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 TERA & ERNC / Why? Many years ago, with the introduction of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council (ERNC), it would have been reasonable to pose the question "Do we need TERA when we have a Neighborhood Council?" Initially I was not sure, but today I am more convinced than ever; there are differences in the two groups and there definitely is a role to play for both organizations.
An important distinction between TERA and the ERNC are the actions each organization can take. As a standalone non-profit community activist organization, TERA enjoys great freedom in the actions we can take to oppose development or other type proposals in our community. TERA is limited in taking political positions. The ERNC acts as an extension of City Government. Consequently, the Council is limited in some areas, especially those in the spirit of opposition. This distinction is perfectly illustrated in the latest issues we are confronting regarding Colorado Terrace - Phase II.
TERA has filed an Appeal against the City for granting the developer's latest request in the form of a Director's Determination. Greater details regarding this issue are provided in the Land Use - Colorado Terrace Phase II section below. ERNC is precluded from filing an Appeal. However, they do have right to "support" TERA in its filing. It is our hope that the ERNC Board will decide to do so, providing an excellent example of how the two organizations can be partners, having an important synergy. The collaboration between ERNC and Take Back the Boulevard is another example of how the partnership between the groups can be effective and a win for Eagle Rock.
Continuity is another area of distinction between the groups. There is essentially a new ERNC every two years. Neighborhood Council Members are elected for two year terms. Most members serve only a single term. New TERA board members are elected annually for a three year term. Many members serve more than one term. The board is typically populated by a combination of more and less tenured board members. ERNC goals are established by each new board, based on the needs of the community and the priorities and interests of the current board members. Guided by our Mission Statement, TERA's goals are established within a longer term context and not strongly influenced by a major change in board membership. There are pros and cons to both approaches. When a new ERNC board is seated, it often brings a new spirit, a new energy and enthusiasm to the Council. That is certainly the case with the present Council. TERA's more gradual change of board membership brings the gift of corporate memory; the understanding of lessons learned from the past and the continuity of goals over a longer period of time.
Eagle Rock is indeed fortunate. There are not many neighborhoods that have an organization like TERA, working for the community for over 25 years. I also think Eagle Rock has been lucky to have Neighborhood Councils strongly committed to helping Eagle Rock be all that it can be. When TERA and ERNC team up the community wins. When TERA and ERNC reach different conclusions, I think we all benefit from the greater reflection that should result. You Should be There On September 29th Take Back the Boulevard will launch the long-term vision plan for Colorado Boulevard. Please join us. More information below. Gloria Allred is in Town Not directly involving most Eagle Rockers, but a major concern at Occidental College are the issues regarding the mishandling of sexual assault allegations at the College. Occidental College has often been viewed as a jewel in Eagle Rock's crown. I wish there had been a more positive reason for Gloria Allred, the nationally known attorney, to visit our community. It does appear that the college has reached a settlement, at least with many of those who brought charges of mishandling. As President Veitch has acknowledged, the College has learned a lot in this area and is committed to more responsibly responding to any future allegations of misconduct.
In addition to the College's response, there is a response the community can also take. We should also reflect on the safety of our streets and sidewalks, especially those experiencing considerable pedestrian activity. Of particular importance is adequate lighting. Too often I notice trees that have not been trimmed for too long, and that now obstruct most of the lighting that would make the sidewalk a safer venue. If you notice that situation in your neighborhood I encourage you to contact the Council Office (323.254.5295) and request that tree trimming be conducted at the specific places where it would restore night-time visibility on the sidewalks around your home.
It's All About the Music If there is one day a year on which Eagle Rock is not a quiet, tranquil community, it is the annual Music Festival staged by the Center for the Art's, Eagle Rock. It has been suggested that as many as 100,000 attendees participated in the event last year. There are many in the community who are ambivalent about this event. It does put Eagle Rock on the map for a major musical event. However, my observation is that most who attend the event have a tenuous if any relationship with our community. Kudos to the Center for the Arts for being sensitive to the community's ambivalence and scaling back this year's event without losing the qualities that have made this event so popular city-wide.
It is probably no surprise to anyone that the Music Festival does not feature my favorite music. But the Santa Cecilia Orchestra, performing at Occidental College fits me perfectly. Information regarding the new season is provided below. It is the best deal in town for classical music. The orchestra is incredible. Thorne Hall has great acoustics, parking is free, it's close to home and the ticket prices are reasonable; if you love classical music check it out! Spend Here It's hard to say what is really going on in the economy. There are many statistics that say the economy is improving, albeit not at the pace we would prefer. However, unemployment numbers remain too high and many lucky enough to have jobs are under-employed, working way below a level that their experience and/or education would justify. I am bothered by the unusually large number of vacant stores in the prime section of Colorado Boulevard as well as vacancies at Eagle Rock Plaza. On a more positive note, real estate seems to be doing very well. The inventory of homes for sale is 3.1 months, much less than 6 months experienced in a normal market. Home prices have risen, in many cases to pre-recession levels. As the value of homes increases the number of "under-water" borrowers is reduced. Recent real estate statistics for 90041 are as follows:
- Year to date:
- Single family home sold - 127
- Average selling price - $553,597 (2012 average $501,554)
- Change from 2012 - +10%
- Average size of home is 1,429 square feet.
- Average time on the market - 48 days
- Current Status:
- Homes available for sale - 21
- Homes with offers accepted - 13
- Homes in escrow - 17
It's easy to reach the conclusion that there is nothing you or I can do about Eagle Rock's economy. I challenge that conclusion. I was astonished when a friend who lives in and loves Eagle Rock mentioned that she did little of her personal business in the community. My credit card statement provides evidence of how Mike and I support the Eagle Rock economy. Mike just returned from having both cars washed at the Eagle Rock Car Wash. Looking at a recent credit card statement I see grocery shopping, dry cleaners, tailoring, hair cuts, restaurants, and pharmacy purchases all charged here at home. I am not suggesting that our spending in Eagle Rock will by itself turn our economy around. But I think any business person will agree that every customer is valued and over time they do, collectively, make a difference. The challenge to us all is to patronize local businesses as much as we can. They have made an investment in locating here. We need to repay their commitment to Eagle Rock by giving them our business! Woof So many times I have been asked about dog parks in Eagle Rock. Although we don't have a dog, I do love them and feel that having a place that the dogs and those that care for them can come together can only be a good thing. FYI: I cannot bring myself to call one who has a pet an "owner." The Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council is reaching out to the community to discern the degree of community interest in this topic. If you would like to see a dog park in our community contact ERNC Board Member, Matt Harrington, at subdistrict5@eaglerockcouncil.org. TERA Membership TERA relies on the financial support of our members to work for our community. If you are not a TERA member, we need your support. Memberships start at only $15. Become a member now at http://tera90041.org. Bob Gotham
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Bob Gotham, President
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Welcome to the Old 55
 I am happy to welcome OLD 55 to the TERA Member Benefit Program. If you need an Ericofon, then OLD 55 is the place to get one. When I visited recently they had one of these vintage phones, probably in use in the 50's and 60's, in what I would describe as Occidental College orange. I am amazed someone from Occidental has not taken it away. For many of us, the 50's to the 70's were years we look back to with great affection. For many more it is an era known only through TV shows like Mad Men or Magic City and movie reruns such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Graduate or Psycho. Walk into Old 55 at 2120 Colorado Boulevard and you will be surrounded by carefully chosen furniture, decorative accessories and other furnishings that evoke the distinctive style of the era. Responding to his wife Stacie's encouragement, Philip D'Amour made his passion his profession when they opened OLD 55 in August, 2012. The store is really an extension of their Glassell Park home that is furnished with vintage electronics, especially representing the 50's to 70's. Consistent with his appreciation for the decorative arts of the era, Phil especially favors music from the 40's, 50's, and 60's - which is usually playing in the store. Deco inspired martini shakers, a vintage Pan Am shoulder bag, colorful suitcases from the 50's and 60's that make a striking side table, a deco inspired dresser and whimsical lamps from the 50's and 60's are just a few of the items that make this place such a special and fun trip back in time. The care and discretion that is exercised by Phil as he chooses items for the store is evident in each item found in OLD 55. The store strikes exactly the tone and temper that many of us hope will have a very strong presence in the retail scene in Eagle Rock. It's a small and very unique business, owned by proprietors who live in the area and have an affection for Eagle Rock. Thanks to Phillip and Stacie for choosing Eagle Rock for their very special trip to the past.
TERA members get 10% off all purchases. Make it your business to visit soon!
Discounts are available for TERA Members at all of the following participating merchants. Look for the TERA Membership Decals (below) at merchant locations. Just show your active membership card. Click on http://www.tera90041.org for the member benefits offered by each merchant.
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Discounts are available for TERA Members at participating merchants (see list above.) Look for the TERA Membership Decals at merchant locations. Just show your active membership card. Click on http://www.tera90041.org/ to see the member benefits offered by each merchant. If you are a merchant and would like to participate in this program, which includes free advertising in the e.letter, please email president@tera90041.org.
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Colorado Terrace - Phase II
Recently the Planning Department gave the owner of Colorado Terrace an approval to proceed with his development plans for Phase II of Colorado Terrace. TERA has filed an appeal with the Planning Department, objecting to the approval.
First, a little background regarding the Phase II plan for this property. The new structure would be located adjacent to and directly east of the building best known today as the "big orange building across from Eagle Rock Plaza." Many in the community feel the existing building is out of proportion with the surrounding properties. Almost all feel that the color chosen for the existing building was a poor choice, making it appear even more intrusive on the neighborhood than it would otherwise.
In January of 2011 Kurken Alyanakian, the owner of the property, met with TERA President Bob Gotham. Responding to that discussion, TERA developed a supportive position regarding the potential construction of the new Phase II structure. TERA's position was essentially that as long as the new building fully complied with the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan, and that certain design considerations would cause the new building to appear more modest in size as compared to the Phase I building were included, TERA would support the construction. This position was confirmed in a letter to Mr. Alyanakian. One of Mr. Alyanakian's goals was to include 41 rental units in the new building. TERA agreed with that proposal as long as it could be done in a way that complied with the Specific Plan.
To TERA's surprise, earlier this month the Planning Department provided a "Director's Determination" approval. The approval was based on a "Director's Interpretation" found within the Director's Determination. This interpretation would allow Mr. Alyanakian to develop the Phase II property without meeting all of the conditions of the Specific Plan.
In an effort to simplify a complex issue, the stated purpose of a "Director's Interpretation" is to allow the Planning Department to interpret a Specific Plan (not just ours, but any in the city) when the Plan does not provide sufficient clarity in one or more areas. Unfortunately it is sometimes used to circumvent compliance with a Specific Plan and the community dialog that is part of that process. TERA does not feel there is a lack of clarity in the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan. The area of prime contention is that the Director's Interpretation would allow the developer to enjoy a "density bonus" in order to build 41 units but relieve him of the obligation to provide some community "amenity" (i.e. a small park, extra landscaping, community meeting space, etc.) as is required by the Specific Plan.
The basis of TERA's Appeal is that the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan speaks clearly in all areas that pertain to this project. Had the approval of the Phase II project been requested in accordance with the Specific Plan, and an exception to the Specific Plan requested for 41 units without the required amenities, TERA would not have filed an Appeal. In that scenario TERA may have supported or opposed the requested Specific Plan exception. Our decision process would be made in the context that Mr. Alyanakian does own the property and he does have certain rights to build on it. Since the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan provides the required clarity, gaining approval of the project by using the Director's Determination is not justified; it establishes a precedent of ignoring our Specific Plan and deprives the public of the opportunity to consider developer requests for exceptions to the Specific Plan. On that basis TERA has filed the Appeal.
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Take Back the Boulevard Update
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Colorado Boulevard Vision Plan Launch
In the next couple of weeks Colorado Boulevard will be transformed from a pseudo freeway to a genuine Main Street. Many will consider the addition of new crosswalks, pedestrian crossing signals, bike lanes and improved left turn lanes to be the completion of the improvements to Colorado Boulevard. These changes are important and will be transformative. But the transformation is not complete. Join us on September 29 (see flier below) and become familiar with the many other possible ways, identified in community meetings, in which Colorado Boulevard can be further improved.
Colorado Boulevard Improvement Flier
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Solheim Oktoberfest - September 28
Eagle Rock Music Festival - October 5
Santa Cecilia Orchestra Launches Its 21st Season - October 27
Conductor Sonia Marie De Léon de Vega and the Santa Cecilia Orchestra (SCO) return to Thorne Hall at Occidental College on Sunday October 27, 2013 to kick-off its 21st year with a season of three full symphony concerts.
- Sunday, October 27 / 4PM Thorne Hall: The 2013-2014 season will begin with "Water Music," which will celebrating the 100 Year Anniversary of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, and Water Music will feature Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice and Handel's Water Music Suite.
- Sunday, February 9 / 4PM Thorne Hall: The February concert, "Spellbound!" will feature the vitality of Dvorak's dazzling Carnival Overture to the sensual, mesmerizing sounds of Arturo Márquez' music, this concert overflows with enchanting, shimmering, spellbinding melodies.
- Sunday, April 6 / 4PM Thorne Hall: April's concert, "Heroic" features the artistry of Cedric Berry, bass-baritone, who will perform some of opera's greatest arias from Don Giovanni, Macbeth, Carmen and Faust.
- Saturday, May 10 / 7:30PM Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock. Celebration of Support!" Fundraiser
The evening begins with a wine and light appetizers reception followed by chamber music performed by the orchestra's musicians, and concludes with delicious desserts and a silent auction.
Tickets, which are on sale for 26/$20 (adults) and $7 (children), are available by calling (323) 259-3011 or visiting www.scorchestra.org/concerts.html.
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TERA could not exist without the generous support of its members. Thank you to all listed below as new members or those who have renewed their memberships.  |
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Support Eagle Rock Businesses
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