First phase of Le Meridien Hotel taking shape across from Santa Anita Park. Ground broke more than two years ago. The five-story building, on the site formerly occupied by the Santa Anita Inn (its address was 130 West Huntington Drive), was set to open first quarter of 2020, but it has been delayed. It will have a combination of Art Deco elements, inspired by nearby Santa Anita Park, with Modernist features. Architecture firm Architects Orange, interior design firm Linda Snyder Associates, and Snyder Langston is the construction team building the Le Meridien development that spans 6.5 acres.
Arcadia's new city government first formed in 1903 and its first meeting took place at Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin's Oakwood Hotel, located at First Avenue and Santa Clara Road. Baldwin's hotel featured gambling and fine dining along with city government. The Oakwood Hotel burned down in 1911, and the city government moved to the McCoy Building at First Avenue and St. Joseph Street. Two years later, City Hall moved across the street to the Hibbard Building. In 1917, the first building was constructed as a City Hall at Huntington Drive and Second Avenue (?). A two-story colonial building was built for $18,000. This City Hall opened on July 13, 1918. City Hall moved in 1949 to a 13-acre parcel between Huntington Drive and the Pacific Electric railroad tracks.
First Avenue at Santa Clara Street in Arcadia closed September 9, 2013 through February, 2014 for construction of grade crossing improvements, as part of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project in Arcadia. Also, to construct the parking structure and transit plaza adjacent to the crossing, Front Street between Santa Clara Street and Saint Joseph Street, will be permanently closing in September.
Arcadia Downtown Street Market now on Saturdays, 5-9 PM. It is run by Green Leaf Events on First Avenue between Santa Clara Street and Huntington Drive.
The Arcadia City Council approved an ordinance amendment loosening store display restrictions and decided to maintain the first floor retail restrictions on buildings in the downtown business district.
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.
Hope International Church of Arcadia, located at 1741 S. Baldwin Avenue, welcomes new pastor Reverend Sam Lee into the community. Installation service on September 29.
Arcadia imports Monrovia Street Fair patriotic kick-off event set for July 3. It will happen weekly on Friday nights in Arcadia's downtown area, on First Avenue between Huntington Drive and Santa Clara Street.
Sign of the changing times in Arcadia. The new Rusnak Mercedes Benz showroom at Santa Anita Avenue and Santa Clara Street will be opening soon. It is perhaps the single largest development in Arcadia's history. Car wash owner and former mayor George Fasching joked on his business sign that the new building was an NFL stadium.
Tallest building in Arcadia sells for $25.6 million. It has been sold to Positive Investments, Inc. by Farazian Family Trust. It has 8 floors, anchored by Bank of America. Another tenant is former Arcadia City Mayor Jim Helms of Helms & Myers, a law firm. Bank of America is 180 N. Santa Anita Avenue, Helms & Myers is at 150 N. Santa Anita Avenue, Suite 685.
All 14 at-grade rail crossings now complete for Foothill Gold Line, from Pasadena to Azusa. The at-grade crossing in Arcadia is at First Avenue and Santa Clara Street.
City gives thumbs up for Arroyo Pacific Academy's expansion. It is a private college preparatory high school for local and international students. it is currently at 41 West Santa Clara Street.
The Arcadia City Council has awarded a $3.056 million contract to Pacific Hydrotech to build the St. Joseph Reservoir at Santa Clara and Second Avenue.