January 9, 2010 Meeting Summary
East Eaton Wash Neighborhood Association
Preparation
E-mail reminder was sent
Acknowledgments
Amelia provided persimmon/walnut/raisin cookies
Attendees
6 members
Meeting
Agenda Items:
The meeting began about 11:22 am
- Signal on Foothill at Santa Paula
- All
the signals and related posts were removed last week from the
intersection of Foothill and Santa Paula, and a folding sign placed in
the street on Santa Paula prohibiting turning left onto Foothill.
- Having had no prior notice of any such plans, an inquiry was made.
- We are told by the city's chief engineer that:
- The requirements for the Walnut and Kinneloa extension
project call for removing the signal at Foothill & Santa Paula, but
also require that it not be removed until the new signals that are to
be put in at Foothill & Titley and Walnut & Kinneloa are in
full operation.
- As
a result, the contractor "is currently working on re-installing the
signal" and it is to be in operation again "early next week".
- "We
plan on meeting with the East Eaton Wash Neighborhood Association prior
to any additional work at the intersection of Santa Paula and Foothill
to discuss the traffic signal, the revised striping plan for Foothill
Boulevard and an update on the construction project schedule."
- What
concerns do we have with the permanent removal of the Foothill &
Santa Paula signals and additional of signals at Foothill & Titley?
- Will left turns from Santa Paula to Foothill be
allowed? While it is true that it is probably easier in general
to exit our neighborhood onto Sierra Madre Villa if one plans to go
east on Foothill or south on Sierra Madre Villa, should left turns from
Santa Paula be banned?
- Will westbound traffic stopped by the signal at Titley back
up past Santa Paula and thus prevent vehicles from turning left from
eastbound Foothill onto Santa Paula? Of course cars are supposed
to leave a gap, but... The ability to left turn from eastbound
Foothill onto Santa Paula is very important to neighborhood residents
to avoid a lengthy and time consuming journey to enter via Sierra Madre
Villa.
- Will
the loss of pedestrian crossing controls for Foothill at
Santa Paula be problematic given that there will (presumably) be
crossing provided at Titley? It would cause residents crossing to
access the bus stop to have to go further and double back. Also
longer to Gold Line station if taking advantage of shadier walk on
south side of Foothill.
- Already problems with college kids crossing Santa Paula without paying attention to traffic (or signal).
- After removal of signal it was noted that it is really dark
on Santa Paula as approach Foothill. Was a street light also
removed? City should look at whether a street light is
needed.
- Titley Ave name change
- We
have learned that as part of the Kinneloa extension project, Public
Works at some point decided to change the name of the last remnant of
Titley Ave (between the freeway and Foothill) to Kinneloa Ave so as to
reduce potential confusion of the street name being different on
opposite sides of the freeway.
- This is historically confusing because it seems the little
stub of a street to the west (where the statuary/pottery place is) was
the northern terminus of Kinneloa Ave prior to the freeway being built.
- The name Titley has some historic significance, but the details of that history are hazy.
- Early last century there was an area referred to as Titleyville. The extent of the area given that moniker is not clear.
- Albert remembers Titley as a dirt street that never went south beyond the railroad tracks.
- Albert remembers a small grocery store on the south east
corner of Foothill and Titley run by an Anglo named something like
Powell. There were some bungalows for rent behind it.
- It was mentioned some years ago that a 1915 map shows Titley Ave
also running north of Foothill through what is currently PCC-CEC and on
north about where Avocado Lane is now.
- What do other old timers of the neighborhood remember?
- Someone
has apparently already asked what is to happen to the street signs. Our council member's field representative has requested that Public Works not dispose of the Titley signage. The city's chief
engineer said the street signs would be delivered to the Public Works
yard.
- Park path issues?
- Any
new/continuing problems? Meeting attendees had nothing to report
except that the path seems to be holding up well so far.
- Still need to follow up on what is required to get parking restrictions
- Replacement of Vons/Rite Aid at Colorado & Sierra Madre Blvd
- The
project, which will tear down the existing buildings and build a giant
new Vons building plus three smaller satellite buildings, passed final
Design Commission review in December. But a change of design was
directed by the Vons corporate office to move the elevator shaft for
the roof top parking so as to have better site lines inside the
store. As a result the project is going back to the Design
Commission next week to get their approval.
- A Rite Aid employee
said on Thursday that they will be closing in March. Also
overheard something about closing down for a week to take inventory and
then reopening for a short while before closing permanently.
Presumably a clearance sale will be taking place.
- Brought
up at our meeting is what will happen with prescriptions at the Vons
pharmacy (or for that matter the Rite Aid). Presumably
prescription holders will get some communication prior to the
closing. (Subsequent to our meeting, Amelia spoke to the
pharmacist and learned that they will move the pharmacy across the
street to rented space until the new Vons is completed and opened.)
- Attendees noted how much they prefer this Vons location and
layout vs the one on Washington & Allen and vs. our nearby
Ralphs. This Vons has had much better parking, including
availability of handicapped parking, more courteous and helpful
employees. So it will be very missed while closed and may not be
as well considered when its huge replacement opens.
- Local crimes
- Reported
in the Pasadena Star News in mid December there was a robbery at
gunpoint of two Eaton Canyon hikers at a vehicle turnout on Altadena
Drive. It sounds like it was just where Altadena Drive first
turns from north to westerly. Robbers fled on foot and were not
found.
- Annual newsletter planning
- It
is time again to put together a newsletter and distribute it to all the
neighborhood residences, to be followed by our annual election of
officers in March.
- What should the newsletter cover this year? Introduction
to association (for newcomers or those who haven't noticed yet), up to
date info on Santa Paula and Titley/Kinneloa intersections, Alameda
speed humps, Vons+RiteAid closing and pharmacy move, ice rink project
demise, new pedestrian
path, SMV/Foothill condos delay all possibilities.
- Who volunteers to help with distribution?
- anything else attendees wish to discuss
- Former Allstate Building
- This
is the red brick building on Sierra Madre Villa on property Cogent now
occupies. Boarded up windows facing Sierra Madre Villa have been
fixed and graffiti removed. Wondering if building might finally get
used.
- Non-Developments
- We discussed various houses that seem to be abandoned, are empty, for sale.
- Discussed that there is no news of plans for former Hastings Pacific Theater,
or the former "Gentlemen's Club" located on Foothill across from Ralphs.
- Discussed some concrete embedded graffiti on sidewalk next to bus stop next to PCC-CEC that has been there at least 6 months.
- Mt Wilson trial
- The
Mt Wilson trail from Sierra Madre was closed in mid December due to
slides. Anyone know the current status of that trail or the one
from Eaton Canyon? No one at meeting knew anything.
Next meeting is February 13, 2010, 11:15 am, at Hastings Branch Library
Adjourned about 12:20 but kept talking to 12:45 pm