The Pasadena Showcase House of Design features an Arcadia home designed for Lawrence and Josepine Garat Wilcox Barker and built over two years in 1941-1943.
Arcadia City Councill will look at possible changes in the city code on floor area ratio (FAR), lot coverage, and design review for single-family homes. FAR refers to the combined floor area of buildings on a lot, compared to the size of the lot. Arcadia has a lot coverage rule that single-story homes can cover 45% of the lot and 2-story dwellings 35%. Arcadia currently has a citizen-run design review effort within homeowner associations in northern parts of Arcadia, but no citywide system.
The City Council considers adopting a floor area ratio (FAR) guideline for single family homes. The FAR sets the total buildable size of a home at a percntage figure of the lot size.
Arcadia Public Library will have a new conference room constructed and will remodel the existing room into offices and a work area. An office will be created for the Friends of the Library. This is the first phase and the contract was awarded to K & S Design for $106,500. Phase 2 of the project, to be completed at a later date, will include a teen center and an enlarged international language area.
The City Council approved three members for the Planning Commission. They are attorney Craig Lucas, architect Frank Hsu, and manager-consultant S. H. Wen.
Construction begins on Anoakia luxury housing development, on the former site of Anoakia, Anita Baldwin's mansion, on the corner of Baldwin Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in Arcadia. The Anoakia Mansion was demolished last August to make way for 31 homes to be built by Hover Development Inc. of Newport Beach. Anita Baldwin, daughter of Lucky Baldwin, lived there until her death in 1939. It was used as a girls' school from 1941 to the late 1970s. The new housing development is 19 acres.
Arcadia High School graduate and former professional football player turned sculptor David Chapple will design a bronze peacock to be placed in the fountain at Peacock Corner in Arcadia Park. The sculpture will cost $30,000.
The Gold Line received federal financial support in the final House appropriations bill. Monrovia, Arcadia and other cities along the planned extension of the route from Pasadena to Claremont have formed a joint powers authority to study grade separations.
Arcadia Planning Commission voted to support the Rancho Santa Anita Homeowners Association's Architecture Review Board (ARB) in its decision to reject changes in Ibraham Irawan's home under construction at 821 San Vicente Road.
The fountain at Peacock Corner (southwest corner Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive) is taking on a new look. Student volunteers are placing small mosaic tiles on the facade of the fountain. Local interior designer Shirley Farris volunteered to coordinate the project.
The Arcadia City Council approved the design for a proposed addition to the new car showroom at Rusnak Mercedes-Benz. The dealer wants to build a two-story, 2644 square feet addition to the southeast corner of the showroom. The City council approved additions to other businesses as well.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital celebrates its centennial. There were 30 invited guests and local dignitaries, including past chiefs of staff. The hospital began in 1903 in a 2-story house on Hewitt Street in downtown Los Angeles. It was founded by the Women's Home Missionary Society and had 5 beds.
Arcadia Public Library garden dedicated to the memory of Jesse Vanlandingham, known to many as Van. He was instrumental in founding the Arcadia Public Library Foundation and served as its president since its inception in 1995, until his death in 2000. The Vandlandingham Memorial Garden was designed by landscape architect Bob Ericksson.
Residents of Santa Anita Village will get a chance to register their opinions on limiting the size of new houses in their area. Homeowners are asking for a 35 percent floor area ratio rule to be in place.
Arcadia Planning Commission voted 5-0 to reject a proposal for a crematory to be built on First Avenue, next to Arcadia Mortuary at 500 S. First Avenue. The application came from Jim Larkin, who operates Arcadia Mortuary. The proposal drew criticism from neighbors and other Arcadia residents, with pickets.