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“Doodle Hotel Des Arts,” ink and color markers on paper By Wayne Chan See page 10
Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and the City of Signal Hill
VOL. 37 NO. 24
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
November 13, 2015
Riverwalk development project wins Long Beach City Council support
Longbeach.gov
The Riverwalk Residential Development is designed for 131 homes to be built at Will J. Reid Scout Park, 4747 Daisy Ave. in Long Beach. The controversial project on the 11-acre site was approved in a first-reading vote by the Long Beach City Council on Nov. 10. CJ Dablo Staff Writer
The Long Beach City Council passed the controversial Riverwalk Project, which aims to build 131 homes and a park over an 11-acre site in north Long Beach, on Tuesday night, Nov. 10. In a first-reading vote, the city council voted 8-0 to pass several motions that would allow the development to move forward on the Will J. Reid Scout Park, located at 4747 Daisy Ave. Sixth District Councilmember Dee Andrews was absent from the meeting. According to a staff report, the number of motions included: certification of a mitigation monitoring and reporting program for the subdivision; fee credits for the developer, who is expected to spend “about $1.65 million on traffic improvements”; a zoning change to allow a housing development on what is currently an area zoned for institutional use; and approval of a new ordinance that Amy Bodek, director of the Long Beach Development Services, said Tuesday is specific only to this particular project and does not affect any other development projects in the city. The plan has some controversial points. Plans are for the 11-acre area to have two- and three-story homes in a gated community. There is only one main entrance and exit to the subdivision on Daisy Avenue, but there is an additional emergency access point on another street. The developer, Integral Communities, has agreed to provide a number of upgrades to the surrounding area, including the promise to build Oregon Park on the corner of Oregon Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard and the expectation that they will make improvements to the sur-
rounding streets. The Boy Scouts of America had previously owned the property. City leaders said Tuesday that it was not possible for the City to buy the private property nor claim it through eminent domain a few years ago when the City lost its own redevelopment agency after the program was dissolved by the State. Passionate advocates on both sides of the issue packed into the City Council Chamber that night. Joe Sopo, a realtor and neighborhood advocate, opposed the plan. “The presentation was very nice,” Sopo told the council, “but it was like putting lipstick on a pig.” He criticized the proposal to include three-bedroom homes and the subdivision’s close proximity to the railroad. He also noted that the schools in the area, while he understood they were doing the best they could, did not rate very well. He said that possible homeowners with children would not want these kinds of properties. Laurie Angel, who lives about a half mile from the development, objected to the subdivision too. “Now, I don’t have a problem necessarily with density,” Angel said during the public-comment period. “The problem with the density of this project is where it’s located. There is no easy way in and out of that neighborhood.” Another speaker, who declined to verify his name after the meeting, said that he lived near the development site. He said that when trees were cut down, cracks appeared around his home. Other homeowners living nearby came to the defense
Taking care of business
BKBIA promoting importance of small business as hectic shopping season nears Cory Bilicko Managing Editor
As the temperatures descend and folks pull their sweaters off the shelves, at least for the chilly November mornings, a relaxed enjoyment of hot cocoa– sometimes in plain red cups– on the patios of local coffee shops becomes apparent. However, it’s a pleasure tinged with the yet unspoken, but mounting, pressure to prepare for the holidays. Given his druthers, Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association Executive Director Blair Cohn would have local residents conducting most, if not all, of their gift-buying, dining, imbibing and services-seeking within the abundant, and ever increasing number, of shops, salons, food establishments and other businesses of the district he represents. He and his team are planning various ongoing programs and events to entice locals to spend their
see RIVERWALK page 14
Weekly Weather Forecast Friday
Bundts-giving
Cory Bilicko/Signal Tribune
A banner announces the coming of Lola’s Mexican Cuisine at 4140 Atlantic Ave. in Bixby Knolls, while the sign for the former business, Le Yen Chinese restaurant, is still standing. The Mexican restaurant has all its permits approved and will open on Jan. 25, according to Blair Cohn, executive director of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association.
Sunny & warm
82°
Lo 50°
see BKBIA page 13 November 13 through November 17, 2015
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Plenty of sunshine
Plesnt with plenty of sun
Mostly sunny
Plenty of sunshine
Lo 50°
Lo 52°
Lo 51°
80°
77°
74°
73° Lo 51°
This week’s weather forecast sponsored by:
Andazola’s Gallery
1673 E. 28th St. Signal Hill • (562) 427-3100
Donate your tax-deductible clothing, furniture, appliances and vehicles to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and provide for the needy. Receive a tax deduction due to our 501 (c)(3)
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores www.svdpla.org For FREE pick up call (800) 974-3571