The 380-member Apache Marching Band, under the direction of Tom Landes and its 62-member color guard, will march in the 2003 Tournament of Roses Parade.
The Arcadia City Council has decided to seek a new operator for the Arcadia Par 3 Golf Course, located adjacent to the Peck Road Water Conservation Park, at the city's border south of Live Oak Avenue, by putting the contract up for bid. American Golf Corporation has operated the golf course for the past 20 years. There was discussion of the land's worth and increased city profits with a new golf course operator.
Arcadia City Council is reviewing revisions in the city's General Plan to create land-use concepts that meet statewide density requirements and still preserve Arcadia as a "Community of Homes." The revisions call for increasing the maximum density from 24 units per acre to 30 in high density-zoned areas and following mixed-use development in downtown, First Avenue and Live Oak Avenue areas. Officials want the new land-use guidelines to meet the requirements of SB375, the "anti-sprawl" legislation passed last year that aims to cut down on carbon emissions by requiring local agencies to minimize vehicle travel time through city planning.
Arcadia City Council unanimously approved a plan to let the city of El Monte annex 5.19 acres of vacant land near Durfee Avenue and Clark Street. The plan is to have 34 units of homes developed there. Next, the matter goes to Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).
Arcadia High School Apache marching band will perform at President Bush's second term inaugural parade on January 20, 2005. 312 students will travel to Washington, D.C., for the event. Tom Landes is the band conductor.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency adopted a resolution approving the land acquisition and development agreement to help Paul Rusnak buy five sites for his Mercedes Benz dealership expansion. The Arcadia Elks Lodge doesn't want to move.
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.
The Breeders' Cup, known as the world championship of horse racing, was held at Santa Anita Park last Friday and Saturday. The event has helped the local economy in Arcadia, with an estimated $50 million spent on restaurants, hotels, wagering, taxis, etc.
A bronze statue of Andres Avelino Duarte, located at 1600 Huntington Drive in the city of Duarte, will be dedicated on March 31, 2007. Duarte was the Spanish rancher and soldier that owned the land that would later become Duarte, Bradbury, Monrovia, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, and Irwindale.
Church in Arcadia will move to land formerly occupied by the city's mounted police at 630 E. Live Oak Avenue. Church in Arcadia is currently at 21 Morlan Place, the former site of Arc Bowl and Arcadia Bowling, which closed in the late 1970s. This deal was done to try to keep neighbor Rusnak Mercedes Benz, the city's largest sales tax generator, from moving to another city.
City council members refute charges that they met in private with a developer and property owner. Arcadia councilman Bob Harbicht said council did not meet in closed sessions, but met only with city staff to discuss land located in the parking lot of Santa Anita Park. The Council has never met privately with Caruso Affiliated or Magna Entertainment.
The City may have to seize Rod's Grill and the Elks Lodge under eminent domain to accommodate Rusnak Arcadia's auto dealership expansion. Manny Romero, owner of Rod's Grill, and the Elks Lodge do not want to move and do not like what the City is offering for the land parcels.
The City of Arcadia has acquired half of the land originally promised for Rusnak's Mercedes Benz expansion. Arcadia Self-Storage and Church in Arcadia are selling to the city but the Elks Lodge and Rod's Grill refused to sell. The city expects Rusnak to produce a minimum of $700,000 each year in sales tax for 10 years, or until the loan is repaid.
A developer of resort-style retirement communities hopes to build a 260 unit senior citizens complex on land currently occupied by the Santa Anita Inn.
Developers hoping to build 31 houses on land where the Anoakia mansion sits have won a court victory that clears the way for the house to be torn down.
The expansion of Rusnak Mercedes-Benz, Arcadia's largest sales tax generator, still faces hurdles. The Church of Arcadia has agreed to move from 21 Morlan Place, but it has encountered delays with the county's plan checks. The City of Arcadia still needs to acquire Rod's Grill at 41 W. Huntington Drive, but proprietor Manny Romero has not accepted any of the city's numerous offers. Tom Valasek, director of marketing at Rusnak Auto Group says the dealership will have to move if the city cannot deliver the land for the expansion plan.
The fate of several acres of hillside land, the last like it in the city, is pitting developers and property owners against neighbors who cringe at the prospect of earthmovers leveling the land.
Habitat for Humanity proposed building 20 homes on city-owned land in South Arcadia that was previously used by the Arcadia Police Department horseback unit. The parcel's access would be via Live Oak Avenue. Assembly Bill 637 requires Arcadia to develop low-income housing. City Council did not make a decision, leaving options open.
The history of the Pony Express Museum that used to be on the land where Santa Anita Inn is today is presented. See VF "Pony Express Museum" for copy of article.