The historic Adams' Pack Station is having a fundraiser tomorrow. The funds are needed for the 50+ year old general store at Chantry Flat, to make upgrades to meet health codes. The pack station, originally established in Sierra Madre before it moved to Chantry Flat in 1936, uses a team of donkeys to carry supplies to the cabins in the Big Santa Anita Canyon, a camp owned by the United Methodist Church.
The Adams' Pack Station, owned by Deb Burgess, in the Chantry Flat area, 3 miles up a road starting from the top of Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia, fights to remain open as it faces costly upgrades required by the Los Angeles County Health Department. Forest authorities want it to remain a historic landmark, which would limit the amount and types of renovations that can be done.
Trainspotting in Arcadia. First tests of Gold Line light rail between Pasadena and Azusa start. Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension conducted the first of many clearance tests involving actual Metro Gold Line train from Sierra Madre Villa Station (in Pasadena) to Azusa. The train was a $4 million Ansaldo Breda P2250 with specialized gear to test clearances, wheel/rail interface, rail switches, and Overhead Catenary System.
Santa Anita Canyon Road, aka Chantry Flat Road, has been jointly owned by Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, and Los Angeles County for years. The 3-mile mountain road that leads to the Angeles National Forest will be turned over to Los Angeles County if the cities pay to fix it up. Arcadia and Sierra Madre have completed their repairs and are waiting for Monrovia to start a roughly $500,000 project.
City of Arcadia has been revising its General Plan and the first public draft was released last week. The General Plan, a 25-year blueprint for how the city could develop was last updated in 1996. The plan addresses the Gold Line station and allows for mixed-use residential and commercial development north of Huntington Drive in the downtown area, and on Live Oak Avenue. The plan must go before the Planning Commission, then the City Council for approval.
Food a big draw at 626 Night Market, the Asian-inspired festival at Santa Anita Park. It is in its fourth season of food, entertainment, art and shopping.
Metro Gold Line Foothill train set to roll on March 5. The 11.5 mile extension from East Pasadena's Sierra Madre Villa Station to Azusa/Glendora border is expected to have 13,600 riders per day and trains to arrive every 12 minutes. The new stations are Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte/City of Hope, Irwindale, Azusa Downtown, and Azusa Pacific University.
Foothill Gold Line Station dedication schedule is established. Arcadia Station August 22, 10 AM. Monrovia Station September 12, 10 AM. Duarte/City of Hope August 15. Irwindale August 28, 5 PM. Azusa Station September 19.
Metro responds to concerns over paid parking at Arcadia Gold Line Station. It costs $3 to park there but it had been free. Now that there is a cost to parking at Arcadia Station, there are more open spaces and this was Metro's anticipated and desired effect.
Arcadia Gold Line plaza design chosen. Concept is "Town Square" for the transit plaza adjacent to the Gold Line Arcadia station and parking lot, to be built on the northwest corner of First Avenue, across Santa Clara Avenue.
Gold Line stations planning parking charges. Metro official says parking fee pricing structure at Duarte and Arcadia stations will reduce crowds in lots. Starting June 3, Metro will charge $3 a day or $59 a month to park at Duarte and Arcadia station lots.
Major changes on tap for Arcadia in the new year. Delta Marriott Hotel slated for the old Santa Anita Inn; Arcadia's tallest building, currently housing Bank of America at 150 N. Santa Anita Avenue, has gone up for sale. The current Arcadia Self Storage at 35 W. Huntington Drive is proposed to become a modern food vendor location, reminiscent of the Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles or the Anaheim Packing House.
Arcadia Rotary to raise funds to renovate Fort Rotary-Camp Trask. Tallman H. Trask Scout Reservation in dire need of repairs after years of neglect. It is located in the area above Monrovia Canyon. Fort Rotary was built in 2003.
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension officially starts March 5. The extension runs from its current terminus at Sierra Madre Villa Station in Pasadena to Azusa Pacific University/Citrus College Station.
Inaugural Arcadia Christmas Market a delight. Downtown Arcadia came alive with traditional holiday atmosphere, featuring music, unique gifts, food, and activities last Saturday. It will continue every Saturday night until Christmas, with a European-style Christmas Market. Arcadia's Best Foundation organized it and was sponsored primarily by Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority and Forest Lawn, with support from City of Arcadia and Matt Denny's Ale House Restaurant. It will be open 5-9pm December 14 and 21.
Mass transit riders take preview run on 11.5 mile Gold Line Foothill extension from is current terminus at Sierra Madre Villa Station (in Pasadena) to the six new stations to the east, including Arcadia Station, Monrovia Station, Duarte Station, Irwindale Station, Downtown Azusa Station, and Azusa Pacific University/Citrus College Station. The new rail cars are stainless steel, made by Kinkisharyo, Model P3010.
Intersection of First Avenue and Santa Clara Street in Arcadia re-opens to through traffic after crews completed at-grade crossing improvements last Friday. Work began at the crossing in early September 2013. Upgrades were made to the utilities, streets, curbs and more to encourage walking, biking, and bus connections.