Since we launched the Slauson Avenue survey, hundreds of you have responded. You have made a difference by voting for your preferred improvement to the corridor. Your opinion matters – as do your questions — so we are encouraging you to contribute your comments and questions by joining the conversation below. There may be a lag time between your submission and their appearance below, but all comments that do not contain profanity will be published. We have also compiled frequently asked questions along with responses below.
Please join us for the Slauson Ave Public Improvements Taskforce Meeting on February 22nd at 6:30PM at our Exposition Park Office. This meeting will provide an opportunity to further review the streetscape options and discuss next steps.
To download the meeting flyer, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Slauson Survey (FAQ)
1. How much will on-line voting influence the final decision?
The results will be given significant consideration by the Supervisor’s office and the Department of Public Works. The online voting process created a meaningful opportunity to better understand the sentiments of stakeholders in the Slauson Corridor, however, a final decision will not be made until after the follow-up community meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 22 at the Exposition Park Office.
2. When will the voting process end?
Online voting will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, February 10, 2012.
3. How do you know that people aren’t voting more than once?
Security procedures are in place that limit voting to one response per computer. While no system is completely secure, it is our goal to deter multiple votes. Additionally, we have enabled comments on the survey in order to capture not just voters’ preferences, but the reasoning and thinking behind residents’ choices.
4. What is the timeline for this process?
A streetscape design will be selected in February 2012, and the level of environmental analysis and the length of design and construction process will be based on which proposal is selected. A timeline for implementation will be developed by May 2012.
5. Is Trader Joe’s seriously interested in having a store on Slauson Ave?
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, as well as leadership from the Community Development Commission, has met with upper level management at Trader Joe’s, and negotiations are ongoing. The Supervisor, however, is committed to exploring all options to attract a quality grocer to the Slauson Corridor.
6. When will the Commercial Development Taskforce meet?
The Supervisor is engaging commercial business owners on the Slauson Corridor in discussions regarding their commitments and interest in revitalizing the corridor. Following these initial meetings, the Commercial Development Taskforce will be convened, and we expect it will meet with business owners this summer.
7. When will the Branding Taskforce meet?
The Branding Taskforce will be convened following the selection of a streetscape proposal, so that branding opportunities will be coordinated with the planned improvements.
8. When will the next Public Improvement taskforce meeting take place?
The next meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 22, at the Exposition Park Office, which is located at 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles.
Download FAQ (as a PDF document)
On November 28th, 2011, representatives of the View Park, Windsor Hills and Ladera Heights communities joined forces at the Public Improvements Taskforce meeting to discuss strategies to improve the livability, accessibility and walkability of the Slauson Ave corridor. Strategies discussed included widening side walks, adding bike lanes, increasing landscaping within the medians and the pedestrian right of way, as well as reducing traffic lanes. Please review the 6 different options, along with their “pro’s” and “con’s”, and let us know which strategy you like best.
Removal of one lane of traffic in each direction. Adds a class III bicycle route, parallel parking, landscaping, raised median, and widens sidewalks. Provides an 11-foot sidewalk, 8 foot parallel parking lane, 14-foot outside lane signed for a bicycle route, and an 11-foot inside lane for each direction, and a 12-foot raised median.
PROS:
CONS:
Maintains existing traffic lanes and sidewalks. Adds a Class III bicycle route, landscaping, and raised median. Provides an 8-foot sidewalk, 14-foot outside peak period travel lane signed for a bicycle route, 11-foot middle lane, and an 11-foot inside lane for each direction, and a 12-foot raised median.
PROS:
CONS:
Maintains existing traffic lanes. Adds landscaping, raised median, and widens sidewalks. Provides an 11-foot sidewalk, 13-foot outside peak period travel lane, 10-foot middle lane, and an 11-foot inside lane for each direction, and a 12-foot raised median.
PROS:
CONS:
Removal of two lanes of traffic in each direction. Adds parallel parking, Class II bicycle lanes, raised medians, landscaping, and widens sidewalks. Provides a 20-foot sidewalk, 8-foot parallel parking lane, 5-foot class II bicycle lane, and a 12-foot traffic lane for each direction, and a 12-foot raised median.
PROS:
CONS:
Option D – Alternative 2
Removes two lanes of traffic. Adds 45-degree diagonal parking, landscaping, and a raised median. Provides an 8-foot sidewalk, 15-foot diagonal parking, 10-foot backup bay, and a 12-foot travel lane for each direction, and a 12-foot raised median.
PROS:
CONS:
Option E
Maintains existing traffic lanes. Adds landscaping, raised median, and widens sidewalk on south side only. Provides an 8-foot sidewalk, 14-foot outside peak period travel lane, 11-foot middle lane, and an 12-foot inside lane on the north side. Provides a 11-foot sidewalk, 13-foot outside peak period traffic lane, 10-foot middle lane, and an 11-foot inside lane on the south side. Also provides a 10-foot raised median.
PROS:
CONS:
Also, check our community survey that seeks to identify what future uses along Slauson are most supported by the surrounding residents. Click here to take the community survey.
Click here to see the survey results.
Progress is being made on the new East Rancho Dominguez Library on Atlantic Ave in unincorporated East Rancho Dominguez. While the recent rains, have somewhat delayed progress, we are pleased to report that 70% of the current construction workers have been hired from the local community. Click here to view complete hiring statistics.
East Rancho Dominguez Craft Utilization Report 12-2011 (PDF)
Click here to view the complete posting on East Rancho Dominguez Library
The historic Dunbar Hotel, for decades a crumbling shell, is now being renovated and returned to its former glory. The development, spearheaded by Thomas Safran & Associates, will create 83-unit mixed-use, inter-generational community housing for seniors and families, and create over 150 construction jobs. The renovations of the Dunbar Hotel will feature 41 one-bedroom units for seniors in the Dunbar Hotel and 42 two, three, and four bedroom units for families. Dunbar Village features approximately 8,000 square feet of retail space, including PACE Early Childhood Education and CD Techlink computer school. Built in 1928, the Dunbar Hotel, originally named the Somerville Hotel, was the focal point of the Central Avenue African-American community during the 1930s and 1940s. The Hotel was built and operated by the Somervilles, a family of black pioneers in dentistry and business. After the stock market crash in 1929, Somerville was forced to sell the hotel, and in 1930, the hotel was renamed in honor of the seminal poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. It became the most prestigious hotel in L.A.’s African-American community, hosting legends such as Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis Jr., Lena Horne and many others. At that time, it was known as the West Coast Waldorf-Astoria. It was also the gathering place for African-American literary, political and intellectual leaders, including Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du Bois, Ralph Bunche, Thurgood Marshall and James Weldon Johnson.
In the 1950s, as rules and customs against segregation weakened, Dunbar clients began staying in other public lodgings. For example, Duke Ellington, who had previously kept a suite at the Dunbar, began staying at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood. The Dunbar was again sold in 1968, but the hotel continued to lose money, and closed its doors in 1974. That same year, the Dunbar was designated as a Historic-Cultural Landmark by the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission. Nonetheless, for most of the years between 1974 and 1987, the building was vacant and in poor condition, covered with graffiti, its window broken and its famous suites the residence of homeless people seeking shelter.
Developer Tom Safran has produced many of the finest senior and affordable housing developments in the Second District and is adept at creating affordable, attractive, and culturally significant developments. “This may be his most important project yet,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
The project is set for completion in February of 2013.
For many years, residents surrounding Slauson Ave (from La Brea to Angeles Vista) have passionately argued that Slauson Avenue should be upgraded to reflect the purchasing power and stature of the surrounding communities. On October 4th, over 125 residents from View Park, Ladera and the Windsor Hills communities joined Supervisor Ridley-Thomas at the Junior Blind to discuss the steps necessary to work towards real revitalization.
The evening began with a presentation on “town centers” and the steps that were feasible and necessary to make the Slauson Corridor into a town center. Corde Carillo, Director of Economic Redevelopment for the Community Development Commission (CDC) followed with an update on the work completed by the CDC.
The night ended with a review of the eight next steps – which ranged from “community branding” to “public investment” to “commercial redevelopment” and the organization of 3 taskforces to ensure follow-through.
To see a presentation on Slauson & Town Centers click here.
To review CDC’s eligibility analysis for future Community Development Block Grant funds for the area click here for part 1 and click here for part 2.
To review Next Steps click here.
To get involved with the Branding, Public Investment or Commercial Redevelopment Taskforces please contact Erin Stennis at estennis@bos.lacounty.gov
A new library in the unincorporated area of East Rancho Dominguez is one step closer to opening its doors and serving the public. Today the Board of Supervisors allocated $4 million to construct a new facility on the corner of East Rose Street and South Atlantic Avenue, which will replace the existing undersized library located half a mile away on Compton Avenue.
“The County’s investment into this library is meant to meet the needs of the community while serving as a public oasis for people of all ages,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
The action taken by the Board authorizes the contractor to begin construction on the 7,200 square-foot facility, which when completed, will house a collection of 35,000 books and other materials. The library will be built using solar energy panels, which will help offset the library’s annual energy cost and qualifies the County to receive an estimated one-time $32,000 rebate from Southern California Edison through the California Solar Initiative Program. Once completed, the building will meet Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Certification.
Aside from providing students and adults with a wealth of books, the $7.5 million facility will create approximately 200 jobs and provide nearby residents and commuters with a community room, reading areas, a homework center, public access computers, a meeting room, group study space, and public access Wi-Fi internet connection.
“The County’s investment into this library is meant to meet the needs of the community while serving as a public oasis for people of all ages,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “I look forward to walking into the brand new East Rancho Dominguez Library once it’s completed.”
Press Release (PDF Document)
