The City's Redevelopment Agency has launched a massive marketing plan for two sites located at the NW and SW corners of Second Avenue and Huntington Drive.
The Arcadia Community Redevelopment Agency approved architectural and landscape site plans for the northwest corner of Santa Clara Street and Fifth Avenue.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency approved the purchase of $1.2 million in land owned by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Co. at 21 North 2nd Avenue to be used as part of the Northwest Corner Project of commercial development.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously to begin condemnation proceedings of a property at 156 Santa Clara Street. The agency wants to claim the land for retail stores and office buildings. Eminent domain proceedings were begun since the city and the owners of the property have not been able to agree on the value of the property.
City Council approved lending the city redevelopment agency $1.2 million Tuesday to cover additional cost overruns with Downtown 2000 and other projects.
In a joint venture, the Monrovia and Arcadia redevelopment agencies have created a new logo which reads "Huntington Crossing" and it will top the sign where the 210 Freeway crosses Fifth Avenue.
The four-acre Foulger Ford site and the 5.73-acre Santa Anita Inn were discussed by the Arcadia City Council as properties that are not living up to their economic potential.
Downtown 2000, the $4 million revitalization project, will primarily affect Huntington Drive and First Ave. Huntington Drive will have more landscaping and lighting, while First Ave. will have angled parking and landscaping to be more pedestrian oriented.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency has started a Commercial Facade Rehabilitation Program that reimburses merchants up to 50% for what they spend on such things as awnings and signage for their buildings.
Downtown 2000: is the CFRP making a difference? In 1993, Arcadia City Council and the Redevelopment agency implemented the Comprehensive Revitalization Strategy and Program, a project designed to bring a new economic vitality to the downtown district. One of the main components of the program is the Commercial Facade Rehabilitation Program (CFRP), which provides financial assistance to downtown merchants for store-front improvements. Garlan Roberson received $11,000 from the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency for improvements to his business, Sullivan's Paints. Since the facade improvements, Roberson says business has increased significantly.
Construction crews began digging up streets and sidewalks along Huntington Drive in June for the City's Downtown 2000 Renovation Project. Traffic jams, frustrated customers and declining sales have been the result.
The urban design team of Freedman, Tung, and Bottomley made its first recommendations to develop the city's Downtown Revitalization Plan. Ideas included removing parallel street parking along Huntington Drive and adding eight pedestrian crosswalks, as well as creating themes based on Santa Anita Park.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement to build a 122-room hotel in East Arcadia. The deal with ESA Management, the parent company of Extended Stay America, calls for an expected completion date by mid-1998.
City Council members voted 4-0 to change lighting plans and add a new storm drain system to the Huntington Drive streetscape project, changing the cost from $4.1 to $5.6 million.