Tiny homes opponents appeal for reduction of Foothill Unity Center’s homeless services. Opponents protested outside Arcadia Councilmember April Verlato's home.
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 officials attempt to expand dialogue around homelessness. Arcadia homeowners are concerned that increased homelessness numbers within the city pose a threat to their children and property values. Arcadia City Council's idea to install 15 or so tiny homes as emergency shelter for unhoused people is being discussed.
Another homeless village set to open in Baldwin Park. 16-unit tiny home complex will house families in need. It's called Serenity Homes, 13167 Garvey Avenue in Baldwin Park. Senator Susan Rubio, D-West Covina, celebrated the opening with elected officials from all over the San Gabriel Valley, including from Arcadia, Azusa, Glendora, La Puente, Monrovia, San Marino, South Pasadena, Temple City and Mount San Antonio College. It is the second tiny homes village opening in Baldwin Park within a year and serves as a model for how cities can expand homeless services.
Arcadia launches homelessness program and perception survey. It is designed to solicit feedback about homeless in the city and to help inform the City and residents on the community's preferences for homeless support services.
The Board of Supervisors has approved a request from the County Department of Public Works to take over jurisdiction on the project to seismically retrofit transit bridges on Colorado Boulevard and Huntington Drive/Second Avenue. The board declared the portion of Colorado Boulevard under the bridge, as well as portions of Huntington Drive and Second Avenue under the transit bridge, to be part of the county system of roads and highways.
Homeless numbers count due today. First tally since 2020 Pandemic start, affects nonprofit services, political races, and government. Karen Roberson, Founder and Director of Family Promise of San Gabriel Valley, a nonprofit that provides temporary shelter to unhoused families in Rosemead, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Monrovia and Arcadia, said finding homeless families can be a difficult task and believes that population is undercounted.
Peach Tree Park chosen as city's war memorial site. "Peppermint candy" peach trees will be planted on a 30 x 300 strip of land parallel to the rear of the City Hall in a tiny park to commemorate Arcadia youths who lost their lives in World War II.
Proposed two-story home at 1101 S. Fifth Avenue causes kerfuffle. At this week's Arcadia City Council meeting, the project's neighbors appealed the Planning Commission's decision to approve the design of the 3588 s.f. house. Neighbors complain of loss of light and privacy. In a 3-2 vote, the Planning Commission's decision was upheld on the conditions that the owner remove windows on the north and south sides of the second floor.
Arcadia City Council urges citizens to help with voter fraud investigation and City Attorney Stephen Dietsch provided direction on the city's efforts to investigate several allegations against Mayor Pro Tempore Sho Tay and Dietsch explained the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Arcadia city council election results undecided after city receives 999 more ballots yesterday. The second and final count will be completed on April 21. Tentative results had Peter Amundson and April Verlato in the lead, but Bob Harbicht is trailing not far behind. There were 2 seats to be filled.
The Arcadia City Council will oppose attempts by El Monte to annex a strip of uninhabited Arcadia land located between Peck Road and the San Gabriel River.
Arcadia City Council delays vote on Arcadia Highlands home building projects. Council will address the matter again on February 3, to allow for more time to vet newly received petitions from area residents and a detailed letter from an attorney representing a leading opponent of the developments, that the City received last week. Both projects, one at 1600 Highland Oaks Drive, the other at 29 East Orange Grove Avenue, and both designed by Robert Tong of Arcadia-based Sanyao International Inc., involve the demolition of vintage homes to make room for larger residences.
A $600,000 grant from the Azusa-based San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy, plus $200,000 of in-kind amenities provided by the County Department of Parks and Recreation, will help fund a face lift for Peck Road Park at 5401 Peck Road.
Los Angeles County's 2017 homelessness count has gone up 23% from the previous year and District 5, where Arcadia, Monrovia and Pasadena lie, has exceeded the county high at 30%. Measure H funds from a 1/4 cent sales tax increase in Los Angeles County, creates estimated $355 million per year to use on homeless initiative. Los Angeles Board of Supervisors voted on how to properly allocate over a billion dollars from Measure H to help prevent and combat homelessness.
Arcadia residents, city officials grapple with homeless issue at a public forum at Arcadia Performing Arts Center. City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said easing the homeless crisis comes down to two major areas--enforcement and services. Police Chief Roy Nakamura said the number of calls to Arcadia Police Department related to the homeless increased from 1493 in 2019, to 2067 in 2020.
Ground was broken Friday for Arcadia's newest office building, the Arcadia Executive Plaza, on the triangular site bounded by Colorado Boulevard and Colorado Place, immediately east of Santa Anita Park race track.
City of Arcadia to update Recreation and Park Master Plan. Seeking resident input. The last update was 2007. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 4, June 4, 2015.