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.
The Arcadia City Council unanimously approved a General Plan update that aims to make the future Metro Gold Line station the heart of a revitalized downtown and the plan includes a revitalization of Live Oak 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.
Arcadia City Council approves $70,000 to help the Downtown Business Association set up a business-improvement district. The district would tax commercial property owners to revitalize the area.
The proposed site for Arcadia's Gold Line station is just east of Santa Anita Avenue, at the First Avenue/Santa Clara intersection. City leaders want to separate the railroad tracks from the street.
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).
Arcadia city officials will consider changes to its General Plan, a 25-year blueprint for land-use decisions. The new plan aims to revitalize the city's downtown (First Avenue and Huntington Drive) as well as the Live Oak Corridor in the city's southern end. "We're making it easier to develop the downtown and the area around the (future) Gold Line station," said Council Bob Harbicht. If approved, it would allow for mixed-use commercial and residential complexes, commercial square footages could double and the height limit would increase from 40 to 45 feet.
Inaugural Arcadia Christmas Market a delight. Downtown Arcadia came alive with traditional holiday atmosphere, featuring music, unique gifts, food, and activities last Saturday. It will continue every Saturday night until Christmas, with a European-style Christmas Market. Arcadia's Best Foundation organized it and was sponsored primarily by Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority and Forest Lawn, with support from City of Arcadia and Matt Denny's Ale House Restaurant. It will be open 5-9pm December 14 and 21.
The Arcadia Community Redevelopment Agency approved architectural and landscape site plans for the northwest corner of Santa Clara Street and Fifth Avenue.
Olympics may stimulate downtown revitalization, said Mayor pro-tem Dennis Lojeski at Arcadia Business Association meeting last week. He urged ABA to get feedback to council.
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.
Spotlight on Downtown Arcadia business Vendome Wine & Spirits, a bar, coffee, and bottle shop owned by Jeff Musial. It is across from Arcadia Metro Gold Line Station. His business partner is Charles Tran.
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.
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.
Metro Gold Line Foothill train set to roll on March 5. The 11.5 mile extension from East Pasadena's Sierra Madre Villa Station to Azusa/Glendora border is expected to have 13,600 riders per day and trains to arrive every 12 minutes. The new stations are Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte/City of Hope, Irwindale, Azusa Downtown, and Azusa Pacific University.