Caltech graduate Tyler Johnson, who had been identified as a suspect in the firebombing and vandalism of more than 130 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) at automobile dealerships in the San Gabriel Valley in 2003, has died in an avalanche while hiking in the Corsian mountains in France on December 26, 2009. Johnson has been a fugitive for the past six years. Surveillance cameras captured Johnson and William ("Billy") Cottrell spray painting environmental slogans on the cars at Rusnak Mercedes Benz in Arcadia in 2003. Cottrell was convicted.
Plans to expand Rusnak Mercedes-Benz in Arcadia should move ahead with Rusnak buying four commercial properties from the former Arcadia Redevelopment Agency. Arcadia became the first city earlier this month to have its long-range property management plan approved by the state Department of Finance--something required of former redevelopment or "successor agencies" to dispose of their properties.
Last month's California Supreme Court decision that eliminates redevelopment agencies may jeopardize the Rusnak Mercedes-Benz dealership's expansion plans. Last year, Arcadia's redevelopment agency acquired the final piece of a two-acre site to sell to owner Paul Rusnak to expand his business to 6 acres. Rusnak is one of the city's top sales tax generators and wants to open a 40,000 square foot showroom on Santa Anita Avenue, just one block from the future Gold Line station downtown.
Arcadia City Council approves Rusnak Mercedes-Benz land sale. The automobile dealership plans $10 million in new construction on its six acres. It will include a new 25,000 s.f. showroom on Santa Anita Avenue.
Construction on new Rusnak Mercedes Benz showroom is fully underway in Arcadia. Its current location at 55 W. Huntington Drive will be expanded. Additions will include a 22,500 square feet, 2-story structure in the 100 block of Santa Anita Avenue, to include 78,000 square feet for vehicle service and repairs, storage and parking.
Arcadia slowly steers Rusnak Mercedes Benz dealership expansion back on track. Because of a December 2011 California Supreme Court decision to eliminate redevelopment agencies, the expansion has been stalled. Arcadia is now working on a long-range property management plan for the expansion--a plan that is now required for state approval before former redevelopment agency property may be sold. The plan includes properties at 121-159 North Santa Anita Avenue.
Victoria Rusnak to accept Business of the Year award on behalf of Rusnak Arcadia Mercedes-Benz at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce 2014 Annual Business Awards on July 17.
The changing architecture of Arcadia. Rusnak Mercedes Benz--in town since 2000 and currently at 55 West Huntington Drive--broke ground last December on construction of a 22,500 s.f. 2-story structure around the corner from its current base of operations. The new location will be on the 100 block of Santa Anita Avenue and will also include 78,000 s.f. for vehicle service, repairs, storage, and parking. The dealership's annual sales for 2014 was $170.5 million.
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.
A proposed land deal will allow Rusnak Mercedes-Benz dealership to expand and Rod's Grill will not have to move. The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency has acquired the Dahlgren lot on Santa Clara Street, the last parcel of a 2-acre site it intends to sell to Rusnak. This sale would enable Rusnak to expand from 4 to 6 acres. A public hearing is scheduled for April 19. In addition to the recently acquired Dahlgren property, the current proposed site also includes the former Church of Arcadia on Morlan Place and a commercial strip along Santa Anita Avenue that contains 16 tenants. The proposed deal guarantees the city would receive at least $800,000 in sales tax a year for the next 10 years.
Charles James Rouchka, an Arcadia resident who died in 2009, will be honored as a member of the Legacy Society of the San Gabriel Habitat for Humanity.
The Firefighters' Associations of San Marino, San Gabriel and South Pasadena helped to raise $17,000 in scholarship money for the young daughter of Mike Herdman, who died from a fall in the wilderness.
The changing face of Arcadia: from Super Chief to Gold Line. Major construction for the Gold Line and demolition of one block of old shops on Santa Anita Avenue to make way for Rusnak Mercedes Benz's expansion and showroom are the projects changing the appearance of Arcadia. Businessman George Fasching says in the late 1930s to the 1950s, Hollywood industry people used the "Super Chief," a Santa Fe Railway train, as their main mode of travel between New York and Los Angeles, and it used to pass through Arcadia.
Congressman David Dreier, Republican, who has been representing the San Gabriel Valley and parts of San Bernardino County for nearly three decades in the House of Representatives, announced he will not seek re-election. Dreier represents the 26th District, which includes Arcadia. Article includes biography and legacy.
Deyun Shi of San Gabriel, pleads not guilty in attack on his wife in La Canada Flintridge and in the beating deaths of his two nephews William Lin and Anthony Lin, in Arcadia. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 15, May 19, 2016.
Methodist Hospital's annual Mardi Gras celebration draws hundreds and raises $180,000. King and Queen of Mardi Gras 2017 are Dr. Stephen and Patty Soldo.
Experts say city violated Brown Act meeting law. Arcadia City Council made three housing policy decisions in closed session without public input. At the meeting last week, officials voted to shelve a comprehensive update to city's residential and commercial zoning codes, postpone the Neighborhood Impacts Committee, and move forward with a citywide historic preservation survey, sans the Highlands Homeowners Association. City Attorney Stephen Deitsch said the decisions came as a result of a lawsuit filed against the city targeting mansionization.
Guilty verdict delivered to Lawrence Joseph Farry, 25, who was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter, in the death of former Arcadia resident Joan Milazzo in August last year. Farry struck Milazzo with his car in the Del Sur area of North County San Diego. Milazzo grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, graduated from Alverno High School in Sierra Madre and was a member of St. Rita Catholic Parish in Sierra Madre.