News of the Arroyo
Title: | Finalists picked for Army site |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2006-12-07 |
Summary: | December 7, 2006 - Four semifinalists made the cut at the Planning Commission for the Desiderio Army Reserve site beneath the Colorado Street Bridge. The Arroyo Center for Art and the Environment was the one which has generated the most enthusiasm. |
Author: | Molly R. Okeon, Staff Writer |
Publication: | Pasadena Star-News |
Content: | PASADENA - The Planning Commission narrowed the 11 proposals to replace the Desiderio Army Reserve Center down to four semifinalists Wednesday night. The winners were the Arroyo Seco Foundation and California Art Club\'s Arroyo Center for Art and Environment, Habitat for Humanity\'s affordable housing and open space project, the city of Pasadena\'s multipurpose police and fire facility and Moule & Polyzoides\' housing and art space proposal. The city is under a tight deadline driven by the federal government to replace the 5.1-acre lot in the Arroyo Seco area, now occupied by the Army. The Army will move to a new site in the city of Bell some time before the base\'s closure in 2011. The Desiderio Army Reserve Center, which consists of a two-story classroom building and garage at 665 Westminster Drive, was included in the final recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission approved by Congress last November. The commission must submit one proposal to the City Council by January, which will make a final decision on a replacement by April. It appears from the commission\'s 7-2 vote in favor of the four projects chosen - District7 Commissioner Terry Tornek and Vice -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advertisement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chair J. Guadalupe Flores were in opposition to the motion - the site will most likely include open space, affordable housing and some type of art education facility. About 60 residents attended the meeting Wednesday, many of whom spoke passionately during a two-hour public comment period. The majority of the speakers expressed concern about keeping open space in the Arroyo Seco, providing transitional or affordable housing, supporting art in the community and protecting the environment. \"The Arroyo Seco is the most seminal area of Pasadena where the first watersheds were found,\" said Michele Zack, author of the prize-winning book, \"Altadena: Between Wilderness and City.\" \"The Arroyo Center for Art and Environment seems the most publicly spirited. It deals with environmental education. It\'s very important that all of us understand the importance of water conservation.\" Larry Young, who lives near the Desiderio site, said he gathered almost 50 signatures of neighbors in favor of both the art center and Moule & Polyzoides\' proposed housing and art space project. \"Our biggest concerns are change in the nature of the neighborhood, traffic and the safety of our children,\" he told the commissioners. \"We would love to have a place down the street, a place where we can take our children to play.\" District 3 Commissioner Diana L. Peterson-More said she wanted to ensure that organizations whose proposals didn\'t make the cut - she specifically mentioned Union Station Foundation\'s transitional housing project - could still collaborate with those groups that won. Brad Fuller, Pasadena\'s assistant city attorney, said that collaboration with those not chosen was, indeed, a possibility. molly.okeon@sgvn.com (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4496 |
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