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It's summertime and the living is easy is clearly in the air. Development-wise Eagle Rock is quiet, with no earth shaking events taking place. However, that does not mean there is nothing for us to care about that will preserve or improve the quality of Eagle Rock. Due to the soft economy, few new businesses are opening and existing businesses are just trying to hold on. Many merchants are giving more attention to promotion - which is a good thing. More than ever, it is important for all of us to patronize our local businesses. It appears that it will take longer than we had hoped for the economy to recover. The way we assess proposed projects needs to change. The fact that we live in a desert climate with limited water can no longer be ignored. Recognizing and adapting to irrevocable changes on a timely basis brings great rewards. There is also change we need to fight for. Marijuana Dispensaries:
Color me confused. I thought we had new interim regulations in place regarding the operations of the dispensaries. Permitted and non-permitted dispensaries were identified. Logically I anticipated that steps would be taken to ensure that non-permitted dispensaries would no longer operate. As requested by this eLetter, many Eagle Rockers began reporting the continued operation of non-permitted locations to the City Attorney, the Council Office and TERA. Initially, according to the Council Office, the problem was that the non-permitted dispensaries were operating at irregular hours, making it difficult for the authorities to catch them in the act of operating. More recently, I was told that questions remain regarding the enforceability of the new ordinances.
Recently the House of Kush (1632 Colorado Blvd.) sent an email blatantly announcing they would be in business the next day at 10:00am. I did share this information with the Council Office. At noon the next day, I went to the address, finding a security guard outside. As I took a photo of the guard and the entry, he encouraged me to "take as many photos as you want." There is apparently no fear of being shut down. As far as irregular business hours being an issue, my investigative talents must be stronger than I suspected. Using links included in the Kush email I found http://www.weedtracker.com, a site that provides names, address and hours of operations for dispensaries in Eagle Rock. Many months ago, the community rose up in alarm when the large number of dispensaries became apparent. The CD14 Council Office stand that the right solution was not to ban dispensaries but to manage them to a smaller number, located away from schools, churches, etc. was supported. We applauded Jose' Huizar's leadership in urging the City Council to pass a resolution that appeared to be the solution. I thought we solved this problem. But sadly, it appears nothing has changed. More to come in the next eLetter. In the meantime, keep sending the emails. Thanks to all who have been sending emails regarding dispensaries operating. Illegally. Addresses for the permitted dispensaries are as follows:
Any other location is operating illegally and should be reported as follows:
Evaluating Project Proposals:
In the past, evaluating a new development proposal required careful examination of factors such as zoning, density, amount of parking, design, number of occupants, height of structure, setback, landscaping, appropriateness to the neighborhood, etc. Today, ensuring that the developer has the financial resources and resolve to complete the project has become an especially critical aspect of reviewing new project proposals. The community should not be required to bear the burden of a huge hole in the ground or another project of half-built lofts when a developer fails. What is possible today is not the same as it was when the economy was going gangbusters. When there is a potentially adverse public impact from a failed project, the community deserves assurances and guarantees that the developer has the resources to see the proposed project through to completion. We should certainly continue to be vigilant to what we welcome into our community; sometimes, nothing is better than something. However, we need to also be realistic and understand that what made economic sense for a developer ten years ago is not the same as it is today. Prima, perfect projects will be harder to find. This new reality does not imply "anything goes". We still need to hold out for the best we can get and understand that modest concessions from all parties may be the new reality.
Kudos to Eagle Rock Plaza:
Kudos to the management of the shopping mall. The chain link fence surrounding Eagle Rock Plaza is certainly not a thing of beauty. But, as the manager, Bryan Paul promised, at least it's no longer slumping in some places, or falling over in other places, probably a result of a driver's poor aim as they rushed to a once in a lifetime sale at Target or Macy's. The second step of this perimeter rehabilitation was to restore irrigation so that greenery would re-cover more of the chain-link, especially in the front of the mall. We eagerly await the new growth.
Blight Update:
At last the smallest amount of good news regarding the disastrous partially constructed lofts in the 1200 block of Eagle Rock. There is now a for sale sign on the property.
Many have expressed concern that the construction of the retaining wall may have compromised the stability of this escarpment. An interesting comment made to me recently, by a land-use specialist whose opinion I highly regard, was that the hillside might actually be safer now than prior to when the retaining wall was built. He pointed out, and I recalled, before this development this cliffside was totally unreinforced. The hillside was comprised of a mixture of rocks and soil, with no structure in place to stabilize the very steep slope. Excessive rain could have seriously compromised the stability of that hillside.
It has also been pointed out that some of the columns appear to be leaning. My good friend and expert explained that had the project progressed as originally planned, these columns would have become an integral part of a larger structure, supporting and supported by other elements of the lofts. They were not intended to survive as standalone entities. The tendency of the columns to not remain exactly vertical can probably be attributed to the lack of the planned lateral supports.
Had the development been completed as originally envisioned, it may have made a strongly positive statement about the Eagle Rock Community as one exited from the freeway into our community. Sadly, because of its prominent location, the failure of the original developer makes an equally negative statement today.
Median Update:
Using discretionary funds, the Council Office has provided funding for short term clean up and maintenance of the median. As requested by Councilmember Huizar, funding for long-term regular maintenance to the medians (mow grass, remove weeds and trash) was approved in City Council using federal stimulus funds.
It is with great appreciation that I admit I had to re-write this part of the eLetter. As originally written, I was strongly urging the dead trees be removed before a limb falls and provides the basis for another avoidable million-dollar lawsuit against the city. I am happy to report that the trees have been removed. You can identify them by the DOT sawhorses that are shielding the remaining stumps. Regarding replacement of the trees, the Council Office is working with urban forestry -street services to assist. Based on the lush green grass on some median sections, and the parched yellow remnants of grass on other sections of the medians, irrigation problems are obvious. The firm that is now maintaining the medians is resolving those issues.
Many readers wrote, volunteering to help with the recovery of the medians. Several suggested that the reality of our desert climate, and the likely habitual shortage of water, should influence the rehabilitation of the medians. What does make sense is to adapt the median plantings to whatever on-going maintenance, including watering, the city will provide. Anything else does not make a lot of sense.
Water Main Update:
At the follow-up meeting at Eagle Rock City Hall, the DWP came back with a greatly improved plan that responded to the valid concerns expressed at the first meeting by many Eagle Rock merchants and residents. The understanding that this was not a discretionary project was generally accepted, allowing meeting attendees for focus fully on the best way to execute the plan.
Originally, the plan had been to begin the project at Eagle Rock and Colorado Blvd., and proceed east to Colorado and Genevieve Ave. This would have dramatically affected Colorado merchants during the holiday season. The DWP, in a much more collaborative demeanor, introduced a revised plan that mitigated the holiday concerns. The project will now be initiated between Dahlia Drive and Genevieve Avenue, gradually working west to Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevard. Although the merchants will still be affected, the impact will not occur in the middle of the important holiday season. You may have noticed that the work has already begun.
We should be thankful for a business community that quickly mobilized, a Council Office that listened and DWP representatives who quickly and wisely abandoned the "take it or leave it" game. Did the DWP learn anything from this incident? Time will tell.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, you may contact the following: Membership:
If you are not a member, please consider becoming a member now. You will know that you are supporting the quality of life in Eagle Rock.
Join now at http://www.TERA90041.org
 Bob Gotham, President
There is nothing that personifies summer in Eagle Rock more than the Concerts in the Park sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Council Office.
We need your help to maintain the beautiful and unique decorated trashcans that are located throughout Eagle Rock. Over a year ago, these trash receptacles, each decorated with a mosaic of a unique design, were very well received as they were placed on the sidewalks of our community. Some have fared better than others. We hope you will join the effort on Sunday, Sept. 19, to spiff up these works of art. The work will consist primarily of cleaning the mosaic art and the metal trim around the top of the receptacle. Pauline Mauro, the prior board member and manager of this project, will coordinate the clean up efforts. Please contact Pauline at Pauline.mauro@gmail.com or 323-393-5445 for more information or to let her know that you want to be on the team. Thank you in advance for your help.
TERA also wants to thank the many merchants who have sponsored these works of art. Go to http://www.tera90041.org/ERMARNT.html if you would like to know more about this project and the merchants who are involved.
Do you love shade, clean air, and living things? If so, the Eagle Rock Urban Forest Collaborative would love to talk with you. We are organizing a planting of street trees for the 100th anniversary of Eagle Rock, and need your involvement to make our streets greener. Current plans include planting empty tree wells along Colorado, Figueroa, Eagle Rock, and York Boulevards. Please contact: urbanforestcollaborative@gmail.com
Sign up now! Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock Summer Art Camp, Weeks 10 & 11 are still available.
12th Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival
Cactus Gallery is a vibrant Latino owned and operated gallery that promotes Los Angeles artists. Our space is an eclectic mix of traditional art forms, outsider art, and folk art. To the ever-growing Cactus family of artists we add the works of dozens of talented artisans from Argentina who handcraft stunning modern metal jewelry and unique art objects. We believe in community and maintaining cultural traditions. Cactus seeks to bring a sensibility to the arts that is fresh and innovative.
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