WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Welcome

Founded in 1962, the WPRA is dedicated to maintaining the character of our neighborhoods and enhancing the quality of life in West Pasadena. 

   
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Send comments to update@wpra.net 

Ann Erdman
Editor 

 

View the latest and past issues of the WPRA's quarterly magazine, The News, which is mailed to more than 7,000 homes in West Pasadena.
Neighborhood Update
View past issues of this weekly WPRA eNewsletter, which is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,100 residents of Pasadena (and beyond).
 
 
 

 

City Council
and commission meetings
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -
 
Monday, March 17

  

City Council  

6:30 p.m.

City Hall

Council Chambers, Room S249

100 N. Garfield Ave.

On the agenda: Designation of house at 760 S. Arroyo Parkway as a landmark; submission of Public Housing Agency five-year plan to HUD; amended sales agreements with Southern California Public Power Authority for purchase of renewable energy generated by the Antelope Big Sky Ranch Solar Project and the Summer Solar Project ("Silverado Projects") in Lancaster  

Tuesday, March 18

 

Historic Preservation Commission - CANCELED  

 

Wednesday, March 19  

 

Zoning Hearing Officer 

6 p.m.

Hale Building/Permit Center

175 N. Garfield Ave. (enter through Ramona Street door)

On the agenda: Hillside Develop Permit to allow construction of a new three-story, single-family home with attached garage on an 8,870-square-foot undeveloped lot at 1847 Kaweah Dr. 

 

City Hall

Council Chambers, Room S249

100 N. Garfield Ave.

On the agenda: update on the County's Devil's Gate sediment removal project in the Hahamongna watershed area

 

Board of Zoning Appeals 

6:30 p.m.

City Hall

Council Chambers, Room S249  

100 N. Garfield Ave.

On the agenda: minor conditional use permit to demolish a 3,000-square-foot commercial building at 2610 E. Colorado Blvd. and allow tandem parking in conjunction with construction of a new 10,330-square-foot mixed-use building; minor CUP to remodel and expand a 3,094-square-foot fast food restaurant with drive-through service at 1700 E. Colorado Blvd. (Burger King). 

WPRA in motion
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -

Public hearings set to determine San Rafael Elementary School's future

The 7-11 Community Advisory Committee, established to develop a priority list of uses for Pasadena Unified School District's potential excess property and surplus space, will conduct a public hearing on  Monday, March 24, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at San Rafael Elementary School, 1090 Nithsdale Rd. The committee will gather input from the community regarding the future of the property after it is vacated, possibly in about three years. The WPRA strongly encourages neighborhood residents, parents of enrolled students and others interested in the future of San Rafael Elementary School, the last public school in West Pasadena, to attend. A second public hearing is scheduled tentatively for April 7.

 

Neighorhoods in motion
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION - 

Spend the morning Saturday, March 22, in nature beginning at 9 a.m. and learn about the innovative ways of managing natural rivers in urban areas. Topics will include the Devil's Gate sediment removal project, Arroyo Seco canyon project and more. Bring a hat and water and wear good walking shoes. Meet at Devil's Gate Dam.

 

Join Pasadena Heritage Sunday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for an extraordinary tour of four magnificent architectural treasures designed by distinguished architects. Docents will guide you through each residence, telling its story and pointing out unique architectural details. Go at your own pace on this drive-yourself tour. 

  

The City of Pasadena will be resurfacing specific streets through April. During this process, street segments listed below may be partially or totally closed to traffic; parking will be prohibited on those segments between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The City will notify residences, businesses and neighborhood associations, and provide more specific guidance to residents and businesses directly affected by the street resurfacing. For more information contact the Pasadena Public Works Department at (626) 744-4720 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. In case of an after-hours emergency, call (626) 744-4241.
 
Street From To 
California Grand Orange Grove 
California Fair Oaks Raymond 
California Hill East City Limit 
California 180 feet west of Fair Oaks 415 feet west of Fair Oaks  
Marengo Green Glenarm  
Marengo Glenarm Los Robles 
State Railroad  East City Limit 
 
Editor's top news picks
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION - 

 

The Jane Mansfield of freeways: drama on the 710

"The 405 may be the most infamous freeway in all of Los Angeles, but the 710 rivals its western neighbor when it comes to drama, intrigue and unhappy endings (think of the 405 as the Marilyn of freeways and the 710 as the Jane Mansfield)." Los Angeles Magazine

 

Planned new terminal would give Burbank Bob Hope Airport a boost

"It is the airport time forgot. From its faded carpeting to its harsh lighting to its cramped gates, Burbank Bob Hope Airport appears caught in a time warp, stuck in a bygone era."

Pasadena Star-News

 

Difference makers and disruptors connect, aim to reinvent Pasadena

"Bringing together innovators, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, artists and angel investors, Innovate Pasadena's Connect Weekend hopes to make real progress combining resources in a way that could rival 'Silicon Beach' as a hub for innovation."

Pasadena Now

 

City event would convert Colorado Boulevard, other streets into bikeways

"The Pasadena Transportation Department plans to submit a grant request to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to get funding for an open street event that would temporarily close 25 blocks of Colorado Boulevard and lengths of other major city streets and open them to pedestrians and cyclists." Pasadena Now 

 

Leisure
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -

 

Looking for other ways to entertain or educate yourself and your family? 

For current events around the area, we encourage you to visit our local news outlets. Click on the publication title to visit that publication's events section (alphabetical order).

Attend WPRA board meetings each month 

Monthly WPRA board meeting dates and locations are on the WPRA website. Click on the headline above or visit our website and look under "Meetings and Events."


The WPRA needs you ... 

If you'd like to serve your community and do it with a group of your neighbors who are equally dedicated, the WPRA encourages you to join your neighborhood residents' association. If you live within our service area, we'd welcome your help. 

  • Got the local news bug? Just curious about your city (and would like to share news with 1,000 or so of your closest friends), consider serving as a co-editor of Neighborhood Update. It will only take a few hours a week (on your own schedule) in the month or two a year in which you'd serve. We'll train you.  
  • We have lots of opportunities to serve on one of our many committees:
    • Land use and planning
      If you care about how we use our land  
    • Education
      If you want to help save public education for West Pasadena  
    • Open space & conservation
      If you care about preserving open space and conservation of land and resources 
    • Membership
      If you'd like to help us continue to build our membership so we can do more  
If you'd like to chat about ways we could help you become more involved or, more likely, more effective (by helping us), send an email to WPRA President. Tell him about your interests.   
To learn more

Visit wpra.net or click on one of the following links

To submit information for the Neighborhood Update, send it to update@wpra.net. 

 

Joseph Stoddard's watercolors: The WPRA is grateful to local artist Joseph Stoddard, who has generously allowed us to display his watercolors in our quarterly newsletter, The (WPRA) News; on the WPRA website; and in this publication. To explore Mr. Stoddard's work, visit josephstoddard.com.