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“Woman Lying” oil on canvas by Diana Barnes
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SERVING BIXBY KNOLLS, CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS, LOS CERRITOS, WRIGLEY AND THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
Vol. 35 No. 31
January 3, 2014
Signal Hill’s community garden moving ahead after ‘streamlined’ design finalized
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
Sean Belk Staff Writer
Sean Belk/Signal Tribune
A building once occupied by Orchard Supply Hardware sits empty after the business closed its doors last summer. For years, the store has been a major retail anchor for the Bixby Knolls Shopping Center on Atlantic Avenue just north of San Antonio Drive, however the property owner is now working with city staff on a plan to redevelop the center and bring in new tenants.
City officials working with property owner to revitalize Bixby Knolls Shopping Center Sean Belk Staff Writer
Following the closure of longtime tenant Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) at the Bixby Knolls Shopping Center last summer, city officials say they are now working closely with the property owner to assist in attracting new businesses and redeveloping the center located off of Atlantic Avenue, just north of San Antonio Drive. Glendale-based GASKA Inc. is planning a $1-million façade improvement to the shopping center this year after OSH closed its doors during a company restructuring that was announced in June. The closure has added to the center’s vacancies, which also include an empty storefront between OSH and Marshalls department store, and smaller spaces that have been vacant for nearly a decade. The hope is that the improvements will help draw the “right” retail establishments, said 8th District Long Beach Councilmember Al Austin, who lives within walking distance of the shopping center. “The right retail establishment could transform this entire shopping center and make it more appealing for other tenants to come in here and really make it competitive,” he said. “OSH was a big loss for us, but I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to find some new tenants here in working with the GASKA owners, because they’re motivated as well.” Half of the façade-improvement project is being funded by a $500,000 matching grant the property owner received from the City’s former redevelopment agency (RDA) in a 50/50 partnership with the City, according to Seyed Jalali, project officer for the Long Beach Development Services Department. He said the City has been working with the property owner for more than 10 years to attract new “quality tenants,” and provide financial assistance to enhance the aesthetics of the center as part of a larger strategic plan to revitalize the north Long Beach community, including the Bixby Knolls neighborhood. GASKA entered into a financial agreement with the City’s former RDA in 2008 to receive a $3.7-million loan, amortized over 25 years at a 2-percent interest rate, in redevelopment funds. The loan, Jalali said, was used to accommodate the demolition of the former Robert’s
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Rising from what was once ashes and rubble, a community garden will sprout up in Signal Hill this year on an empty lot that became vacant after a house sustained severe fire damage. Now covered in weeds, the empty space is wedged in between homes at 1917 E. 21st St., separated from Signal Hill Park by a brick wall. Remnants of the dwelling were demolished after the City acquired the property in late 2011. Both nearby homeowners and city officials agreed that the best “interim use” for the space would be a community garden because of its close proximity to homes though the long-term goal for the area is to expand the park as part of the City’s Parks Master Plan. The conceptual design of the garden has gone through a few changes after the Parks and Recreation Commission conducted a workshop with gardeners earlier this year and city staff reviewed community gardens in the local area. Staff had first proposed adding a gathering space, a trellis, extra trees and landscaping for an additional $13,000, but that plan was nixed this month when the Signal Hill City Council voted unanimously at its Dec. 17 meeting to go with a “streamlined” version of the design. The Council authorized staff to start soliciting construction bids for the project that is now budgeted at $160,600. The new design will enable green thumbs and beginning gardeners to grow plants, fruits and vegetables in the garden that will include a total of 26 plots, but city officials agreed that the “optional features,” such as the community gathering space, were unnecessary. Steve Myrter, the City’s director of public works, told the Council that a community-gathering place would cost $10,000 alone and would encroach on a portion of the park, something that Signal Hill Mayor Michael Noll appeared to be strongly against. “I have a problem when you’re encroaching on our park,” Noll said. “Like, 30 feet deep and 50 feet
Courtesy City of SH
The Signal Hill City Council has approved a new “streamlined” conceptual design (pictured in the rendering above) for the proposed community garden on 21st Street that will include features that provide access to persons with disabilities. see GARDEN page 13
Calif. board pushes for changing eligibility requirements for victim-compensation fund
Those involved in prostitution may soon be eligible for state assistance
CJ Dablo Staff Writer
Addressing concerns that prostitutes may be particularly vulnerable to violent crimes, especially sexual assault and rape, a California board in charge of a victim-compensation fund has determined that these sex workers should be eligible for state assistance. The board announced last month that it has asked for a change in regulations that prohibit individu-
als involved in prostitution from receiving state assistance even if they are victims of a violent crime. It will take a few months to change the rules governing compensation for victims of a violent crime. Jon Myers, a spokesperson for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board, said in an interview Tuesday that the board unanimously approved the initial request to make the necessary modifications, and now the staff will
return with their recommendations for the regulation change. The public will have a chance to comment on the recommendations before the board approves the rule modifications. Thereafter, the board’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Office of Administrative Law. According to a press release from the board, eligibility requirements currently prohibit an applicant’s “involvement in the events leading see ASSISTANCE page 10