Design contracts for architecture and interiors of the eight-story, $15 million Iwataya vertical shopping center in Fukuoka, Japan have been awarded to Chaix & Johnson Associates and Chaix, Pujdak, Bielski, Takeuchi & Daggett Associated Architects & Planners, Los Angeles. It was announced by Arcadia resident Robert H. Daggett, A.I.A., 1405 Rancho Road, a principal of both firms.
A brief dedication ceremony for the new chamber building at City Hall was held on April 15, 1977. Total cost, including the remodeling of old quarters for new uses, was $903,000.
Plans for a $700,000 building to house the City Council have been approved, but the whole project has bogged down over the projected $89,500 needed to make the existing City Hall conform to the new building. Complete details on rearranging city departments in order to make the best use of space are given.
Ground was broken on March 28, 1976 for the new City Council Chambers addition to City Hall. It will be a completely separate building to the west of the present structure.
The City Council is facing the need to either refurbish and enlarge the existing Council Chambers or to build a new building. the second alternative seem the most likely, as the space vacated in the present City Hall could be used for crowded city departments.
Curtailment and changes in the Five Year Capital Improvements program as adopted by the City Council last week have drawn disapproval of some Arcadians.
Pasadena Showcase House of Design features the 1937 Federal country-style Locke House in Arcadia. The annual fundraiser is going virtual due to the pandemic lockdown. The house was originally built by Hollywood society architect Gerard Colcord in 1937. For this fundraiser, there were 17 designers who contributed to the renovation. This nonprofit supports music and arts programs in Southern California.
City of Arcadia will reopen City Hall and other facilities to the public as part of the Safer At Work and in the Community Order issued by Los Angeles County. Beginning June 15, open facilities now include City Hall, Arcadia Fire Department, Public Works, and city parks and open spaces. The Arcadia Police Department, Community Center, Arcadia Public Library and Museum remain closed. Arcadia City Council meetings will still be conducted virtually in June.
The Juvenile Diversion Program, a Federally funded group of which Arcadia is a part, seeks to divert students who have been in minor problems from the courts and sent them to counseling and treatment. The program has come in for heavy criticism recently due to high administrative costs.
On November 8 the City Council adopted a design for public parking in the City's downtown business district which left no one particularly happy. Assessments will be worked out beginning at the December 6 meeting. Estimated cost of the project is $241,957.
Arcadia announces City Council redistricting mapping tool and public hearing schedule. Residents can use this portal to draw a map and a community of interest for the city and submit it to City Council.
The City Council has agreed to pay $83,770 of the total $241,957 cost of the new parking district, thus making each of the 62 property owners' assessments smaller.
Tiny house homeless plan draws opposition. Council tables proposal to build shelters at park. The city will create a citizens committee to help study the issue. The city is looking into costs, infrastructure and grants for the proposed complex of tiny shelters, in response to the growing number of unhoused people in Arcadia. Homelessness in Arcadia grew from 85 in 2019 to 117 in 2020.
Arcadia City Council poised for historic changes. In a pair of firsts, the Arcadia City Council will have majority of women and three Asian-American members on the dais. New council members are:
District 2--Sharon Kwan
District 3--Eileen Wang
District 5--Dr. Michael Cao
See hard copy in VF City Council (2020-2029)