How Will YOU Help Move Altadena's Retail Forward?
Over the past year, I've read article after article and comment after comment on Patch regarding the retail landscape in Altadena. It's a numbing reminder that 99 percent of us believe that retail should and could be better and/or different than it now is. We've all read or commented that there are too many of "this" type of business and not enough of "that" kind of business.
I had never heard of Altadena before moving here 9 years ago. I had lived mostly behind the Orange Curtain. I quickly learned that things are "different" up here. I learned what it meant to live in an unincorporated town; you had to fight (maybe push hard is a better phrase) for what you wanted. While an important customer, Altadena isn't always at the top of the priority list when it comes to county services. Let's face it, when you're a city, your residents & businesses are the #1 priority. When you're one of 140+ unincorporated areas, (see http://ceo.lacounty.gov/forms/Unincorp%20Alpha%20Web.pdf for the list) you have a lot of company clamoring for attention.
A couple of years ago, I became a Director on the Altadena Chamber of Commerce. At the time, I thought it would be a good networking group. And it was. I met new people via meetings and mixers. But, I felt something was missing. I realized there was a problem with the retail climate in town. Shops were closing, more non-retail locations were coming into town. It became a perfect storm to send residents out of town to spend their dollars. I began to think that being a Director on the Chamber should mean more than networking; it should mean working to improve the business climate in town. I wanted to help be part of a solution and not someone who just has ideas but doesn't act on them.
It was also about this time I began to wonder who in town was going to start doing something. We don't have a city manager, mayor, permit office etc. to help us. Heck, our economic enterprise zone program had run out before many in town even knew we had one! I started reading Patch articles about how Altadena doesn't have enough retail, the wrong mix of retail, run down looking businesses, grocery stores with poorly planning parking lots, a grocery store with no service/meat/deli department and so on. We all read that "we" should have this & that and "they" should do more for us.
What I don't often read about is anyone currently doing anything to change the retail climate. I have read about how "this & that" didn't work in the past. I've read countless times about how we need/want a Trader Joe's (as if wishing for one will make it magically appear), another coffee house, more restaurants and more parking. WHO is doing anything to make this happen? Once in a while, a reader comments that they've made a call to county (usually involving a permit related issue) but mostly, we seem to drift rudderless without any clear direction, plan or idea how to make something positive happen. I know many in the past have taken active roles (thank you!) but now I see a lot of "shoulda, coulda, woulda".
It's time again for Altadena citizens and businesses to be the spark plug that makes "it" happen. Make a phone call to the headquarters of a store you want to see it in town. You don't like the way Rite Aid looks? Call their headquarters, call the property management company. Share with us what they say. Start a letter writing campaign. Find people to invest in a restaurant. Find a niche retail need and fill it. We need to stop looking for others to fix things and look to ourselves for solutions. Become (more) involved.
So, am I walking the talk? I'm trying....I got off my rear a few months back and called Trader Joe's headquarters and spoke with their real estate/site location department. I asked if TJ's would consider Altadena. I was told that they require a site of 1.5 acres on which to build or a certain size existing pad (the site next to Rite Aid is too small). We discussed the return on investment since TJ's has 3 locations in Pasadena and one in La Canada. Would a TJ's in Altadena be successful? To us, likely. To TJ's, maybe not since shoppers may merely be switching from the other 4 nearby locations. I emailed Fresh N Easy. Haven't heard back. I've spoken with our local Ralph's store director and invited her to a future chamber meeting. I think it makes sense for them to re-invest in our community. They know they're not getting as many of our dollars as they'd like until they expand.
The Altadena Chamber of Commerce is trying to make things happen. We've traditionally been a small group, but even as such, we're getting things done around town! Our purpose is to help small businesses and increase commerce in Altadena. Last year the Chamber was instrumental in securing the permit for and sponsoring Webster's Fancy Food Truck Friday events; we started the Shop Altadena Coupon page to promote local businesses and launched a new, user-friendly website.
We helped put together a very important shopping survey and recently named our first ever Altadena Business Of the Year.
One of our most successful recent efforts to help local businesses was to spearhead a presentation with LA County Public Works and Metro Transportation Authority to relocate the bus layover behind El Patron (north side of Fontanet Way). The bus layover was moved, the curb is now re-painted and retail businesses in that general area now enjoy 5-6 more parking spaces!
We're attending local economic trade shows and learning what other groups are doing to help local businesses survive & thrive. The Chamber has recently voted to open our meetings to the general public. We meet at noon, first Tuesday of each month at the Community Center (sorry for the late notice for this months' meeting).
We invite you to come, listen to us and we'll listen to you. Bring your ideas, concerns and enthusiasm to the meeting and help better our business climate. Maybe you'll get pumped up enough to join the Chamber and/or volunteer to help out on some of our committees.
Remember, if you don't stand up for Altadena, who will?
Steve Lamb
12:40 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Ed- I admire you for your enthusiasm and making the attempt after so many waves of Altadenans have attempted and failed. As we both know the problem is NOT the demographics. Even Census Tract 4610, our poorest tract has considerably better demographics than Pasadena as a whole.
We have three major problems to overcome:
1. The impression that Altadena is a crime infested failed minority community where store owners will be robbed blind. The Pasadena Chamber over the years did a lot and spent a lot to promote this idea. A lot of people bought it.
2. The habits of Altadenans to go shop in Pasadena, even if there is a as good or better shop here.
3. The County of Los Angeles who do everything they can to make a business difficult.to own and operate in Altadena. For thirty years that I know of, we have been asking for one stop permitting like Pasadena has and for thirty years the County has been thinking about studying it. Really?
Many of us spent a great deal of time and money our own personal money, to talk to and get retailers interested in Altadena to have things fall apart as soon as the County got involved.
I'm not willing to go through the time expense investment and humiliation of attempting to bring retail here until there is County reform or Cityhood. Until then its a frustration and a waste of everyones good efforts
ed meyers
7:10 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I wanted to reply:
Pt #1 - I've been receiving reports of Altadena's declining crime rate for many mths now. Crime still exists here but maybe there's a way to market the decreases? But to whom and how? I'm open to ideas.
Pt #2 - Habits are hard to break. I shop/eat here when I can but go to other cities too. For a community that sends so many of it's residents elsewhere to work, it's not hard to see how people shop in the cities where they work or drive by on the way to/from work. I think we can chip away at those habits by getting together to figure out how to capture those shoppers on a long term basis. If its restaurants we need, find out what kind, then we have to market ourselves to that industry. If it's outdoor, hiking/tourist related, someone will likley have to get off their butt, take a chance and open a place. Hoping/wishing doesn't make a place open.
Pt #3 - this is a big issue. Hard to tackle it in a short period of time over 1 mtg. Could take yrs to make the gains needed. Can effective little steps be taken in short periods of time? Yes. Bigger, sweeping changes will take years.
Cont'd...........
ed meyers
7:28 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Cont'd from other post.....
Pt #3 - As noted, the Chamber met w/ County & Public Works in Nov. w/ one topic being to move the bus layover behind El Patron. We knew this wouldn't be an earth shattering move and bring shoppers rushing to Altadena retail. However, the layover was moved w/in 2 mths (very quick when involving county & MTA). The extra 5-6 spots will help about 1/2 dozen retail locations.
Long term, I agree that things are a bit "tight" for businesses to operate in Altadena. So, what can be done? Amend the CSDs and look at the Community Plan. As you know, the Community Plan would take yrs to review, revise & implement. I don't even know if the county is open to a review of the Comm. Plan.
What bugs me is that retail is asked to have xxx parking spots for customers but there's hardly any parking in the area to begin with. That's part of why we met w/ the County in Nov.
I'm happy to bring up the permitting issue (again) to the county. So I'm clear, you're saying that if you take plans to the office in Arcadia or downtown that they take care of it right there with out multiple visits, hearings and/or going to other locations?
Patrick Reagan
10:29 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Another option is to join the hundreds of us who aren't waiting for a big corp. but instead are building our own grocery store. The Arroyo Food Cooperative has more than 400 investors, lots of donated store fixtures, an elected board of directors and dozens of enthusiastic volunteers. We've studied the experiences of other co-ops who have successfully opened and operated around the country. We're starting to look seriously at several possible locations in Altadena and are nearly ready to submit final documents to begin taking in loans.
You can read more on our website. While there download our Product Sourcing Guidelines to get an idea of what will be on our shelves. Our old business plan is there also. A revised version will be posted once we pick a location.
Our goal is not only to become the successful local version of TJs but to support local sources of food - which a big corporation can't do. Plus: the profits go back to the members in the form of patronage refunds instead of going out of state or out of the country.
The maximum investment is $300 but you can join today with as little as $30.
Register on the site to get email announcements of our next outreach events. Come to our events so you can talk with your neighbors who are making this happen.
About ten co-op grocery stores are opening around the country each year. If our community pulls together we can open ours this year!
Patrick Reagan
http://arroyofoodcoop.com
President, board of directors
Leslie Aitken
12:22 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Ed --
Thanks for the time and effort that you put into the issue of change for the better for retail in Altadena. I admit that it seems hopeless sometimes, and that IS discouraging. It is especially sad when you hear people like Steve Lamb, who have fought the uphill battle, and become disillusioned of things ever changing up here. Having owned my house up here since 1976, I am sad to say that I have seen more losses than gains as far as retail development in Altadena. I would like to see relevant change, the question is how? Here are my ideas:
1. Find out how the property taxes and sales taxes from Altadena to the County and State are used, and what proportion are being used to better Altadena. Are we footing the bill for other budget items and being shorted for redevelopment? Supervisor Antonovich has a budget larger than many small countries. How can we as a community make our concerns heard - LOUDLY.
2. We cannot BE a community until we behave communally. ACONA, The Altadena Town Council, The Christmas Tree Lane Association and the Chamber of Commerce need to WORK together, not as satellite groups. Cooperation is the KEY WORD.
3. What is up with the Altadena Country Club? The largest land mass and revenue producing group in the community. What do they do in the way of community outreach?
4. We must solve the issue of the LARGE VACANT LOTS: The Scripts lot, Lincoln & Alt Dr., THE HOLE on Lake St by Ralphs and the former Alt. Nursery.
That's a start!
ed meyers
8:17 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Leslie,
I've been here for 9 yrs this month. If I were here for 15, 20, 25 yrs and banged my head agains the wall all that time, I'd be mega frustrated too.
Regarding your ideas:
1. Who is going to find that out? The point of my blog post is to hopefully make residents take more ownership in their town. Make that call! We all have great ideas but not enough of us act on them. So who in town do you take an idea to when we have no mayor, public works, development agency? One would have to go to the assessor's ofc for property & county for that tax info. That being said, I'm happy to make an inquiry to both.
The county will listen to our needs but the community needs to speak with (as close as we can get to) ONE voice. It's harder than you think!
2. All the groups you mention work hard but likely work towards their own goals. There may be nothing wrong with that since each's groups goals are to better Altadena in some way. They work together but separately..... in creating a better Altadena. If one feels that all civic groups should work/be together then a "super group" w/ representation from each should form. However, I don't see that happening. As long as each group works to better Altadena; and doesn't impede the other from doing so, then this is a good thing.
3. Country Club - no comment since I don't know their mission/goals. What do you want them to do? Approach them with your ideas.
Cont'd.....
ed meyers
8:29 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
cont'd...
4. Large lots are eyesores. MonteCedro owns the Scripps lot. From what I understand, once they pre-sell enough units, they'll build the facility.
Lincoln/ALT Dr. - has anyone called the owner/developer recently? It's been discussed here before. If you know of someone who wants to move in there, call them and let them know it's avail. I doubt TJs wants it, prob. not the right fit for that corner.
Crater at Ralphs? There's a phone # on the lot. Have you called them? I haven't (yet) but can if no one else has done so recently. Word is that person(s) that own it play hard ball, have a high price on it and don't care if it stays vacant. Personally, I'd like to amend our CSDs to implement high fines for leaving parcels undeveloped or not offering lots at fair market price.
If anyone wants to make some calls and report back, have at it. I'll report back what I find out.
ed meyers
9:16 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Regarding the Crater on Lake, I called the # on the leasing sign and spoke with a shopping center leasing agent who works with the people who own the Crater. Guy seems to have a good idea of what's going on.
Things discussed:
1. there was a retail area in the works a cpl yrs ago but it fell thru do (in part to), the restrictions in place involving alcohol sales w/in a certain distance from Eliot, no drive thrus (possibly a drive thru Walgreens & fast food).
2. other various restrictions in place regarding the "North Lake Ordinance". I'm not 100% sure what this is based on this name. Could mean our Comm.Standards, the Community Plan, both, neither.
3. Any retail needs to face the street, have parking in back (this wasn't an obstacle, just was noted).
4. This guy knows the Trader Joes real estate guy. Doesn't look like Altadena's on TJ's radar at this time.
5. A grocery store was discussed as a possible anchor to the former plans at the Crater.
6. Claims that having the lot vacant is NOT what the owners want. We didn't discuss much about the owners.
CONT'D
ed meyers
9:22 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
CONT'D
7. Same leasing group is responsible for the empty lot on Lake/Elizabeth - just south of Altadena near the drive thru dairy. I was asked what I thought about a Starbucks in that lot. PERSONALLY, I said I thought a Starbucks, Peets, Coffee Bean/Tea Leaf would be appreciated in town, centrally located where people could walk to it or at least run a few errands in the same general area of such a store.
8. Agreed to send the Chamber's business survey results so he can see results about what type of retail residents were looking for.
The guy lives in Pasadena, said his mom went to Eliot. Seems to know the area but said working in Altadena is tough. Lots of little ordinances in place that jacks up costs. He said getting CUPs can cost close to $200K for such a large retail project. Even if it's 1/2 that, it's a lot.
IMHO, Altadena will need to work to loosen the chains that bind or we'll be staring a vacant lots for quite some time.
Steve Lamb
5:49 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Leslie- You have, probably without knowing it, touched on the biggest County secret. I have friends inside the CEO's office and independently they have each told me over the years that the County of Los Angeles literally can not survive without the two huge blocks of Unincorporated East Los Angeles and Altadena. Without both of those there isnt enough money to fund the County, those are the largest blocks of taxes going to the County. The County does NOT WANT business, or at least legal business, in those two areas because with legal business its possible we could become cities and leave, making the County unable to function.
ed meyers
9:01 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
I have an email in to the County Tax Collector to find out what the total property tax dollars collected in 2010 were for Altadena. Once I hear back (and if I can remember), I'll ask about sales tax too.
I spoke w/ someone at the County Tax assessor's office and they referred me to the Tax Collector. More to come........
Steve Lamb
5:55 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
CTLA is just attempting to survive. The County every year loads new requirements and regulations on them making it more difficult for this volunteer group to function. In any place else there would be no CTLA because long long ago the local government would have taken it over and the public works department would just do it. Here we pay the same tax rate and get to do all the fund raising, maintenance and actual work, with as much interference as is possible from the local government. And they have a nasty attitude to boot.
Steve Lamb
5:57 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
As to the hole on lake- well the People dont own it and the guy who does seems a bit odd. The Altadena Nursery property? The landlord wants $8000 a month rent or $1.2 Million to buy it and the County won't approve any use without a CUP.......Really would you spend that kind of money and have no idea what your real costs of ownership would be?
ed meyers
2:19 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
OK, I made my first phone call to the number listed on the "For Lease" sign at the Crater on Lake. If/when I receive a call back, I'll update everyone.
Steve Lamb
5:59 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
And who benefits from all these community groups being fractured and at each other? What governmental office tells Altadenans how crazy and untrustworthy each other are?
Nico
8:43 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I know yours was a retorical question, but pls tell, what gov't office does this? I am actually curious as II am not famliar w. the players. Funny how gov't can do what they want..when they want to. What was that eminent domain situation down in Orange County (I believe) where the gov't seized private property to put up a shopping complex..citing blight and improving the community as a reason for their actions. Not a fan of this time of strong arming, but it is an example of how when there is a will, there is a way in gov't.
ed meyers
6:58 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
On a related topic, East LA's efforts to incorporate were turned down by LAFCO http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0209-ela-cityhood-20120210,0,4109141.story
Lori A. Webster
10:11 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
East LA's bid for city hood was turned down because it wasn't economically feasible for them, and I don't think it would be feasible for us, either. Not to be a party pooper, but I don't think it's going to get better here until we do, as Leslie suggests, speak with one loud voice. Our community needs an infusion of self-confidence, of self-worth - as I've often said before, we need to be proud of our community. I've heard too much talk around here that showcases our lack of self esteem as a town. You're exactly right, Ed, in that we have to take ownership and accountability....there's a lot of negative without noticing the positive and we have to take the initiative. You want this community better? Invest in it!
We do need representation from all civic groups at the Town Council. That way, there is focused direction that is transparent to all, and is something that I've been advocating for years. In addition, there are people working very hard to change things here, Scott and I among them....just ask the folks at the Zane Grey estate, or the organizers of the proposed Altadena Farmer's Market (it really is getting closer to reality), or the organizers of the Eat Well Market. Just ask the proprietors of the shops at Webster's - we're all in it for the long haul and are tirelessly (and sometimes thanklessly) working toward setting a higher retail standard. This is my own opinion and not expressed in alliance with anyone else.
Steve Lamb
11:29 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Uh I think its interesting that the people who conduct the study have the most to lose if anyone actually gets Cityhood. Dont have enough big box retail was the answer, of course this is the very thing that community is fighting. along with crappy County Services....Sound familiar? Oddly, were this standard applied today to Pasadena, la Canada, Sierra Madre and so on, they could not today become Cities. East LA has a vibrant if not upscale local economy. As one of the proponants stated, the study the County did assumed costs higher than the City would have and revenue lower than it would have. Remember, what the Commission voted on was a study conducted by people who have every reason to weigh the study to fail. they did not vote on or even study a specific governance proposal from the citizens. The County made up the proposal. Its like asking a weasel in a chicken coupe what should happen to the eggs.
Steve Lamb
11:30 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
No one has ever gotten cityhood from LAFCO without suing them to redo the study.
H Delu
12:34 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Ed,
Thank you for addressing this issue, and you're right. We residents need to take ownership of making this community the way we want it to be. I wonder if a collaboration between the Town Council, Chamber of Commerce and other groups to have a forum to decide on maybe 10 specific goals for our community. One might be getting Ralphs to remodel. One might be a short list for retail that we want here and then pursuing them. Once the list of ten priorities is made, a call throughout the community for volunteers to choose one item to work on as a committee might be the way for us to gain some headway. Then different groups of people are focused only on one goal, but ten community goals are being worked on simultaneously. Or maybe the Patch and the Altadena Blog can ask for the top 5 things residents want to see in this community and use that as the list to determine our biggest goals.
ed meyers
2:32 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
H,
I'm OK with having the different civic groups work together to identify 5-10 high priority items. Down the road, having volunteers to help out would be crucial as it can't all be done by a few people. More to come on this.
The Ralphs matter has been previously discussed. For now, I'd suggest unhappy shoppers call Ralphs HQ to make your comments known. Contact them here http://www.ralphs.com/help/Pages/contact_us.aspx or here https://customer.ralphs.com/comments/comments.aspx
Let them know what you're looking for at this store. If you're shopping elsewhere due to the lack of meat/fish/deli/bakery dep'ts, tell them. We have to let them know they're not getting as much of our dollars as they could be. Keep the pressure going.
I've spoken with the local store director and hope to have her attend a future Chamber meeting.
Steve Lamb
1:46 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Helena- Well I hope this means YOU will be getting involved and that YOPU are volunteering to do a lot of this footwork, rather than just saying what other already very busy people should do. I'm sure Ed and the Chamber would be overjoyed to put a person with your boundless energy and charm in charge of a committee to go from house to house gathering data on what Altadenans need and want. In the past you have been not so interested in such, but I am sure this post of yours indicates a willingness to get directly involved...
Lori A. Webster
5:56 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Awww, Steve....I don't think Helena would've suggested such a route if she weren't willing to participate.
I ran across an article in a Utah paper that talks with great wisdom on the state of their retail businesses, here: http://www.utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/12035/2012/02/still_open
Here's a quote from the article, which should be read because it gives a good overview of what small business owners have been going through the past few years:
"Yet it’s not all doom and gloom. McArthur says the recession never really hit them. While people have been buying less expensive items than before, she says business is still strong and the store has never had to lay anyone off. What she hopes more people understand is that supporting local businesses can make a huge difference for a small business owner. A community can help a company survive. If we keep that money local and put it into helping our community and our neighbors, it’s just unreal what you can do for an area.”
Steve Lamb
5:44 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Lori- I actually KNOW Helena and I doubt she will DO something other than give instruction to others.
ed meyers
2:49 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Question to readers:
To help create more parking for the retail businesses at Lake/Mendocino, I'm thinking of asking to relocate the bus layover (#256) that's on Mendocino, east of Lake. Where should it go?
The bus now faces east on Mendocino, turns right on El Molino, right on Mariposa, right on Lake then down Lake to Pasadena. The layover isn't long, maybe 10 mins or so but the entire stretch of curb is painted red. This is equal to 5 or 6 parking spots.
Any ideas on where this line can move it's layover? Facing north in front of the Crater on Lake? Maybe on Lake, facing south, in front of Jack in the Box (bus stop already there)? On Lake, facing south just north of Mendocino (takes away 2 parking spots but creates 5 or 6 more spots on Mendocino)? I dunno, let me know..........
Steve Lamb
5:48 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Ed Good idea, The person you really want to talk to about this is the Personal Assistant to the executive director of the MTA. I think there are three of them. I used to know one who regularly ate at Fox's and thats how I got a lot of MTA stuff done in town, but she moved to Las Vegas seven years ago. Find a Altadenan in the MTA offices and you can cut through about 90 layers of inaction.
Brian Elerding
2:54 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Hi Ed! Thanks so much for your work on this front. I head up a theater company and I've been wanting to get us into a modest space in Altadena for some time now. I'm very eager to hear what you find out from the folks holding on to those vacant lots on Lake! I saw in the Altadena business survey that a good amount of people (34% if I remember correctly) said they would be interested in having more entertainment locally. Is live theater something you think people would a) be interested in, and b) support getting into a storefront?
ed meyers
8:56 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
@ Brian-
Some suggestions... post your ideas on Patch so others can weigh in. Attend a Town Council or Chamber Mtg to learn what others think.
As far as what type of entertainment others would enjoy is up to the "masses" (theater, music, dance etc.) If it's something that draws locals out of their homes and can bring people in from out of town (to enjoy what Altadena has to offer), then it could be a good marriage.
Regarding empty lots, I only know a bit about a couple of the lots. How many parking spaces needed for the size of the theater will need to be considered.
You can contact me offline (leave a msg for me on my profile page) and we can discuss further.
Brian Elerding
2:59 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Hello, everyone! And thanks to Ed and Ericka for getting back to me on this.
I've started poking around the vacant lots south of Eliot on Lake and at the Nursery looking for rental info but am coming up largely empty-handed. If anyone stumbles across contact information for the owners, it would be greatly appreciated! I'm also very open to ideas of other locations in Altadena that might be friendly towards non-profit classical theater. My email is brian@californiashakespeare.org .
Many thanks!
Ericka
11:22 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
i would love to see local theater! my husband and i currently go to pasadena for boston court but a good small theater would draw us in, since we live in altadena.
ed, what do you think about a petition process (online?) to ask ralphs to upgrade their store? i like the idea of individuals calls/touches, but i think it may be more cohesive and impactful if they see how many of us collectively want more amenities there.
Steve Lamb
11:26 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
Alas! The original Eric LLoyd Wright designed project for Lincoln had three theaters in it including one that was adaptable to small stage presentations. The County and our second developer axed those right away, in spite of a high local demand.
Ericka
11:57 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
instead of waiting to hear back, i took it upon myself to start a petition at change.org to ask ralphs to improve the store. community ownership! :) if you want to sign, go here: http://chn.ge/AzqapM
Steve Lamb
12:49 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Signed and forwarded onto as many people as the program would allow
Steve Lamb
12:49 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Thank you , Ericka
Steve Lamb
12:50 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
If you do a hard copy drive let me know, will be happy to carry by hand.
Ericka
3:11 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
hi steve! i'll work something up and share a link to print out a hard copy on this thread.
Ericka
3:11 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
and thanks! :D
Ericka
3:23 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
okay, here is the public link to a pdf you can print out and circulate! http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6598371/Altadena%20Community%20Petition%20-%20Ralphs.pdf
ed meyers
6:41 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Great job Ericka! Good thinking. That's exactly the kind of ownership and community activism that could (hopefully) lead to some action.
I'd suggest that Ralph's HQ (many different dep'ts) and store director receive a copy once there are enough signatures. There are some email distribution lists throughout Altadena you can tap into. Maybe even a signature gathering drive outside of our local Ralphs as well (you'd think virtually everyone entering would sign).
If other stores don't want to come up here, let's hit up the one that's already here. I have heard that Ralphs doesn't own the land they're on and I don't know the length of lease they have. That could affect whether they want to/can expand (short term lease may make expanding a dicey business proposition).
Let me know what I can do to help.
Lori A. Webster
5:48 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
I've posted the petition on our store's Facebook page as well. Thank you, Ericka!
Ericka
10:29 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
we already have 81 signatures! i'm super excited people are raising their voice for altadena! let's keep it going. i've tweeted the petition at ralphs and emailed them using their website. i agree that a hard copy petition could really help us too. any promotion you can give the petition on your site would be great (patch, webster's, etc.) thanks to all! keep up the great work and long live altadena!
Steve Lamb
5:42 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The guy who owns the old nursery building wants 8 grand a month rent out of it, Yeah good luck. At best its worth half that and at that rate it would be dicey trying to have a business there that made a profit. These landlords up here are CRAZY. PLUS it doesnt seem there is anything you can do to that property except leave it vacant, that doesnt require a CUP from the County....the beat goes on, the beat goes on.....
terry Morris
9:05 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I seriously looked into the Lake Avenue Nursery site, for a retail idea I was working on, but there was no way to reconcile those astronomical numbers. Really wanted to start something in Atadena, but am now looking at Pasadena, as close as possible to the Altadena border, so it can still serve this community. So, it sits vacant, month after month. Clearly it is not hurting the owner economically or he would consider lowering the price. It is a really great site with enormous potential.
In northern California, businesses thrive in communities with no parking, but they have massive, efficient public transportation, and people are unaccustomed to driving everywhere. Here it seems that lack of parking is a sort of death knell for a business.
I am fascinated with Atwater Village. How are they doing it? I stood in line for half an hour for a sublime sandwich and a great cup of coffee, on a non descript street, actually kind of ugly, and it was bustling with activity and new businesses.
But their focus is not on TJ, or big box stores. They are starting up small, hip bakeries, restaurants, pet boutiques, yoga studios. Maybe they have different demographics.
Steve Lamb
12:25 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Terry- yeah we have a unfortunate confluence of overly aggressive Landlord pricing and out of reality zoning. Together they have made Lake Avenue what it is today.
But some good news: I was in Fair Oaks Burger the other day and Christine said several people had come in based on the posts here and become customers! Then she got on and read the posts and agrees (naturally) that one way to help make Altadena more viable is to frequent the places that are here. I had a great combination Chow Mein that night......
Steve Lamb
12:27 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Terry- Altadena's demographics are GREAT! BTW. Also, I am refusing to shop in Pasadena, so whatever your business is there, I won't be going. Pasadena has done a great deal to influence the BoS into our present condition,,,,,
terry Morris
6:06 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I love altadena's demographics. It is one of the principal reasons i live here.
But i wonder what is the be difference between Altadena and atwater village?
It is way prettier here , in my opinion, but atwater village is a bustling place, filled with new and interesting places. I drive there for coffee and a sandwich. The energy is young and innovative!!!! It doesn't seem to revolve as much around trader joes, but more around that "artisan" food purveyor. It's in step with what is going on in so many communities all over the country. Less big box, corporate, and more small and local.
Maybe it is a younger demographic??
Steve Lamb
6:32 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
No I dont think its age. thats what Altadenans have been asking for for 30 years. Is Atwater Village La County or LA City?
Steve Lamb
6:33 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Just checked. LA City. I think thats a BIG part of the answer.
mister altadena
7:46 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Atwater Village Neighborhood Council website http://atwatervillage.org/about
claims the following--
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there are 8,042 people in the neighborhood.[citation needed] The makeup of the neighborhood is 48.01% White, 47.90% are Hispanic or Latino, 2.15% African American, 0.66% Native American, 19.09% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 23.84% from other races, and 6.06% from two or more races.
(MY NOTE - these percentages add to way over 100%).
Atwater has 12,000 households. About 90% of residences are single-family homes. In 2003, the Atwater Village neighborhood had an estimated 16,000 residents.
(MY NOTE - seems like a high # of households compared to 16,000 residents!!)
From Wikipedia--
14,888 people in the neighborhood. It is one of the most highly diverse neighborhoods in Los Angeles County, with a population split between 51.3% Hispanic, 19.7% Asian, 1.4% Black, 22.2% White, and 5.4% other.Many of the Asians are Filipinos. There is a high number of people who make $20,000 or less.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atwater_Village
terry Morris
9:05 am on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
I wonder what the AGE demographics are? Atwater Village kind of developed as a carryover from Silver Lake and Echo Park. Most of the shoppers I see there are young. They are driving the business. And I think that a lot of young shoppers may be leaving Altadena and Eagle Rock to go to Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Silver Lake and Echo Park.
I do my grocery shopping in Echo Park and Los Feliz. One heck of a drive, but the quality of food is soooo much better, and I am supporting small businesses. Unfortunately, those small businesses are not in my own community.
So, is it the county that makes it impossible for the same kind of development to happen here? I know the lack of available buildings, parking and bizarre county rules makes it difficult. One thing that happened there was huge public parking strips running through the shopping districts where allies use to be.
If one put in an establishment like Proof Bakery, would the community patronize it?
It has seemed to me that in a lot of underdeveloped areas the first business who change the trend are not giant corporate entities, but small, cool businesses. I think focusing on Trader Joes and Ralphs might not be the most productive direction. It's about what kind of small businesses can be attracted to the area.
Nico
12:52 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Have you ever tried Europane bakery in Pasadena (old one on E Colorado) new one also on Colorado farther west? Near, and really good bread etc.
Lori A. Webster
9:49 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Demographics of Altadena per the 2010 census can be found here: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0601290.html but the salient points are the population - 42,777; the percentage of that population that own homes - 75%, and the median income of that population - $82,000.00 per year. I know these stats because I used them to write our business plan. Everything points to our town being a haven for up and coming small, cool businesses, as Terry points out, so what's the problem? The County can't take the entire blame for nothing happening in Altadena. Steve's right, the landlords MUST be reasonable for there to be any hope of growing strong businesses here. When Scott and I took over in Oct. of 2007, our rent/common area management fees/purchase loan repayment (don't ask) was enormous....just $1,000.00 off what the landlord wants for the nursery building and we have less than 3,000 sq. feet. It broke us and that's why we're struggling today to be that hip, cool store we visioned when we bought in.
It's mindset, as well. No, we're not Sierra Madre and we're not Atwater Village.....but we have the potential to be something in Altadena! A town known for it's beauty, hiking, fabulous gelato and its arts, there are tons of reasons people would come here....and ARE coming here. We just need to acknowledge and get busy. The County is listening, now's the time to rewrite those old, pesky Community Standards into something more business friendly!
Steve Lamb
12:10 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Amazingly enough, Altadenans are some of the core shoppers and diners in Eagle Rock (Where I see another Altadenan or two every time I am there) Silverlake, Atwater Village (Recently I was at an Art opening where the gallery COPIED Ben MC Gintey's old set up) And Altadena COULD be Sierra Madre, if the COunty kicked in $250,000 a year per 11,000 residents to the Chamber of Commerce like the City of Sierra Madre does to their chamber....Same with Pasadena, they kick in a elephant load of money to the Pasadena Chamber and both of those chambers get free real office space, paid telephones,have directors and staffs with PAID FULL TIME POSITIONS out creating marketing, events, and buzz for their communities. Our chamber gets a free cubicle in a building off the main commercial street.....And thats it. Period. And while there are lots of derisive comments one can (and honestly at times one has) made about our chamber, considering that it gets ZERO money from the local government, its doing great.
terry Morris
3:12 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Yes, I go to Europane a lot. It's great.
I also go to Little Flower. Both good, Proof is even better, but sadly none of them are in Altadena. I wish I could eat and by groceries in my own community.
I am very grateful for Websters and and Altadena Hardware. At least there are two local businesses I can frequent.
Nico
5:53 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Very true. I think in addition to the high rents and County snafus that the very peace and quiet that we love also makes a business harder to sustain. Very few apartments/condos (yay) and large lots with lots of open space. I moved here just for that reason and would not enjoy the density of an Atwater Village or Silver Lake even though it is that very density that makes business thrive. A trade off for sure. You sound like a good person to initiate a creative business though! Me -- too tired and too broke!
terry Morris
8:33 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I couldn't live in Atwater Village, either. I love it here in Altadena.
I'd love to start a business here, but it is very difficult for all the reasons discussed.
Your point about density may be the key, and maybe the amount of young and unmarrieds?
Lori A. Webster
1:17 pm on Sunday, April 22, 2012
We'll take investors, Terry! Seriously, though, the trouble is with the current Community Standards, which make it impossible to open a food business. Again, it's very important to join in the visioning effort so we can get those standards rewritten. And Steve makes a great point about our Chamber of Commerce being volunteer only. If we want to create "buzz" about our community, we need avenues to do so, and those avenues cost money.
Leslie Aitken
8:47 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I think there are many subjects on which we all agree. Those of us who live here love Altadena and living here, there are enough people to shop here, but there aren't enough goods and services to keep people here for an afternoon. Two weekends ago, my teen daughter, a friend of hers and I went to a dance recital in So. Pasadena. After it was over, the three of us discussed where to have lunch. I then realized that within a two mile area, there were four different areas to shop: the Osh Center N. of the Pasadena fwy, the town center radiating from Fair Oaks and Mission, the area surrounding the Vons/Pavillions stores, and the Mission District. The Mission District was closest so we went there and spent a delightful afternoon. We had a great lunch at a sidewalk bistro, my daughter bought a dress for me to remake for the prom at a vintage store, we poked around several other shops including a great yarn shop and ended up getting frozen yogurt. All of us live in Altadena, and both of them (17) talked about how they wish we had a great selection like they have there. Wishes don't make things happen. Action does. LA county is never going to volunteer to give Altadena money to promote businesses. We need to be a city, self governing and using our own sales and property taxes. If the push for that doesn't start now, the situation will continue to deteriorate as it has for the last thirty years.
Revvell
12:20 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
I keep hearing city, city, city. It was explained to me recently why we'll most likely never become a city ~ MONEY!!! Can we afford law enforcement? That alone will cost more than this town will be willing to pay out! How about a fire department? You expecting to have a volunteer fire department? Who is going to pay for the trucks, rental space, etc?
I don't know what Proof Bakery is, but we already have bakeries here in Altadena... one on Lake and one on ... what? Allen? Are they being supported?
Super King, although a chain, provides quality conventional produce; Oh Happy Days provides quality organic produce (especially if you purchase fresh say, on Wednesdays. I hear the ethnic store on New York and Allen provides good fare.
Yes, I shop at TJ's ... yet, I guess I'm just not a big shopper since I pretty much stay here in Altadena. I do my banking here (as well as the credit union down the street) .. and, if/when I need to go clothes shopping, I do leave Altadena...otherwise, I LOVE Altadena.... and, I think many others do as well and will never support turning it into a city... at least in my... and many of your ...lifetimes.
Revvell (Or whatever my real name is) (Uh, that's for YOU Meatloaf!)
terry Morris
12:56 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
I would hate to see Altadena turned into a city too !!!!!
But I am not sure anyone is advocating that.
Admittedly shopping is difficult for me. I have a family which means buying a fair amount of goods and food. I try as much as possible to avoid the large corporate chains that have wiped out so much of American small business.
There was a time before Target, Office Depot and Trader Joe's.
When I was growing up my community was full of small thriving locally owned businesses. My mother bought our meat from the local butcher and grocer, when a small appliance or TV broke we had it repaired at our local repair shop. There was a bakery, a florist, clothing stores. Most people knew the owners by name.
I could just call it nostalgia, we need to move on with the times, and get over it, if I didn't see a return to those times going on in so many communities across the country.
Maybe one day it will happen here. Maybe not.
In the meantime, I will continue to patronize Websters, Happy Days, Steve's Bikes and Pets, eat at Foxes as much as my heart will allow. And I will continue to drive to other communities and at the very least support their local businesses.
Leslie Aitken
3:26 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The money needed to become a city is for the INCORPORATION process. The monies for law enforcement, fire department etc. comes from sales taxes and ALL THE PROPERTY TAXES that now go to the county. Altadena would be in charge of Altadena, not the hit and miss whim of LA County. Our Town Council has no authority and no money. The Chamber of Commerce survives on the dues of its members. NO ONE IS IN CHARGE HERE, except Antonovich. He has the budget of some small countries, and what is spent on Altadena? The surrounding cities of Pasadena, La Canada, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Arcadia, and South Pasadena all have thriving business and shopping areas because there is someone IN CHARGE of attracting businesses to the area because they are cities. Actually we are the only one that is not. Do you think the county WANTS to lose the cash cow of Altadena? Hardly! Why do you think we continue to have a giant hole in the ground next to Ralphs, or the ugly Rite Aid shopping center, or the big unfinished building growing weeds on the corner of Lincoln and Altadena? Because the county doesn't care about how our community looks. And the people who own the properties, just pay the fines for leaving things the way they are! And we get left with the vacant store fronts, vacant lots and run down conditions as our visual surrounding, the county gets the money, we get the ugly.
Revvell
3:55 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
BUT, you have to have the money in order to start and, Altadena doesn't have it... far as I know. So, y'all can keep wishin' hopin', thinkin' and prayin'.... yet, unless there's a major influx somewhere, I'm thinkin' it ain't gonna happen!
Revvell (or, whatever my real name is)
Steve Lamb
5:42 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Revvell or whatever your real name is- Facts not in evidence. The last time a study was prepared for the League of Women voters (1978) Altadena actually had surplus revenues. That is based on a contract with LACF and LASD to provide the same level of services and a Planning department of our won, we had a 20% surplus! SO "We don't have any money" is a nice chorus for those who say don't want the LASD to be accountable, but its probably not the truth. We don't knwo though because we havn't seen the honest figures since 1979. When LCF became a city it Took four lawsuits for the County to cough up the real actual figures of their real revenue and expenses, so I don't think I'd believe it's a reasonable opinion, based on the experience of others, to take the Counties word for it. they are well known and repeated proven willful liars in these matters.
SteveB
5:06 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
How did East LA get the money to go through the process?
Steve Lamb
5:30 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
East LA has gone to the first round, they are asking the County redo the study based this time on the kinds of figures and assumptions the Courts have forced them to use in past. So far LAFCO is resisting, so this will probably lead to a needless and expensive lawsuit that East LA will eventually after the better part of a decade, win. In the meantime the County keeps ripping them off.
Steve Lamb
5:34 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
One of the problems with the whole LAFCO process is that it is abusive by design. there is no standard agreement, no standard split of tax monies, no standard bundle of goods and services. Every single city has to be negotiated with LAFCO even every item of the report and how every item is measured. its a system designed to prevent even very viable cities. I mean la Canada can afford Cityhood but East LA with 500% more industry and a way way way larger tax base and no firezone to protect canT? LOL Its a perversity.
SteveB
5:42 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
That is not a pleasant picture, but East LA has managed to enter the process somehow - how is the process financed?
Steve Lamb
5:45 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
HEY Lets do a CASH MOB at Fair Oaks Burger sometime.
Steve Lamb
5:47 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Steve B- Basically donations and bake sales.
Steve Lamb
5:48 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
To do the three or four lawsuits pay for the studies its about $400,000 over say six years.
Steve Lamb
5:50 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Its brutal and unjust. Oh but the first study where they give you all the lies, i think thats X amount of signatures (WAY more than the number of people who usually vote in local muni type elections and something like 50 g's)