End of an era--Colonial Pharmacy in Arcadia succumbs to a difficult economy. Arcadia's oldest pharmacy, Colonial Pharmacy, which has been serving the community since 1939, will be closing. Owner Mark Burstyn (photo) has worked there since October 1990.
Construction of 210 Freeway Gold Line bridge near Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia, is nearing completion. Work should be complete in 3 months. Nighttime closures of the freeway will cause delays. The bridge will allow connection between Pasadena's Sierra Madre Villa Station and the future Arcadia Station. It is the first piece of the $735 million, 11.5 mile Pasadena-to-Azusa Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension.
During construction on the Gold Line's Santa Anita Avenue bridge, In-N-Out Burger customers will be asked to line up their cars on Colorado Boulevard, instead of Santa Anita Avenue.
Downtown Arcadia businesses create "Community Benefit District." Each business owner would pay extra in property taxes to go into a fund to better market the area to customers and visitors. With the Gold Line Station at North First Avenue and East Santa Clara Street scheduled to open in 2015, efforts to help brand the area have been fast-tracked.
Pasadena Pops Orchestra debuts its first summer season at the Los Angeles County Arboretum today with Marvin Hamlisch, composer and conductor. The CalPhil lost out to the Pasadena Pops in a bid to stay at the Arboretum and CalPhil signed up with neighboring Santa Anita Park instead.
Arcadia launches the new Arcadia Downtown Business Association, with plans to revitalize the downtown district. Matt McSweeney is the association's chairperson and owner of Matt Denny's Ale House Restaurant on East Huntington Drive. City officials will spend about $90,000 on a parking study and about $18,000 in redevelopment funds to get Arcadia Downtown Business Association off the ground. The revitalization plans should work nicely with the slated opening of the Gold Line station at the northwest corner of North First Avenue and East Santa Clara Street by 2014.
Arcadia commuters fed up with gridlock at First Avenue at the Gold Line Station, since trains started running through Arcadia in March 2016. City engineers are aware of the problems and public's frustration and looking at ways to improve the signals and wait times.
Local transit authorities are preparing to move forward with the Gold Line Foothill Extension to the Azusa-Glendora border and local cities are planning to place residential and commercial developments along the line. Those developments are intended to prepare for future population growth. The first phase of the extension is slated to be completed by 2014, adding new stops in Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa. Some plans near those stops could be scaled back due to the down economy. Arcadia officials are looking to build commercial developments centered on a planned station just east of Santa Anita Avenue. Arcadia's challenge will be land acquisition. Because Arcadia has ordinances limiting the use of eminent domain, Arcadia officials have to rely on negotiating land deals, a difficult process with limited redevelopment funds.
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension opens with big party. Thousands line up for free rides on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Jay Cohen (pictured), Santa Anita Park's legendary bugler plays a tune at the Arcadia Station.
Swim Spot boutique, a swimwear retailer store, leasing a short-term "pop-up" space at Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall, is spotlighted here. If things go well, Swim Spot will likely sign a longer term lease.
Alan Weeks, a retiree who rode the last Pacific Electric Red Car that went through this area in 1951, visits the Arcadia Gold Line Station at North First Avenue and Santa Clara Street.
210 Freeway sound wall is finished. The Metro project, which started in 2009, consists of 2 miles of sound walls along westbound and eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway between Santa Anita Avenue and California Avenue in Arcadia and Monrovia, paid with Measure R funds. The sound walls provide at least 5 decibels of noise reduction. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held. Several Arcadia residents near Victory Chapel on N. First Avenue, where the sound wall ends, are disappointed the barrier doesn't extend farther west.
Arcadia Gold Line plaza design chosen. Concept is "Town Square" for the transit plaza adjacent to the Gold Line Arcadia station and parking lot, to be built on the northwest corner of First Avenue, across Santa Clara Avenue.
New development and businesses in Downtown Arcadia. The Metro Gold Line train has brought renewed success and energy to Downtown Arcadia. A mixed-use project near the Gold Line's Arcadia station will include over 16,000 square feet of commercial space, 38 residential units, and 110 new parking spaces are under construction, as is a 4,000 square foot Art Deco style office building at 130 S. First Avenue. Last year, Mr. Lowe Brewing Co. opened Arcadia's first microbrewery and in July, Vendome Wine & Spirits opened at 103 E. Santa Clara St. Article by Mayor Peter Amundson.
Mass transit riders take preview run on 11.5 mile Gold Line Foothill extension from is current terminus at Sierra Madre Villa Station (in Pasadena) to the six new stations to the east, including Arcadia Station, Monrovia Station, Duarte Station, Irwindale Station, Downtown Azusa Station, and Azusa Pacific University/Citrus College Station. The new rail cars are stainless steel, made by Kinkisharyo, Model P3010.
Take the Gold Line to see the ponies at Santa Anita Park. Santa Anita Park offering the Santa Anita Shuttle to run on all race days and will operate in addition to Arcadia Transit's Shuttle service. The Santa Anita Shuttle runs non-stop from Arcadia Station (First Avenue and Santa Clara Street) of the Gold Line, through July 10, closing day of the spring meet.
Yesterday Arcadia city officials celebrated the groundbreaking of a nearly $12.5 million Gold Line bridge that will be built over Santa Anita Avenue, south of Colorado Boulevard. Starting on or near May 1, the new bridge's construction, which would take 7 months, will cause lane closures on Santa Anita Avenue, disruptions and detours, including not being able to enter In-N-Out Burger from Santa Anita Avenue for 4 months. The bridge is being paid for by a voter-approved bond measure and city transportation funds.
Arcadia Transit Plaza dedication ceremony held November 6, 2014. It is located at 99 Santa Clara Street, at First Avenue, where the Gold Line Station in Arcadia is being built. It will serve as a transportation hub and a gathering space for the community. Many VIPs attended (photos).
Major changes on tap for Arcadia in the new year. Delta Marriott Hotel slated for the old Santa Anita Inn; Arcadia's tallest building, currently housing Bank of America at 150 N. Santa Anita Avenue, has gone up for sale. The current Arcadia Self Storage at 35 W. Huntington Drive is proposed to become a modern food vendor location, reminiscent of the Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles or the Anaheim Packing House.