hills (although we don't know the name). He's a really busy guy.
As soon as we know more, we'll pass it on. Don't worry -- good
things are indeed coming to Eagle Rock!!
10. OUR CONDOLENCES TO
NANCY SCHER
We offer our sincere condolences to Eagle Rock Elementary School highly-gifted
magnet teacher and wonderful person Nancy Scher, who recently lost her husband.
Our thoughts are with her and her family.
11. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
"I wonder why Walgreens wants to come now that we have Target. Don't
they get it? We already have a major discount store here. The
traffic issues from Target are already mounting, so how can we have Walgreens
down the street?
Keep up the good work."
-- Mona Field, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"It's nice to have the e.letter back. I heard a rumor that a Starbucks is
going in at the site of the new Sav-On. Is this true? Also wondering
what's happening with the Eagle Theater."
-- Stephanie Rush, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
[Editor's note: We don't know about Starbucks. The Sav-On developer
isn't putting in a Starbucks, but we heard rumors that the property across the
street adjacent to Vons might house a Starbucks. According to our sources
at Vons, who owns the property to be developed, they haven't solidified any
plans. For the Eagle Theater, see Item 9 above.]
12.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"As a strong proponent
of economic development I am certainly glad the phrase is smart growth as
opposed to no growth. Smart growth suggests that growth has positive
benefits and I would agree that is true. At the same time we cannot say
we are having smart growth -- regardless of how well it is physically planned
-- if at the same time we are abandoning existing assets. The encouraged
reinvestment in historic areas in and of itself revitalizes and revalues the
nearby existing investment of both the public and private sector. That's
smart growth."
--
Donovan Rypkema
We welcome your comments.
Please include your name.
Joanne Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>
President, The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)