OUTLOOK
OUTLOOK
In our inaugural issue, I asked for suggestions of a name for this newsletter. At our Winter Mixer, we collected over 40 suggestions for names. We narrowed the choices down to three and presented them to the Monterey Hills Federation. I’m proud to introduce the Monterey Hills Outlook. Starting with this issue we will be featuring a complex on The Hill, explaining a little bit of the history and some of the current projects going on. Also, starting with this issue, we’re accepting advertising to help offset publication costs. There’s a lot going on in Monterey Hills and the Arroyo Seco community. We’ve included social events from the surrounding communities in the calendar that we believe residents might be interested in. If you would like to advertise, or have any questions, comments, or suggestions, we can be reached at outlook@montereyhills.org.
On Sunday, June 15th, 2003, people will bike, walk and ride horses on the Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway, also knows as the Pasadena 110 Freeway, to show support for creating more livable communities in the Arroyo Seco area and across Southern California. Specific goals include:
Better transportation Cleaner air and water
More bike paths & bus
routes Stronger neighborhoods
More parks & open
space Arroyo stream restoration
Greater appreciation of local
history
The event includes a community festival celebrating the Arroyo Seco -- the stream and canyon that connects La Canada Flintridge, Altadena, Pasadena, South Pasadena and Northeast Los Angeles. On-line registration is available at the web site. Entry forms are available at locations around the community. Posters are going up at locations throughout the Arroyo.
ArroyoFest has succeeded in creating its own 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to connecting the communities of the Arroyo Seco in order to improve the area's quality of life. The new organization plans to accomplish this through the ArroyoFest event and other educational activities. Creating this organization is important for ArroyoFest to continue beyond June 15th so the event can become an annual or bi-annual activity.
L.A. Times California Section reporter Cara Di Massa wrote a fantastic article on research by Bob Gottlieb from Occidental College and Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris from UCLA on the past, present and potential future of the Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway. The article summarized other activities happening in the Arroyo, including ArroyoFest and the restoration study of North East Trees and the Arroyo Seco Foundation. Bob and Anastasia's research was published in the journal Access from the University of California Transportation Center. Read the article on-line at http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/ or read the full research report at http://www.arroyofest.org.
Drop by the office every Monday after work until June 15th to learn the latest, find out how you can help, and pick up materials to take out into the community. People are needed to take materials to businesses, schools and community groups, and for a variety of planning activities. See the web site for more information or attend a meeting.
Time: Mondays, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Center for Food and
Justice. 2106 Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock. The Center for Food and Justice is
located one and a half blocks east (toward Pasadena) from the corner of
Colorado and Eagle Rock Blvd. Storefront office is located on the south side of
the street between Caspar and Mayflower. Free street parking is available after
6 p.m.
Monterey Hills is a little closer to having a new ability to influence Los Angeles city policies and politics as the formation of the ASNC reaches another milestone. A meeting on April 26 open to all residents of Monterey Hills and four other ASNC neighborhoods (Hermon, Montecito Heights, Sycamore Grove and Mt. Washington) will allow us to approve the bylaws which will be the constitution of the ASNC. Within months there can then be an election in which each of the communities will have two seats on the ASNC board (except Mt. Washington, who will now get four seats because of orders from the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners [BONC] to make up for its larger size). There will also be 7 at-large representatives for specific interests such as schools, environment and businesses.
Soon everyone in Monterey Hills will have a voice as “stakeholders” in the ASNC in matters that concern us regarding the Arroyo Seco area. These matters include such things as City Services, improving the Historic Arroyo Parkway also known as the Pasadena 110 Freeway, restoring the beauty of the Arroyo Seco River and its connection to the Los Angeles River at Taylor Yards, and keeping the open spaces in our park rich area free of unwarranted development and improvements.
Perhaps the most important area of concern for the ASNC will be to have a voice in permits for land use,
such as further development in the ASNC. With limited open space and an insatiable appetite for land due to an ever-increasing population, permits will be a great concern for those in Monterey Hills who wish to control over development between downtown Los Angeles and South Pasadena. The ASNC will be notified by the city of all permit applications in our area. This notice will allow Monterey Hills to have a more direct influence on development in our vicinity. It will also allow us to lend a hand (or voice) to our neighboring communities to control unwanted development.
To get the ASNC going, the upcoming meeting is designed to vote on our formation documents, primarily the bylaws. The City required several changes in the bylaws when the ASNC was certified. This meeting will present amended bylaws for ratification by the community. A very vocal opposing group seeks a total rewrite of the bylaws. However, the vast majority wants to move ahead to finalize the formation of the ASNC. Once the bylaws are approved, there can soon be elections to form the board.
Please attend and bring others to the meeting at Florence Nightingale School on 1PM on Saturday, April 26 at 3311 Figueroa at the corner of Cypress to become one of the charter members and to voice your support for a strong ASNC.
Don’t Miss The Train-Avenue 57 Gold Line Station Dedication Coming
The train? Yes, the newest extension of the Los Angeles light rail system, the Gold Line, will begin operating this July. In anticipation, dedication ceremonies are being planned for the train stations. On Saturday, May 10th at 11:00 in the morning, the Avenue 57 station (at Marmian Way just north of Figueroa on Ave 57) will celebrate its dedication. Come on down and see the opening of the station that will be the closest to Monterey Hills.
There will be parking and security provided at the Avenue 57 Station for those of you who seek refuge from the crowded Arroyo Parkway, also known as the Pasadena 110 Freeway, when the trains begin to run. Monterey Hills Federation has done much to lobby the MTA, the City of Los Angeles and both outgoing Councilman Pacheco and incoming Councilman Villaraigosa to bring a Dash bus to The Hill. Unfortunately, there is still no Dash bus for Monterey Hills at this time.
If you are interested in trains, want to show your support for the Gold Line, want to voice your support for a Dash bus to connect us to it, want to check out the new art and landscaping of the station, or just want to enjoy a nice day at an outdoor festivity, come on down and join the dedication of the Avenue 57 Gold Line Station. See you there!
Highlighted
Neighbors This Issue: Linden Heights
In what will be a regular piece in each issue of the Outlook, we will highlight a particular association in Monterey Hills. Because of all of the construction activity at Linden Heights on Via Marisol between both ends of Via Arbolada, it seems like just the right association to begin with.
Linden Heights was built in 1987 and has a total of 123 units in its two buildings. In the last two years, it has seen a huge makeover. After having strengthened its finances in the late 1990s with stiff increases in homeowner dues, Linden Heights reaped the benefits by having funded its reserves. Once the finances of the association had been improved to such an extent, Linden Heights began a repair and improvement program. It began with filling in the brown spots (the non-landscaped portions adjacent to Wilson Summit) in the late 1990s. Then last year, the stops were pulled out and both buildings were entirely repainted on the outside. Gutters were also added to prevent discoloring that had previously occurred due to rains over the years. Property values, like those for all of Monterey Hills, then noticeably increased, but perhaps a bit more because of the obvious improvement to the looks of the buildings it created.
Turning up the pace, Linden Heights this year has just approved and begun four major projects. It has just tastefully replaced all lighting fixtures at the front and back doors of each of the 123 units that were previously adorned with outdated and unattractive white globes. It has just approved the installation of more than a dozen security cameras to increase security for its residents. And in June a major roof overhaul and replacement will begin to kick up more dust.
Perhaps most noticeable for those walking or driving past Linden Heights is the driveway and monument project that is currently under way. Linden Heights has long been the only complex on the Hill that has not had a monument. Soon one will grace the building in front of 4200 Via Arbolada. And a finishing touch to further beautify the complex will be the replacement of the asphalt fire-lane between the two buildings on Via Marisol. It will be replaced by a stamped concrete that will look like tile. Please excuse the dust, however, drop by and take a peek soon and see the improvements we have made.
Monterey Hills
& Parcel “S” Land Use: A Dog Park?
A longstanding question in Monterey Hills, has been “What can we do with Parcel “S”?” You are probably wondering, “What and where is Parcel “S”?” Well, Parcel “S”, located on Monterey Road, is the not so small piece of undeveloped land adjacent to Fremont Villas on the north side. Currently it is still owned by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), and it is one of the last remaining parcels of open space in Monterey Hills. Hopefully, we will be successful in keeping it that way.
We know that due to the severe drainage problem that exists on Parcel “S”, the land is not buildable. Furthermore, because of the adverse impact that any structural development may have on Fremont Villas, the CRA has not accepted any proposals that require considerable alteration of the land on Parcel “S”. The CRA shares a common interest with the Monterey Hills federation, that of maintaining the integrity, beauty, and character of The Hill.
A continuing goal of the Monterey Hills Federation is improving the quality of life for the residents of The Hill. Therefore the question regarding Parcel “S” has been a major concern of the Federation. An idea that the Federation thinks may be workable, and has asked the CRA to consider as a possible land use project, is to turn Parcel “S” into a “Dog Run/Park”. This project, it is believed, not only will enhance our, environment (cleaner sidewalks and fewer brown spots on the lawns of the various complexes), it could also protect the few remaining species of wildlife, etc. currently found on Parcel “S”.
As a “Dog Run/Park”, it could have several meandering paths where our many neighbors with dogs could walk and exercise their dogs. Additionally, part of the parcel could be sectioned off as a leash-free play area for the dogs. The “Dog Run/Park” would, thereby, address two, often ignored, long standing Civil Codes of the City of Los Angeles which are, (1) the dog leash law and (2) the pooper-scooper law.
If the CRA adopts this proposal, the “Dog Run/Park” will take our four legged friends from our beloved Bud Wiener Park, making the park a safe and clean place for our children to play. Since Bud Wiener park, by recommendation of the Federation, was developed for use by the humans of The Hill, the Federation now recommends that the CRA develop a “Dog Run/Park” on Parcel “S” for use by the dog’s of The Hill. We will keep you posted on the outcome of this recommendation.
Reliable,
Inexpensive, High speed Internet
Monterey Hills sits on the edge of SBC’s serviceable DSL area. This means that some complexes can’t get DSL and the rest can only get the basic package. Adelphia has been installing new cable to handle cable modems but their track record is dubious at best – many complexes have switched to satellite TV. As someone who wants fast Internet at home, I figure I’m not alone. With dial up you are limited to a theoretical maximum of 56k download per second. No one has ever seen this speed with dial up. With busy signals and disconnections interfering, dial up simply doesn’t cut it anymore. More and more websites are geared towards broadband (DSL and Cable) users. People can watch high quality news broadcasts and download music. Simply put, Internet content is requiring faster connections. The project, Monterey Hills Online (MHO) is designed to offer everyone on The Hill just that, reliable high speed Internet, and not break the bank to do so. If there is sufficient interest on The Hill, I plan on networking all the complexes together. That is, I plan on putting a network jack in each condo and provide wireless service to the townhouses. Customers will only have to plug into the jack or plug in a wireless card and instantly surf the net. No dialing up, no signing on. How fast? DSL offers 384k downloads. MHO can provide 1500k downloads for our basic rate. How much? DSL and Cable cost about $50 a month plus modem rental or purchase and installation. If I get 500-700 customers I can charge as little as $35 a month. All you need is a network card ($20) and a Cat5 network cable ($5-$20 depending on length). With MHO, there is no contract; you pay on a month-by-month basis. Interested? I need 300-500 interested residents to cover my costs and get this project off the ground. Want more information? Please contact me, and let me know of your interest or if you have any questions, at internet@montereyhills.net or call me, Patrick Botz-Forbes, at (323) 309-3332.
Pacific Christian on The Hill is a co-educational, interdenominational college preparatory school, grades 6-12. Founded in 1904 by the Free Methodist Church, Los Angeles Seminary soon became Los Angeles Pacific High School and College. In 1965 the denomination divested itself of its interest in the school, and the college merged with two others to become what is now Azusa Pacific University. The high school, under an independent board, continued as Pacific Christian. In 1975 a seventh and eighth, and in 1995 a sixth grade, were added.
Demographically, Pacific’s students fairly represent Los Angeles, and virtually all attend college or university. Every student who graduates from Pacific Christian has met (in most cases exceeded) University of California entrance requirements, and therefore those of most other colleges and universities as well.
Pacific is a Christian School in which every student studies the Bible as an academic subject. Everyone attends chapel once a week. However, our emphasis is not just faith, it is both faith and academic. Further, in addition to its academic emphasis, there is also a full arts and athletic program. Students are required to take an arts class every year – painting and drawing, choir, theater, and dance; 65% of its students, junior high and high school, are participating in interscholastic sports this year.
Pacific is also committed to making private and Christian education available to those to whom it is not usually available. Pacific is not an elitist school for the wealthy only. Over 40% of Pacific’s students receive financial aid from us. We are a school for our neighborhood.
For more information, please call us at (323) 254-7l6l, or better, come see us on the campus – anytime!
The school is located at 5507 Bushnell Way in Highland Park and it serves the communities of Hermon, Monterey Hills and part of El Sereno. It is designated as local district E within the Los Angeles Unified School District.
There are approximately 700 students attending the school from pre-school age up to 5th grade. There are 32 teachers on staff. Leticia Cervantes is the current principal of the school and 2002 was her first year as principal.
Eight years ago, the Monterey Hills Federation adopted Bushnell School as the school within our community to receive financial aid on an annual basis. Bushnell School has put these funds to good use.
As part of the school’s centennial celebrations there will be a Multi-Cultural Festival taking place at the school on June 13th. The festival will focus on student performance, and there will be an art gallery to display students’ work. In addition to students, teachers and parents, all others are welcome.
In connection with the Wonder of Reading program the school is applying for a grant to upgrade their library. Volunteers from the surrounding communities are needed for this program to assist students to improve their reading skills. If anyone is interested please contact the administration office at the school. The telephone number is (323) 255-6511.
Post Alarm Systems Inc. has been providing security patrol service for Monterey Hills for 10 years. All of the homeowners associations representing the different buildings located on Monterey Hills, with the exception of two, have signed agreements with Post Alarm for security patrol service. The security patrol service operates each evening between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. In addition, Post Alarm may be telephoned at any time on a 24-hour basis to investigate a potential problem. Our contracts with Post also permit residents of Monterey Hills to contact the company if they wish an officer to escort them from the front door of their units to their cars.
Monterey Hills Federation (323) 761-6494
City Council - 14th District (323) 226-1646
Animal Regulation (888) 452-7381
Dead Animal Pickup – (Sanitation Bureau) (800) 773-2489
Brush Clearance (213) 485-6247
Fire Station - No. 47 4575 Huntington Dr. (213) 485-6247
Graffiti Problems
Homeboys Industries (graffiti paint over/cleanup) (323) 526-1254
Operation Clean Sweep (800) 611-2489
Post Patrol – Emergency Number (323) 258-3761
Post Patrol – Non-Emergency Number (323) 258-8130
Police Department – Hollenbeck – Non-Emergency (213) 485-4302
For Emergency Call 911
Shopping Cart Pickup (800) 773-2489
Street Lighting – Burned Out Light (800) 303-5267
Street Maintenance
Street sweeping, tree trimming, lot cleaning (213) 473-8410
Sanitation
Bulky Item Drop Off – 2649 Washington Blvd. (800) 773-2489
Bulky Item Pickup (800) 773-2489
April 23, 2003, Wednesday, 8:00 PM. Oxy Jazz, Thorne Hall, Occidental College.
For more information call (323) 259-2922
May 4, 2003, Sunday, 3:30 PM. Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,
Beckman Auditorium, Caltech.
For more information, call (626) 393-4652.
May 10, 2003, Saturday, 11:00 AM. Avenue 57 Gold Line Station Dedication.
May 10, 2003, Saturday, 8:00 PM. Bandorama: Caltech Concert and Jazz Bands,
Beckman Auditorium, Caltech.
For more information, call (393-4652)
May 16, 2003, Friday evening. Hermon Free Methodist’s Centennial Celebration. Free concert.
May 15-17, 2003, Thursday-Saturday. Spring Art Festival (big day Saturday)
Les Miserables perform all three nights.
Pacific Christian School, 625 Coleman Avenue.
For more information, call (323) 254-7161.
May 20, 2003, Tuesday, 7:30 PM. Monterey Hills Federation Meeting.
Marshall Villas Recreation Room, 4225 Via Arbolada.
May 21, 2003, Wednesday, 8:00 PM. Quaoar & the Edge of the Solar System,
Beckman Auditorium, Caltech.
For more information, call (626) 393-4652
June 14, 2003, Saturday, 3:30 PM. Hermon Centennial celebration at Arroyo Seco Park.
June 15, 2003, Sunday, 6:00-10:00 AM. ArroyoFest celebration.
Bike and Walk on the Pasadena Freeway!
For more information logon to www.arroyofest.org
June 17, 2003, Tuesday, 7:00pm. Monterey Hills Federation Mixer.
Marshall Villas Recreation Room, 4225 Via Arbolada.
July 2003. Metro Gold Line Grand Opening.
For more information logon to www.metrogoldline.org
July 15, 2003, Tuesday, 7:30 PM. Monterey Hills Federation Meeting.
Marshall Villas Recreation Room, 4225 Via Arbolada.
August 24, 2003, Sunday. Monterey Hills Jazz Festival.
At the corner of Via Marisol and Via Arbolada
Articles
Contributed By
Patrick Botz-Forbes (Editor) Kenneth Chow John Craig
Ian Gass Ida Simms Don Tidwell
Dr. Richard Riessen
5902 Monterey Road #210, Monterey Hills, California 90042 -- (323) 761-6494 - http://www.montereyhills.org