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Greetings from Canada:
Who would have thought a resident of Vancouver, Canada would be reading this eLetter. Recently, an email highlighting fond recollections of Eagle Rock was sent to me by an eLetter reader who was raised here, but now lives in Vancouver. It was gratifying to know that beyond keeping the Eagle Rock Community informed, TERA's eLetter helps keeping those far away connected. His observation was that Eagle Rock continues to move in a positive direction. This very generous reader followed up the email with a disc including photos, tracking his life from birth in Eagle Rock. It was wonderful to note how many of the attractive homes and other structures from the 40's and 50's are still part of the fabric of Eagle Rock today.
Sometimes we only appreciate something when we no longer have it. However, Vancouver is a one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. I don't think absence is making his heart grow fonder. This was simply a sincere recollection and appreciation of this special place called Eagle Rock.
New Board Members:
Once again the principle is proven. Want to get something done, give it to a busy person. We have two new board members who are very busy in their personal lives. But they care about the Eagle Rock Community and I am pleased to say they have chosen to demonstrate their desire to work for the betterment of Eagle Rock by joining the TERA Board.
Heather Klinger's husband shares her commitment to community. David Klinger is a member of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council. Heather and David moved from Tempe, Arizona to Eagle Rock about three years ago. David, an attorney specializing in intellectual property law, practices in Pasadena. Heather is a manager at the Tam O'Shanter restaurant located on Los Feliz.
Community service has been part of Heather's life since childhood. Her mother helped found the local chapter for Habitat for Humanity and involved Heather at an early age. Volunteering at a public library, tutoring inner city children, teaching Sunday School and being involved in various church activities are only some of the ways in which Heather has given back to the community. Prior to joining the TERA Board Heather joined the committee for TERA's annual fund-raiser and was responsible for all food and beverages at the reception.
In her spare time Heather enjoys bikram yoga, reading, food and drink, and working on their new home in Eagle Rock.
We are especially happy to have Sharon Kroner, a long-term Eagle Rock business owner join the TERA Board. In 1994 Sharon and her sister Kathy poured their modest life savings into a business, signed a lease for a store on Eagle Rock Boulevard and for the last 17 years have owned and managed the Owl Talk, an eclectic clothing resale boutique. Prior to opening the Owl Talk, Sharon had studied garment design at Glendale College and Otis Parsons. Her goal was to own a design firm specializing in lingerie and sports wear. When she was "right sized", she was convinced that this was the time to become the entrepreneur of her aspirations. Ultimately she convinced her sister to become a partner in the Owl Talk.
Being both a business owner and resident in the community, Sharon's Eagle Rock roots run deep. She has seen many changes in the business environment, and feels that the overall direction of the neighborhood has been positive.
Sharon's desire to get more involved in the community has grown stronger over time. But she had been reluctant to jump in the water, feeling she had little to offer beyond her business acumen and affection for the community. However, her view of the community through the perspective of a business owner brings a valuable viewpoint to TERA's effort.
The TERA Board feels very fortunate to have Heather and Sharon on the team. Welcome!
If you would like to know more about joining the TERA Board or getting involved in another capacity email President@TERA90042.org expressing your interest. I would love to hear from you.
Board Nominations:
Board members are elected to the board for three year terms. They must be nominated by the TERA membership, at least every three years. Maria Nazario is coordinating the nominating process this year. All members will receive a nomination form in the mail shortly. Please take a few minutes to complete the form and mail back to TERA. Summer Newsletter:
TERA's summer newsletter is in the mail to all TERA members. A soft copy of the newsletter may be found at TERA's website http://www.tera90041.org/TERANewsletterArchive.htm.
 Bob Gotham, President
Support TERA - Become a Member Join now at http://www.tera90041.org/join-paypal.htm . Memberships begin at only $15.
Membership Has Benefits! Discounts are available for TERA Members at the following participating merchants. Just show your active membership card. Click on http://www.tera90041.org/benefits.htm to see the member benefits offered by each merchant.
Please patronize these merchants, save a little money, and show them that you appreciate their support of the community.
The picture that flashed in my mind as I began to write the Take Back the Boulevard update was the experience of being in a plane as it proceeds down the runway. I wait for the moment when I can feel that the wheels leave contact with the tarmac. Shortly thereafter, the ascent and the speed of the aircraft increase quickly. Take Back the Boulevard is definitely moving down the runway, ready for take off soon.
Similar efforts have been made in the past. Unfortunately, they did not always end in results. Consequently, there is some well founded cynicism in the community that efforts similar to Take Back the Boulevard may never result in more than plans that go no where.
Today's effort may be distinguished from past efforts in several important ways. Most importantly, this is a collaborative effort including leadership from many of the Eagle Rock associations. In addition to community leaders, from the beginning the leadership effort has included individuals who are experts in the field of streetscapes, community transformations, etc.
Recognizing the importance of wide-spread community involvement is another distinguishing factor. Colorado Boulevard based businesses have unique concerns, considerations and opportunities. Merchants will be invited to a meeting this month dedicated to discussing and understanding the business perspective. The meeting for the entire Eagle Rock community is scheduled for September 21, 700pm at the 20th Century Women's Club. Save the date. More information on that meeting will be published soon.
Support of the Council Office will be critical for our success. We have begun the dialogue with Jose Huizar and his staff. Initial discussions have been very positive. A representative from the Council Office will join the TBB (Take Back the Boulevard) Steering Committee. I am confident that soon we will be able to share additional progress in this evolving important partnership.
We have begun our outreach to gain support from community organizations. I am happy to report that the following organizations have provided supportive statements. Several more endorsements are in process, awaiting board meetings for various organizations.
This initiative has the potential to transform downtown Eagle Rock. I strongly urge you to participate as the community is invited into the dialogue of how we make Colorado Boulevard best serve the community of Eagle Rock.
The wrap up for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Eagle Rock will be capped by a parade in November honoring veterans and highlighting the 100th anniversary of our community. Streets have to be closed, traffic must be rerouted and other actions taken by the city in order to conduct a parade. In this time of economic challenge, the fees to have a parade are more significant. TERA will donate $500 to help offset the expenses that will be incurred in staging the parade.
We would also like to have a significant TERA presence at the parade. All TERA members are invited to join the TERA contingent in the parade. More information on how TERA will organize its parade presence will come closer to this event in November.
Median Advisory Committee Update This picture was taken at a Median Advisory Committee meeting in winter 2010.
The Median Advisory Committee was organized by Councilmember Jose Huizar's office late last year to propose a permanent solution for the maintenance issues that faced our medians here in Eagle Rock.
The Councilmember's office has been proactive in finding solutions, first by using discretionary funds for emergency median cleaning, the removal of overgrown vegetation, and to fix median irrigation systems that were in disrepair. The Councilmember's office continues to aid the community in finding solutions through the work of the Median Advisory Committee and their participation in the creation of a long-term plan to for the eventual re-landscaping of portions of the medians.
Focusing on the use of native and drought-tolerant plants, water and power conservation, and green technologies, the Committee aims to increase the attractiveness of the medians while reducing maintenance requirements and cost.
The committee, which is open to everyone, is currently refining a landscaping design, cost estimate, and implementation plan for a pilot median on the 1800 block of Colorado Boulevard, in front of the Renaissance Arts Academy. This design will be presented during a future public meeting to gather community input.
Median Advisory Committee participants have included: Jack Burnett Stuart, Allen Compton, Dave and Helen Gustavson, Jane Tsong, Mike Woodward, John Stillion, Scott Wilson, Richard Monk, Sylva Blackstone, and representatives from Council District 14, Street Services, Office of Community Beautification, and LADWP.
More information: urbanforestcollaborativeATgmailDOTcom
Trader Joe's expansion (above) and Eagle Rock/Yosemite project (below)
Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan Revision:
Recently the TERA Board discussed the pending proposal to revise the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan, allowing businesses to stay open 2 hours later. Below you will find the conclusion reached by the board. As you read the conclusions we reached, please keep in mind that we reached our conclusion based on what we feel is best for the overall community, understanding that those residing adjacent to the Colorado Boulevard business corridor would likely prefer that hours not be extended.
Currently the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan indicates that businesses must close by 9:00 p.m. Several businesses on the boulevard do remain open after 9:00 p.m. due to waivers, Conditional Use Permits, etc. The Eagle Rock Association supports the current proposal to revise the Colorado Boulevard Specific plan, extending evening business hours from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. based on the following considerations.
A vibrant business community is a significant asset to a neighborhood. Especially in this challenging economy, it is important to support our business community. Extending permitted business hours on Colorado Boulevard levels the playing field, allowing Colorado Boulevard merchants to more effectively compete with merchants elsewhere in Eagle Rock as well as the surrounding communities. A successful business community makes homes more desirable, increasing their value.
Our community is very fortunate to be home to a group of independent merchants with strong roots to our community. It is in our best interest to patronize these entrepreneurs who have made investments in Eagle Rock. It is also our responsibility to not unreasonably limit their ability to be successful.
Trader Joe's Expansion:
As detailed in a prior eLetter, I have attempted to get information from Trader Joe's regarding their proposed expansion. For Trader Joe's, the ultimately friendly market, their public relations department was uncharacteristically unresponsive, refusing to provide any information or even confirm that an expansion was planned. Their representatives are moving through the usual local review process. Through that process, I have gained copies of the proposed store expansion. The expansion plan is shown in the top half of the image at the top of this article. Additional parking will be added by shaving a bit from the surrounding cliff walls and re-striping the parking lot more efficiently.
Eagle Rock Boulevard / Yosemite Drive Project Proposal:
A new mixed use project to be located on a lock of Eagle Rock Boulevard between Yosemite Drive and Fairpark Ave. is in the early proposal stages. If a final decision is made to move forward on the project, it is likely that construction is more than a year in the future. The Nazarene Church is currently located on this property. The proposed project includes 30 family units, two and three bedrooms, and approximately 2,000 Sq. Ft. of commercial space fronting Eagle Rock Blvd. Parking for the residents and the commercial users will be provided on site and in a subterranean garage. A sketch showing how the project might appear from Eagle Rock Blvd. is shown in the bottom half of the image at the top of this article.
The mission of the 1010 Development Corporation, the sponsor of this project, is to preserve, build, and manage quality service-enriched affordable housing and engage in community and economic development opportunities. 1010 Development Corporation is a faith-based affordable housing developer with almost 20 years development experience. The developer made a presentation to the TERA Board. The Board is in the process of determining its position on the project.
2011 Concerts In the Park: E-Waste Collections - August 27 & 28 at Eagle Rock Plaza:
In order to create a cleaner environment for our community, Happy Recyclers and Center For The Arts (a nonprofit organization) is hosting an electronic waste (e-waste) collection event on Saturday, August 27th & 28th, in the parking lot of the Eagle Rock Plaza, from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. The event is a free service to both city residents and businesses to properly get rid of their unwanted electronic products.
E-waste includes electronic products or devices, such as computer monitors, televisions, PC systems, printers, home entertainment systems, copiers, and facsimile machines that have reached their useful end, whether in working condition or not.
Please come show your support for a cleaner environment by diverting e-waste away from our city and landfills to the appropriate recycling process. For more detailed information on the event, or qualified e-waste products, please contact nadine@happyrecyclers.com
Department of Water and Power Colorado Blvd. Water Main Project:
Beginning July 17, 2011, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) will start replacing water pipeline on Colorado Blvd between Eagle Rock Blvd and Maywood Ave.
The project will consist of two phases: 1) the installation of the water pipeline by DWP crews; and 2) the replacement of water service lines and the connection between the new water pipeline and the water meters. It is estimated that this part of the project will take approximately five weeks to complete.
Your water service may be interrupted on two occasions for approximately five hours to connect the new pipeline, and approximately one hour while your service line is connected to the new pipeline. You will be notified prior to any service interruption except in the case of an emergency shutdown. While we will make every effort to complete the project in a timely manner, adverse weather conditions or unforeseen problems in the field may impact the completion date.
Access to the construction area will be restricted and "No Parking" signs will be posted and enforced. For safety reasons, please request to see a valid identification badge from a DWP employee if they come to your door, and children must be kept away from the construction area. DWP will work with you to minimize any project impacts and try to accommodate specific requests when possible.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please feel free to contact the Project Supervisor, Robert Lopez at (213) 367-8339, or the Field Superintendent, Mike Chavez at (213) 367-6929.
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