Another Comment Worth Its Own Post

Mr. Mike Czako wrote a comment to one of my posts. His comments are more than worthy of having them put on a post of their own.

I will make some comments at the end of Mr. Czako's great, thoughtful and emotional words.

It is with honor that I can elevate Mr. Czako's words to this post.
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Hello all, my name is Mike Czako and I live right here in the Palisades. I do not pretend to be an expert on politics, the LAUSD or the way the "system" works. I am just a local outsider looking in...a person who loves this community who has an opinion to share. This is the first time I am writing in to these blogs...I want to share some thoughts on the Angels Gate school proposal.

When I look at San Pedro I see one of the most beautiful coastal communities in the world. This is a town so rich with history that I have yet to see another community with so much “local” pride. And when you factor in the people, cultures, personalities and jaw-dropping views that come together...this makes San Pedro a wonderful melting-pot of a town and a truly special place.

I am writing in today because I oppose the school being built at Angels Gate. I oppose the fact that it will make Alma totally impassable and will paralyze our neighborhood. I oppose the sports fields that will literally be in our back yards, flooding bright lights and unnecessary noise pollution in our quiet coastal community. I oppose the fact that our already crowded streets will be over-run by more parked cars. And lastly I oppose LAUSD and our town leaders for “telling” us what they are going to do with our community as opposed to asking us.

I know this is a classic case of “nimby” (not in my back yard) / “pimby” (please in my back yard)...and I know that having new schools in the neighborhood can be a great asset to the community. And I want to make sure this point is understood...I want the children of San Pedro to have new schools, with new amenities and technology. I understand that newer schools may have the benefit of attracting better teachers. I want our kids to have the best of the best...they deserve it. BUT it just doesn’t make sense at Angels Gate. The impact on our community would be too much to bear.

The big questions that I do not have answers too is; do we need a new school, and where would we put it? I may be wrong, but I thought there was some talk about putting a new school in the Ponte Vista area?

One other thing I have been asking myself is “What are some other things we can do with that area of Angels Gate? What can we do that will help our community and really leverage everything that Angels Gate has to offer?”

I have two suggestions/case studies;

Lets look at what Manhattan Beach did with the former Metlox Pottery plant. Metlox was an abandoned ceramics factory with prime real estate (heart of Manhattan Beach.) The former plant was close to a main source of travel/tourism (LAX) with spectacular views. Now lets look at Angels Gate, it's an under-utilized portion of Fort MacArthur’s upper reservation. It is close to prime travel/tourism with our cruise ships traveling in and out of our beautiful port. And as we all know, the views at Angels Gate are breathtaking.

The folks in Manhattan Beach tore down the Metlox Plant and built a beautiful hotel and a quaint walk street with a few boutiques, shops and cafes/restaurants. Using that plan in San Pedro I believe it can work. Taking into consideration that most hotel guests will be coming in from the cruise ships, we can offer a shuttle system to and from the harbor therefore minimizing traffic concerns. And as far as the shops/boutiques and cafes are concerned, lets look at the downtown area with all the lofts being built. When these are finished that will bring in a more affluent consumer..lets keep these new people in San Pedro buying goods from us! Lets not have them travel to RPV or Long Beach. We would provide jobs for the people in San Pedro at the hotel and these new, locally owned shops. Can you picture a more perfect day, going to visit the Korean Friendship Bell, and taking a nice stroll to the shops and sitting with family having a great lunch enjoying the views all while supporting our local business’?

Another idea is we follow what our friends in San Francisco did with the Presidio. That also was a military compound with unbelievable views that was in a state of disrepair. They restored the buildings and turned them into residential and commercial spaces. George Lucas even moved his special effects company Industrial Light and Magic there. The Presidio is much larger that Fort MacArthur, but I am curious if we can follow their lead on a smaller scale. How nice would it be to restore such an important part of this town and bring it back to it's original glory. Along with providing housing we can hopefully follow what Lucas did and attract some business to that area. Since San Pedro has had so many movies filmed here and is so rich with Hollywood history can we attract a production company, or some sort of post-production house? This is also a town rich with artists so what if we could attract a video game company or advertising agency? If those ideas don’t feel quite right, I hope you see my point. If we can attract some type of business/industry that will not overwhelm that space provided I believe it can be a win-win for us. With the recent decline in the economy how excellent would it be to have some new business there, that would not only put a demand on housing but bring more people into town supporting our local business’?

Since LAUSD owns that land those ideas may prove to be impossible, and this all may be a mute point. Like I stated earlier, I am no expert on this subject but I just wanted to share a different point of view what some options for that land may be used for. Angels Gate is spectacular..and considering it’s prime real estate in Southern California that area holds endless possibilities and potential. And the one thing they want to use that land for is the worst option for the community...the traffic and parking situation will overwhelm our neighborhood and the lights/noise from the sports fields will disrupt our quiet coastal community. It just seems like such a wasted opportunity that we don’t use that land for something special. We all want to see San Pedro thrive...and yes there are some changes coming to this town, but lets embrace them, and find a way we can all benefit from these new lofts and changes to our port town! Let’s use that space for something that will benefit all of San Pedro.
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Mr. Czako, I very much hope someday, to meet you and shake your hand. Your words should make all of us think so much more about who we are and what San Pedro and the surrounding communities wish to remain.

I am going to include a few facts now, and ask and answer some questions.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is proposing to build South Region High School #15 (SRHS 15), apparently to ease their felling that San Pedro High School is getting over crowded. Mr. Rod Hamilton stated that the current student population at the high school is approaching 3,600 students.

These approximately 3,600 students must use a campus that has "45 portable classrooms" currently.

I graduated from S.P.H.S. in 1973, Between the months of September, 1971 and June, 1972, the student body was made up of the largest three classes in the entire history of that school.
The Mystics, Class of 1972 was the largest class ever to graduate from the school and according to records and their reunion co-ordinator, that class had 1,053 graduates.

I'm a Ke-Alian. My class was the second largest class ever at S.P.H.S., with 958 graduates.

Our friends The Prometheans', Class of 1974, was the third largest class ever, with just 10 fewer graduates than my class had.

When we all attended S.P.H.S. there were approximately 15 or so portable classrooms and the two-story classroom building near the auditorium was years away from being built.

Also, we were a three-year high school at the time.

So let's compare. Between the dates I wrote there were at least 2,959 students attending the high school, and we all know that not all students who attended, graduated.

If the high school had been a four-year high school back when we attended, the approximate student body population would have been in the neighborhood of 3,945 students, having to share a smaller campus, with fewer classrooms than are on that campus today.

But the question still must be asked, do we need another high school in San Pedro, for the L.A.U.S.D.?

On this one, I have to lean towards the 'probably' side of the question.

Has L.A.U.S.D. proven to the parents, taxpayers, students, and others that San Pedro needs a third non-charter high school campus? I haven't heard real proof and I am on all kinds of information lists with the L.A.U.S.D. and since September, 1968, I have had a family member either teach or counsel at that school.

Now if I feel a third non-charter L.A.U.S.D. high school should be built to relieve potential over crowding at S.P.H.S., where should the school go?

Well, there is a sure slam dunk place it really shouldn't go, in my opinion. That location is currently the "preferred site" for SRHS 15, at the former upper reservation of Fort MacArthur.

Unless L.A.U.S.D. is willing to use their right of eminent domain to take two adjacent houses and lots on 30Th Street, there is no way any other reasonable ,realistic, responsible, and respectful access route to or from the "preferred site". Even this dramatic step could not create a better access route than placing the school on some other site, or sites.

Mr. Czako commented on the prospect of building an L.A.U.S.D. high school on the Ponte Vista site. The Facilities Division of L.A.U.S.D. still considers up to 24 acres of area within the fences of the Ponte Vista site, legally as their "preferred site" to build SRHS 14, but they have announced the cancellation of that school.

SRHS 14 originally was to be a 2,025-seat senior high school to ease suggested over crowding of Narbonne and San Pedro High Schools. In May, 2007, L.A.U.S.D. dropped their plans for such a large school and began to consider an 810-seat high school, in which 810-students who normally would have attended Narbonne High School, would have attended.

I must be fair to everyone and acknowledge that there is land that L.A.U.S.D. owns, other than the "preferred site" for SRHS 15.

Cooper High School is the little known and not highly attended L.A.U.S.D. high school, located in northwest San Pedro. Next to the high school is a science center that served many many students for decades.

A am loathe to suggest building a 810- seat high school in northwest San Pedro, but having an L.A.U.S.D. elementary school in my neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes, and noting traffic going to Dodson Middle School, also in Rancho Palos Verdes, allows me the leeway to suggest another alternative.

What about moving Cooper High School, which has a very low attendance, and the science center to the Angel's Gate property, that already has some L.A.U.S.D. instruction and campus space already operating?

What could be better than moving the science center to a site overlooking the natural beauty of the Pacific Ocean, almost within walking distance of the White Point Nature Preserve? Of course having a marine wildlife rescue facility near a science center seem a bit too logical for L.A.U.S.D., some of us feel.

I know the Port of L.A. owns the land off of 22nd Street where the old tank farm was. It looks to be at least the 6-8 acres needed to build a small high school like the one envisioned at Ponte Vista, since last May.

See, Mr. Czako, you are not an outsider. You have shown all of us that having a wonderful vision of San Pedro is much more positive than having a negative view of where we love to live.

You have also provide some excellent examples of the reuse of the old Metlox site.

Thank you Mike Czako. You are one of the great reasons why San Pedro may still remain San Pedro for generations to come.

Yes Mike, change is the only constant, but looking beyond where politicians and bureaucrats keep their eyes level at, you can see where your ideas, coupled with the ideas from not just me, but so many others can keep the changes on the positive side of our peninsula.

I am sure, Mr. Czako, you have heard so many folks tell you why something can't happen. But you seem to write about what can happen.

When somebody tells us "it can't be done" I hope we all remember this sad, but almost unbelievable incident that "could not have been done" just 50 years ago.

This morning the Space Shuttle landed. On it was an individual who didn't do something for the first time ever. Unfortunately a son could not be with his mother as she passed away because he was in space, on the International Space Station. I feel so sorry for the son, but I bet his mother was so proud of her son being able to be where he was, when he was, that hopefully, gave her more peace.

Thank you again Mr. Czako, you do San Pedro proud.

Will You Get Involved in the Upcoming Fight?

South Region High School #15 (SRHS 15) is proposed initially, to be a 810-seat senior high school located near the intersection of Alma Avenue and 30th Street in San Pedro.

A opposition to having the school built on LAUSD land at the former Fort MacArthur Upper Reservation is in its infancy and is expected to grow, as the weeks, months and years progress.

IF, and let me repeat IF a new high school is actually built in San Pedro, it needs to be either the John and Muriel Olguin Senior High School, or the John Olguin Senior High School, this is the only thing I am extremely certain of.

I will do my best to keep folks informed, via this blog, to upcoming meetings concerning the proposed school.

Are you for it or against it? Does San Pedro really need it? Where else could a new school be built? What about the Charter High School and the two existing High Schools already in San Pedro?

These are just some of the first questions that need answers, debate, and much more discussion.

An Illustration of Locations for SRHS 15

Using my memory of what we viewed at Thursday's meeting for South Region High School #15 (SRHS15), I have tried to illustrate the placement of the facilities for the proposed school.

Initially, the school with have up to 810-seats divided into two academys, with an option to place a third-405-seat academy, all within the blue-outlined area.

Also within the blue area will be the main parking lot, administration building, food services, multi-purpose facility, all classrooms, and plant facilities structures.

The green-outlined area will be comprised of the gym, possibly some additional parking, and the athletic fields, courts, and other athletic-oriented facilities.

The blue and green-outlined areas will be the area where students, faculty, staff, and visitors will have access to and be the area considered to be the campus of the proposed high school.

The red lines indicate the boundaries of the school and on the west side, along Alma Street, is a steep hill.

The yellow-outlined area is also owned by LAUSD. It is an outdoor-experience facility that will someday allow every 5Th grader in LAUSD, the opportunity to attend an overnight campout-type function.

The orange-outlined area is a non-LAUSD facility.

If you look on the left side of the illustration, you will see the only access to the proposed school, now being considered by the Facilities Department and the architects of the proposed school.

Mr. Rod Hamilton, of LAUSD claims that they are looking into the idea of using the roadway, shown as almost white, going from Gaffey Street, south of 30Th Street and through the yellow outdoor experience area, to allow more access to the proposed school. If you have driven by the fenced in road, you can see how steep it is now, and it would need improvements to have it be used as another access to the school.

Towards the top of the illustration, you should be able to plainly see 30Th street. this is where the majority of students may be forced to park if the Alma access is the only access for the proposed school.

Towards the bottom of the illustration, you should be able to view 36Th Street. At this time there are no plans to use the gate on the south side of the proposed campus site that intersects 36Th Street at Parker.

At this time, there are no apparent plans to allow access to the proposed school via the roads within Angel's Gate, except for the Alma access and possibly the Gaffey access by the old swimming pool.

My illustrations have been taken by memory and I hope to have a schematic illustration of the proposed campus' site, soon.

Councilwoman Hahn's Motion for a "Q" Qualified Classification

This post presents a .jpg copy of the motion presented by Councilwoman Janice Hahn and seconded by Councilman Bill Rosendahl, for requesting assistance from the Department of City Planning, and the City Attorney, to place a "Q" Qualified Classification on the three lots, currently zoned C1-1XL, on the site of the former McCowan's Market.

This motion puts into movement, the processes that may reach the result of restricting the three lots, purchased in about June, 2007, by Mr. Mike Rosenthal, on which the former market stood on, to only having one-single-family, detached residential dwelling per lot.

The date this motion was introduced by Ms. Hahn was January 29, 2008, which I feel, demonstrates Ms. Hahn's rapid and serious willingness to help the neighbors in the area of the former market's site.

I also feel that the neighbors living in that neighborhood and the leaders and members of VDONAC are thankful for Ms. Hahn's speedy action. They also should fell proud that they also demonstrated a resolve to act in what they feel is in the best interests of their neighborhood.

The processes established to place the "Q" Qualified Classification on the three-C1-1XL lots still continue to this day and will hopefully result in changing what can be built on the northeast corner of 20Th Street and Walker Avenue, no matter what Mr. Rosenthal wants to build.

However, I do need to remind folks that Mr. Rosenthal has entered into discussions with leaders of Vista del Oro Neighbors Against Condos (VDONAC), and everyone is talking and trying to find a compromise that will work for everyone and allow Mr. Rosenthal to build whatever he builds without too much delay.

VDONAC has not changed its demand that only a total of six-single-family, detached houses be built, one per lot, on the six lots purchased by the current owner(s) in 2007.

Meeting Notes Concerning SRHS 15

South Region High School # 15 (SRHS 15) is being planned to be built as a two-academy senior high school, with a primary enrollment at construction completion of 810-students.

The plan actually envisions a 1,215-seat school site, but a third academy may or may not be needed for the other 405-seats that may or may not be needed.

Tonight's meeting was the second in a series of three meetings to get public comments and ideas about the "schematic" of the school and the site, prior to the formal Notice of Preparation and Scoping, and Initial Study for the new project.

The senior architect from CO Architects showed a PowerPoint presentation of illustration of what the campus might look like.

The preferred location of the new campus in along Alma Street, between about 30Th Street and 36Th Street, on the east side of Alma Street.

The campus would take up the area where Angels Gate Continuation School now stands, as well as areas with other older buildings remain on the site.

About one third of the total campus space would be taken up by the first two of three academys, and associated communal buildings, such as administration, food service, library, and such.

The other two thirds of the campus, basically south of the academic buildings would allow for a soccer field, baseball diamond, basketball courts, a gym with locker rooms, and other recreational activities. What is drastically missing, many people feel, is a swimming pool that LAUSD claims they can't afford.

The athletic fields would also be used for community uses, when school is not in session.

The school will have 2.5 parking spaces for each classroom. Initially there will be 30 classrooms, so that means there will be about 75-on campus parking spaces. Surely not anywhere near the number of spaces required to get any real relief from having off-campus parking.

The primary access to the school would be the one, and only one access along Alma Street, just south of 30Th Street, basically where it currently is now the access to the west side of Angels Gate.

The planners are thinking about using the access road that goes, basically from 31St. Street and Gaffey, up the steep hill and to the campus. I don't hold much hope for that happening.

There was a fairly decent crowd of at least 50 residents of the area and there were SPHS students using the meeting as a study tool for a class they are in.

Most of the comments and questions from the folks who got up to ask questions or provide verbal comments were centered around traffic, parking, noise, other environmental issues, and how they dissapprove of having a school with only Alma as the access point.

Rod Hamilton, the head of the facilities department for this area of LAUSD was invited to an HOA meeting in May. He might not be able to find a way to get out of going, but he sure may try.

The school is slated to open, at this time, in 2012 and have only 810 students. Mr. Hamilton spoke as if the third academy may never be needed or that funds might never be available to build it, even if it is needed at some future point.

The process will continue with a third meeting with the public, possibly in mid-April, followed by the issuance of the Notice of Preparation and Initial Study, which will all lead to the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).

During the processes, the public will have Internet access to public documents and will have time to provide both oral and written comments on the Initial Study and the DEIR.

The Initial Study states what will be studied and the projected importance of any mitigation that might be necessary.

The DEIR is a document that states the outcome of the studies identified by the Notice of Preparation and Initial Study.

Following the comment period of the DEIR, a Final Environmental Impact Report will be issued.

During all of the processes, the public has the right and are encouraged to make comments on anything and everything in the Notice of Preparation, Initial Study, and DEIR.

When the Final EIR is processed, then hearings will begin to determine if there are any more issues to consider.

If LAUSD gets their way, construction may begin as early as 2009. But there are lots and lots of issues that must be settled before any bulldozer knocks down the first structure.

If folks are concerned with the projected high school or any aspect of it placement, access, or facilities provided, they are encouraged to first contact the Homeowners Association for their neighborhood, if they have one.

The second step, or first step, if they don't have an HOA, is to contact LAUSD and/or Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council. The Web address for that group is:
http://www.cspnc.com/index.php. This group is one of the first Neighborhood Councils founded in the City of Los Angeles. One of their missions is to represent residents in the area.

More information about the proposed new school will be coming out, in the future, on this blog.

57 Signalized Intersections and Installation Dates

Before we really begin, below in red, is the area where it appears that 127 signalized intersections will have ATSAC completely installed by (hopefully) February, 2009.

After viewing the map, FIFTY-SEVEN signalized intersections will be posted so that you can see where the work on these first intersections, actually are.

There are, however, some very important intersections not covered by the City of L.A.'s Traffic Department, as far as ATSAC installation goes. Those intersections, important in the Ponte Vista discussions are also posted below.

Here is the list of the FIFTY-SEVEN signalized intersections that will have ATSAC fully installed according to a timeline that will be addressed further down the post.

You will learn that between May, 2008 and February, 2009, these FIFTY-SEVEN intersections, including many on Western Avenue, will get the installation completed. There is no evidence, in the funding listed below, that Mr. Bisno has placed funds in the "Available Developer Fees" section. I believe he has stated that he would put something like "five-million dollars" into the funds available for traffic mitigation.

The information provided from traffic engineers from the City of Los Angeles, are stated below:

1
1st St. at Cabrillo Ave.

2
1st St. at Gaffey St.

3
1st St. at Harbor Blvd.

4
1st St. at Pacific Ave.

5
1st St. at Walker St.

6
1st St. at Western Ave.

7
5th St. at Gaffey St.

8
5th St. at Harbor Blvd.

9
5th St. at Pacific Ave.

10
6th St. at Harbor Blvd.

11
6th St. at Pacific Ave.

12
7th St. at Gaffey St.

13
7th St. at Harbor Blvd.

14
7th St. at Pacific Ave.

15
7th St. at Weymouth Ave.

16
9th St. at Bandini St.

17
9th St. at Cabrillo Ave.

18
9th St. at Gaffey St.

19
9th St. at Pacific Ave.

20
9th St. at Western Ave.

21
9th St. at Weymouth Ave.

22
11th St. at Pacific Ave.

23
13th St. at Bandini St.

24
13th St. at Cabrillo Ave.

25
13th St. at Gaffey St.

26
13th St. at Pacific Ave.

27
15th St. at Pacific Ave.

28
17th St. at Gaffey St.

29
17th St. at Pacific Ave.

30
19th St. at Gaffey St.

31
19th St. at Pacific Ave.

32
19th St. at Western Ave.

33
22nd St. at Gaffey St.

34
22nd St. at Mesa St.

35
22nd St. at Miner St.

36
22nd St. at Pacific Ave.

37
25th St. at Alma St.

38
25th St. at Anchovy Ave.

39
25th St. at Gaffey St.

40
25th St. at Patton Ave.

41
25th St. at Walker St.

42
25th St. at Western Ave.

43
36th St. at Pacific Ave.

44
Byner Dr. at Western Ave.

45
Capitol Dr. at Gaffey St.

46
Chanel St. at Gaffey St.

47
Crestwood St. at Western Ave.

48
Gaffey St. at N/B Harbor Fwy On-Ramp

49
Gaffey St. at Summerland Ave.

50
Gaffey St. at Westmont Dr.

51
Harbor Blvd. at Harbor Fwy On/Off Ramps

52
Ofarrel St. at Pacific Ave.

53
Park Western Dr. at Western Ave.

54
Summerland Ave. at Western Ave.

55
Trudie Dr./Capitol Dr. at Western Ave.

56
Western Ave at Westmont Dr.

57
Weymouth Ave. at Western Ave

Now it is sadly true that the following signalized intersections are not listed, because these intersections fall completely within the City of Rancho Palos Verdes or Lomita, and would be installed by Caltrans and not the City of L.A.

Western Avenue at Avenida Aprenda
Western Avenue at S. John Montgomery/Green Hills Drive
Western Avenue at Caddington
Western Avenue at Toscanini
Western Avenue at Palos Verdes Drive North

Anaheim/Gaffey/Normandie/Palos Verdes Drive North....Five Points.

I don't have any documentation yet, on the status of Caltran's work on these intersections.

It is also demonstrated by ommission that the following freeway ramps are also not mentioned on the document.

Anaheim at Harbor Freeway

Pacific Coast Highway at Harbor Freeway.

Now, here is how the funds are found and dispersed:

Total Project Cost: $8,015,600.00

Funding:

$3,825,000 "MTA Share by Agreement"

$185,000 "Available Developer Fees." (These fees are already in the coffers)

$4,005,600 "Proposition C Funds Required in FY 2007-08 and Beyond Budtets"?

I will try, in the next few days, to get the SEVENTY other signalized intersections posted and try and get more information concerning the intersections near the Ponte Vista at San Pedro site that are not listed on either of the lists.

A Video Worth Watching

Were you a regular shopper of the McCowan's Market that was on 20Th Street and Walker Avenue? Were you an occasional shopper, like we were, at that beloved market?

It shouldn't matter how often you shopped there, I feel. The market had a character and a staff that was unique and special to all those who shopped there.

A vido has bee produced concerning the loss of that market. You can view it at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDGy7ZfdOzk.

You will see sites around San Pedro and you will also see views of the interior and exterior of the market. You will also see some of the many employees who worked at the store.

It is a touching video, produced by someone who loved the market and is sad that it is gone.

The video is titled: "R.I.P. McCowan's Market" and it should be viewed by members of OUR community.