Arroyo Property of the Week - Highland Park View Home

There's a phrase real estate agents use from time to time with their buyers. It goes something like this: Don't curb appraise the house when you drive by.

This sweet Highland Park view home built in 1911 is a great example of this adage. The exterior of this home is well-maintained but nothing to get excited about, which is why I haven't posted a photo here.

But once you get inside, it's a charming bungalow with upgraded  kitchen with granite countertops, a bonus room, and flat, useable backyard.

Did I mention that this 1128 sq foot 2 bedroom, 1 bath home on a 5620 sq ft lot is located just south of Yosemite Drive and can be yours for $375,000?

A large front porch to enjoy those views, hardwood floors, full bath with tub, detached garage and a 100 sq ft studio at the rear of the property enhance this cozy home.

In addition, the steps up to the front door are lined with Arroyo rock from my beloved Arroyo Seco stream, which was commonly used in homes built just after the turn of the 20th Century.

Best of all, this is a standard sale - no lenders, REO departments or lawyers to deal with - just nice sellers who are looking for the right buyer.

Interested? This gem is shown by appointment only, so give me a call at 323-230-9749 and I'll be happy to arrange a showing.

Arroyo Seco - Los Angeles River Confluence Plaza Opens to the Public

There's a new place where you can play in the water in Los Angeles. It's located right near the Arroyo Seco-Los Angeles River Confluence in Cypress Park at the intersection of San Fernando Road and Figueroa Street.

Last Wednesday, about 100 governmental, civic, and environmental leaders attended the official dedication of the Confluence Plaza, the first phase of a planned Confluence Park where the history of Los Angeles really began: the natural intersection of the Arroyo Seco with the Los Angeles River, close to where Avenue 19 and southbound Interstate 5 now meet.

Confluence Plaza, a project of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), was funded by California State Parks (Proposition 12), EEM Caltrans, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (Proposition 84), to serve more than 1,000,000 Angelenos in the adjacent Northeast Los Angeles communities of Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, Mount Washington, Elysian Valley and Silver Lake as well as commuters heading to work in downtown Los Angeles.

The Dedication Ceremony was hosted by Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Executive Director Joe Edmiston (seen on the left here), who spoke briefly about the work of SMMC and the MRCA is providing parks and open space within Los Angeles' dense urban neighborhoods.

He also introduced comments by a number of civic leaders, including Los Angeles City Councilmember Ed Reyes (seen below), who has championed the revitalization of the Los Angeles River for many years. Lewis MacAdams, Co-Founder of Friends of the Los Angeles River, read his latest poem with river imagery, 'To Lesley,' to the gathered crowd.

The Confluence Plaza is located on one of

Los Angeles' most historical sites: the Juan Baustista De Anza National Historic Trail, which marks the Anza expedition of 1776 which led to the founding of the settlement that would later become El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles.

The open air plaza was designed by Mia Lehrer + Associates and  features an interactive water feature designed by WET Designs, whose creations include water elements at the Los Angeles County Music Center, Universal CityWalk and the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

The plaza's water feature is designed to attract neighborhood children and residents while offering them the opportunity to learn more about Los Angeles history. Its location not far from the completed and proposed sections of the Los Angeles River Bicycle Path should make it a popular stopping point for cyclists, too.

Spearheading this innovative project was Barbara Romero, Chief of Urban Projects & Watershed Planning for MRCA, seen here center right with Los Angeles River Women Leaders, including CD 1 Environmental Deputy Jill Sourial, LA Chief Deputy City Engineer Deborah Weintraub, Project Architect Mia Lehrer, and Los Angeles City River Office Project Director Dr. Carol Armstrong.

Arroyo Lover's tips for visiting the Plaza, which is free and open to the public: Park in the south section of the Home Depot Parking Lot. The fountains are timed to 'splash' for 10 minutes every hour on the hour from 8 am to 8pm. And don't forget to be Riverly!

The Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council Needs a Few Good Men & Women

Now that the March 8th elections are over, it's time to get back to the hard work of making our local communities better and safer.

Ever thought about where a lot of the real decisions are made in Los Angeles?

If you answered the local neighborhood council, you are correct. With 81 NCs cerified by the City of Los Angeles Dept of Neigborhood Empowerment, virtually every community has its local governing board that reports community issues to LA City Councilmembers while disbursing funds for worthwhile local community projects.

Here in the Arroyo Seco area of Los Angeles, there are several NCs, including the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council, and the Cypress Park Neighborhood Council.

Today, though, I want to focus on the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council which serves the communities of Hermon, Monterey Hills, Mount Washington, Sycamore Grove, and Montecito Heights. (Disclaimer: I serve as secretary on this board.)  ASNC has a long history of community outreach (our amazing CERT and animal rescue programs), advocacy (strong resolve to end the bulky item fee for condo owners), and local grant making (Audubon @ Debs Park nature activities, Mount Washington trail repair, sponsorship of Lummis Day Festival and Hermon Christmas Tree Lighting).

Despite a dedicated board, ASNC still needs a few good men (or women) to fill current vacancies, including:

Sycamore Grove Regional Representative
Montecito Heights Regional Representative
Faith-Based At Large Representative

The minimum qualification is to be an ASNC stakeholder, defined as "individuals who live, work, own property, or are parents or guardians of students attending school within ASNC boundaries, or who declare a stake in any one of its five communities and affirm the factual basis. . . ." 

The ASNC board plans to fill these positions from the qualified candidates who come forward by the next scheduled monthly meeting, Monday, March 21 at Ramona Hall, 4580 North Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90065 starting at 7:00 p.m.

Isn't it time for you to be more active in local Arroyo Seco decision-making?

To apply, fill out and mail a candidate's form and provide a 100-word statement of interest to ASNC, PO Box 42254 Los Angeles, CA 90042.
 
For the form to apply to be the Sycamore Grove representative go here:http://www.asnc.us/ASNCCandidateForm2011SycamoreGrv.pdf

For the form to apply to be the Montecito Heights representative go here:http://www.asnc.us/ASNCCandidateForm2011MontecitoHts.pdf

For the form to apply to be the Faith-Based Organizations representative go here:http://www.asnc.us/ASNCCandidateForm2011Faith.pdf

For more details on all these openings, please contact ASNC Vice President Martha Benedict vicepresident@asnc.us.

Arroyo Property of the Week - Highland Park Exclusive!

Nestled in the foothills of Highland Park, with amazing unobstructed views of the San Gabriel Mountains, this darling 3 bedroom, 1.75 bath home on a terraced lot makes it public debut on Thursday, March 10, 2011.

Built in 1923, the property heating, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and foundation retrofitting were all updated within the past three years. The home features 1128 square feet of living space on a 5280 square foot lot with a detached two car garage.

The warm, cozy feel of this home is augmented with expansive views from both the living room picture windows and the upper terrace backyard.

The property also features a bonus space - basement under the house that could be finished for an office or rec room.

Best of all, this is a standard sale (meaning: not a lender owned property or short sale) at an amazing list price of $379,000.

Located just a few blocks south of York Blvd, this property boasts a 75 walkability score, close to all the trendy shops and galleries that NELA denizens love, including The York, MorYork Gallery, and Cafe de Leche with LA's first bicycle corral!

Come on by, check out this charmer, and say hello to me and Keller Williams co-agent James Pitcher on Thursday, March 10th, 10am to 2pm, 5106 Hub Street, Highland Park or call for a private showing at 323-230-9749.

Why Aren't LA River Advocates Screaming About CRA-LA's Demise?

Why should river advocates care about whether or not the new state budget framework eliminates local community redevelopment agencies (CRAs)?

Take the CRA-LA scenario. There's always a lot of  'noise' about how CRA-LA takes 'poor' neighborhoods, calls them 'blighted' and then redevelops them, causing 'gentrification.'  But the facts tell a different story:

.CRA-LA is the leader in providing affordable housing in the City of Los Angeles (homes!)
.CRA-LA provides financial assistance to small businesses with low cost loans and grants tied to employment generation (jobs!)
.CRA-LA's $1 investment leverages $3-5 in private investment (economic development!)

While it's true that all government monies need to be monitored and spent with greater care, the elimination of CRAs will have tremendous negative urban renewal impact because the CRA structure is the only tool cities in California have to 'jumpstart' local economic activity and construction projects.

Which brings me to the Los Angeles River. Currently, CRA-LA is involved in at least 3 key LA River-oriented activities:

1. CRA-LA has provided the 'seed' money and institutional support to move Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation efforts forward, including the hiring of staff.

2. CRA-LA is working on a new redevelopment zone along the Los Angeles River at the Arroyo Seco Confluence southwards through the California State Historic Park using the Cornfields-Arroyo Seco Specific Plan (CASP) as its blueprint. CASP is an innovative plan to create a complete 'green' sustainable community just north of  Downtown Los Angeles.

3. CRA-LA received federal funding to evaluate the Northeast Los Angeles River Study Zone (see photo above) as a potential redevelopment area. This area covers communities on both the east and west banks of the Los Angeles River, including the communities of Cypress Park, Atwater Village and Elysian Valley. The study will generate invaluable inventorying of community resources and stakeholder input within the River Zone Area.

If these projects are permanently suspended, Los Angeles River Revitalization efforts could be set back for years.

That's why tomorrow's CRA-LA/Los Angeles City Council Joint Meeting is so vital. Public comment is especially critical to persuade the Governor and State Legislature that Los Angeles River Revitalization through CRA-LA means jobs and a healthier community.

If you care about the Los Angeles River's future, come express yourself tomorrow, March 8th, 10:00am, Los Angeles City Hall Council Chambers. http://www.lacity.org/YourGovernment/CityCouncil/CouncilCalendar/index.htm

Arroyo Property of the Week

Highland Park along the Arroyo Seco seems to be the place to be these days for terrific rehabs of residential properties, adding upgrades and hip modern touches.

This week we get to look at a great 'pocket listing' nestled in the hills north of York Boulevard. That's right. It's not in the multiple listing service (MLS) but you can learn about it here!

This recently refurbished property features a terraced hillside footprint with unobstructed views.

The main house, located on the upper terrace, includes a wrap-around terrace for entertaining and to take in those fabulous views. The property is full of the lush urban nature ambiance so loved in the Arroyo Culture of Northeast Los Angeles.

The studio on the lower terrace is the perfect writer's retreat, quiet with bucolic views.

Both the main house and the studio boast open floor plans with sleek detailing. The kichen- dining area great room is perfect for both casual dining and parties.

Enticed so far? Check out lots of property photos here: http://www.1843upperton.com/

This adorable 3 bedroom, 2 bath property plus studio can be yours for $649,000.

And don't worry. Just because the property is not being promoted via the MLS doesn't mean that you can't see it, because it will be open this Sunday, January 30th, from 1-4pm.

Just remember when you stop by to mention that you found out about this terrific property from the Arroyo Lover!