The Revitalization of Paramount by City of Paramount

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CityofParamount (562)220-2027 16400ColoradoAvenue Paramount,California90723 www.paramountcity.com

TheRevitalizationofParamount

ANewDowntown

Hynes-Clearwaterwasafive-square-mile chunkofSoutheastLosAngelesCountythat, atitspeak,wasoneofthenation’slargestdairy producersandtheworld’sbiggestreceiving pointofhay.Hometomorethan25,000 cows,thecommunitydid$1millionworthof businessamonth–$150,000fromcream alone.

Thebusinessdistrictofthisagriculturalcenter wasfoundalongParamountBoulevard,the streetthatlaterprovidedanameforthe incorporatedcityHynes-Clearwaterbecamein 1957.Asthedairiesthrived,sodidthebanks, grocerystores,pharmaciesandrestaurants downtown.

Butthe1960sand‘70sbecameatimeoftransitionformanytownsinLosAngelesCounty. InParamount,thetransformationpresenteda numberofproblems.Thedairiesweremoving outtoruralareas,takinglargeportionsofthe localworkforce(andlocalconsumers)with them.Meanwhile,nearbycitieswerebuilding suburbanhousingdevelopmentsandregional shoppingmalls.Thesmallmerchantsof ParamountBoulevardsufferedfromthecompetitionbadly;manyclosedorleft.

Inaddition,manyoftheusesreplacingthe dairylots,suchasautowreckageyardsand construction-relatedenterpriseswereproneto blight.Thecombination-relatedenterprises

werepronetoblight.Thecombinationof merchantflightandindustrialsprawlcreateda cityonthevergeof–andinsomecasesover theedgeof–urbandecay.

Cityleadersknewthatactionwasrequiredto keepParamountfromfallingbeyondrepair.A redevelopmentAgencywasformedin1973to createfinancingoptionsfortherevitalization ofneglectedsectionsoftownlikethedowntowndistrict.

Whenfocusingondowntown,theCityfaceda dauntingdecision:Doyourefurbishwhat’s thereorstartoverfromscratch.Inthiscase,

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Betweenthepost-waryearsandthe1960s, Paramountwasathrivingtownthatevolved fromamajoragriculturalcentertoasuburb withanindustrial,commercialandresidential base.

But,aswithmanyLosAngeles-area“rust belt”cities,bythe1980sblight,flightand othersocialillshadravagedParamount, leavingadeteriorateddowntowncorridorand causingthefederalgovernmenttodeclarethe Citya“disastersuburb.”

TheCitymovedforwardwithinnovative planning,hardworkandredevelopment efforts,andbythe1990s,Paramount’sdowntown(asseentoday)hadcometoreflectthe transformationthatwastakingplaceacrossthe entirecommunity.

BEFORE

NORTHWEST CORNEROF PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD AND JACKSON STREET

SOUTHWEST CORNEROF PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD AND JACKSON STREET

BEFORE

NORTHEAST CORNEROF PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD AND JACKSON STREET

PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD NORTHOF JACKSON STREET

BEFORE

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theexistingbuildingstockwasunattractiveandrundown.Also,atthetime,popularretailersusuallywere lookingfornewconstruction.Sowithonemighty swoop,theolddistrictofthreecityblockswastorn down.Continuingitssensitivitytomerchantsand propertyowners,theCityprovedverygenerouswhen buyingpropertiesorrelocatingbusinesses.Allaffected partieswereeitherwillingsellersoroptedtostayand participateinthenewdevelopmentoftheCity.

Bythemid-1980s,TownCentersEastandWesthad opened,anddowntownParamountwasonitswayagain tobecomingavibrantbusinessdistrictservinglocal residentsandworkers.Anditspositiveinfluencehas spilledovertomanyotherpartsoftheCity,with tangibleresults:the1990ssawretailsalessoarby49%. Duringthatsameperiod,thesalesincreaseforallofLos AngelesCountywasonly24%.

TheParamountPond

TheParamountPondwasacreativesolutiontotwothorny problemsintheCity’sdowntown–thelackofatrue publicplazaandtheexistenceofavacantlotthatresisted yearsofdevelopmentefforts.Bymakingthefirstmove andcreatinga“there”there,theCitynotonlyprovideda unique,relaxingandartisticspaceforthecommunity, butalsoattractedthreenew,successfulrestaurants,which subsequentlyhavemadethePondanevenmorepopular placeforthecommunity.

ThePondislocatedoneblockfromtheiceskatingrinkbuilt byFrankZamboniin1940,wherehelaterinventedthe worldfamousZamboniIceResurfacingMachine.ThePond hasbecomeanintegralpartofthedowntownandtheCity –acelebrationofParamount’srichiceskatinghistorythat willserveasanassetlongintothefuture.

CivicCenterGardens

Paramount’s“civiccenter”wasapatchworkthathaddeveloped overanumberofyears.CityHallwasbuiltin1963,thecounty libraryin’68andthecommunityhospitalthreeyearslater.These threeentitiesprettymuchstoodindependentlyofeachother,had noconnectivetissue,saveforalarge,unattractiveparkinglot.

Allthischangedin2004whentheCivicCenterwas“unified.”Itis nowabeautifulbotanicalgardenspreadoveranacrewithasystem ofwalkingpathsthattraverseanintricatedesignofnative Californiandrought-resistantplants,flowersandshrubs.Avisitorto CityHall,enteringonthenewCivicCenterDrive,passesanelegant rowofCanaryIslanddatepalmsandisbroughttoadramatic

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fountaincascadingintoapondfullof koiandbloominglilies.Spreadthroughoutthecolonnadeoftheplazaitself–whichislinedwithMexicanfanpalms, crapemyrtlesandtiputrees–aregroups ofbenches,andthevisitor,choosingto strollorsitandrelax,isserenadedby recordingsfeaturingasoothingmusical style.Asecondfountain,withdancing waterschoreographedbycomputer, bookendstheplaza.

Now,theheartofthecitysymbolizes thecreativeenergythatdefinesthe characterofParamount.It’salsoan attractiveassetusedandenjoyedby residentseveryday.

“HayTree”Named StateHistoricalLandmark

TheentireblockthatcontainstheCivicCenterandhospital playedanimportantroleintheCity’shistoryasadairyand hayleader.BackinthedayswhenParamountwasknownas Hynes-Clearwater,hugetrucksloadedwithhaydroveinto towneverymorning,anddairyfarmersfromfarandwide wouldcometobuythefeedfortheirherds.Thisareawas thelargestreceivingpointforhayinthecountry.

Oneofthebiggesthaydealersinthestate,Western ConsumersFeedCompany,haditsheadquartersinabrick buildingthatstillstandsadjacenttotheCivicCenter.Next toWesternConsumerswasa50-foot-high,120-year-old camphortreethat’sbeencalledthe“HayTree”foraslongas anyonecanremember.Eachdaythehaydealersintown wouldgatherunderitsbranchesandsetthecommodity’s price,whichwasthensenttothemarketsinNewYork,and consequentlyquotedallaroundtheworld.

Asanimportantvestigeoftheregion’spast,theParamount HayTreewasrecognizedbyCaliforniaasStateHistorical LandmarkNo.1038.Thesiteisgracedbymetalcowcutouts andstacksofhaytoaffectionatelyrecallthescene,andis plantedwithrowsofwheat-likeflax.

BlightTakesaHike

STREET &SIDEWALKS

POCKET PARKS

ALITTLE BIT COUNTRY

UTILITY &RAILROAD CORRIDORS

Citieswithlargeindustrialsectorssometimes allowthemselvestobecomedefinedbythis aspectoftheircomposition.Toooften,the imagethatdevelopsisoneofneglect,asthe streetsandpublicspacesbegintomirrorthe harsherelementsofheavyindustry.

Findingitselfonjustsuchapath,Paramount actedtohalttheslide,believingthateven anurbanmanufacturingcentercouldcontain thefinerelementsofasuburbanplanned community.Bymakingaconsciousdecisionto improvetheCity’sappearance,cityofficials hopedtoraisethebarandspursimilaractions elsewhere.Byredevelopingitsownpublic

facilitiesandspacesfirst,theCitywasprovidinganexampleforprivatedevelopersto follow.

Overtime,avarietyofcarefullydevised programswereputintoplacetore-shape thetown’slook.Frominstalling15acresof landscapedtrafficmediansthroughouttheCity to“hiding”unsightlypropertieswithdecorativewalls,theseinnovativeplanningideas weregroupedasanaward-winningprogram called“ParamountImpressions.”Thecomponentsofthe“ParamountImpressions”program arehighlightedonthefollowingpages.

EverymajorboulevardintheCityhasbeenenlivenedwithlandscapedtraffic medians,oneofthedesigntoolsthathavetransformedParamount’sappearance.

Over$2.5millionofprivateandpublicimprovementsaccompaniedthe constructionoftheHome Depot,inspiringthecreationofanewbusiness corridor.

PocketParks

Therearefewsights–orsites–asdishearteningtolookuponasthetrashstrewnsymbolofeconomicstagnation, thevacantlot.Butwhatsomeviewasa pariah,Paramountseizedasanopportunity.Inanimaginativeapproach,theCity entersintono-costleasingagreements withthepropertyownerstolandscape thelotsforuseassmallparks,accepting liabilitywhilethelandisinthepublic domain.Theownerretainstherightto sellandisrelievedofon-goingmaintenanceheadaches.

ALittleBitCountry

Onvacantlotswherethemini-park conceptisinappropriate,theCityinstalls polyurethane,Kentucky-stylefences, whichlendthelotsarural,country meadowfeel.Then,inasaluteto Paramount’sdaysasthehayanddairy capitalofAmerica(usingatouch inspiredbyChicago’spopular“Cowson Parade”),thelotsareaccentedwith life-sizecutoutsoffarmanimals,creatingplayfulurbanspacesalongcity thoroughfares.

Utility&RailroadCorridors

Utilityandrailroadcorridorscrisscrossingacitypresentaspecialopportunity forblightedconditionstofester.These openscarsofdirtandweedsoften receiveonlysporadicmaintenanceand arefencedofffromthestreetwithchain link.InParamount,thatwasn’tacceptable.WorkingwithSouthernCalifornia Edison,theL.A.DepartmentofWater andPower,andtherailroads,theCity secured15-footsetbacksattheserightsof-way,builtberms,decorativefencing andhardscape,andlandscapedwith flowersandshrubstohidetheblight.

17UTILITY/RAILROAD SETBACK IMPROVEMENTS

6EDISON

4RAILROAD

7L.A.DEPT. OF WATER &POWER

SmartInvestments

DESIGN GUIDELINES

Inmanycitieswithlarge,agingindustrial sectors,timehasledtoaslow,almostimperceptibledeterioration.Thiskindofdeclineis notrare,butgreateffortsmustbetakento avoidit.Sadly,inmanycases,notenoughis done.Buildingsfallintodisrepair.Windows remainbrokenandfreshcoatsofpaintnever getapplied.Often,crimeratesarehigherin theseareasbecausetheenvironmentalmost encouragesanti-socialbehavior.

Beforeyouknowit,the“bunkermentality” hassetin,whichtaintsevennewconstruction. Developerseschewsuchtouchesaslandscap-

ing,sinceittakesuplotcoverageandrequires maintenance,and“nobodycaresabouttrees andgrasshereanyway.”Windows–tokeep frombeingbroken–areeliminated.Architectural flourishesarefrowneduponasgraffitimagnets.

Thetypeofdownwardspiralhadbegunin Paramount.Butwiththesameresolveitdisplayedimprovingpublicspaces,theCity focusedonthreeareastorevitalizeitsbusiness sector:designguidelines,commercialrehabilitation,andcodeenforcement.

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SMARTINVESTMENTS

TheBianchiTheatreselevenscreenmultiplexwasaleadingplayerinParamount’seconomicrejuvenation.UsingtheCity’sarchitectural designguidelines,thedevelopmentincorporatedsuchtouchesasfountains,decorativewallsandlandscapingalongtheadjacentboulevard.

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DESIGN GUIDELINES

Specificarchitecturaldesignguidelines weredevelopedthataimfortheupscale lookof“higherend”communities. These,alongwithaDesignReview Boardthatenforcestheguidelinesduringtheplanningstage,counterperceptionsthatan“oldrustbelttown”will acceptjustaboutanything.InParamount, substandardprojectsdon’tgetbuilt.

Walmart,forinstance,openeditsfirst SoutheastLosAngelesCountystorein Paramount.Thecompanyleftbehind itsstandardutilitarianbuildingdesign andfollowedtheCity’sdesignguidelines,thustyingthebusinessintothe “Paramountlook.”

Themostrecentdevelopmentintown, TheHomeDepot,openedinFebruary 2002.Thesite–anotherCitygateway–

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Workingcloselywithdevelopers,theCitylaysoutaclearsetofdesignguidelinesthatincludefeatureslike largesetbacks,generouslandscaping,publicartdisplaysandarchitecturalflourishes.Theseresultinprojects liketheoneshownabove,whichisprimarilywarehousingspacebuilttoresembleaqualityofficebuilding.

TheCityencouragesunique,attractivearchitecturefornewdevelopments,aswiththeJackintheBoxandElPollo LocothatopenedrecentlyalongareinvigoratedAlondraBoulevardonthewestendoftownnearTheHomeDepot.

ElCompaRestaurant

COMMERCIAL REHABILITATION

PROJECTS SINCE 1985:260

PUBLIC INVESTMENT:$7 MILLION

PRIVATE INVESTMENT:$2.5 MILLION

Big BenCarWash

A-1Storage

CastilloOfficeBuilding

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Inadditiontostandardurbaninfillprojects,tearingdownoldhomestobuildnew ones,theCityhastakenadvantageofindustrialsitesthathaveeithercloseddownor moved.WiththeCity’shelp,forinstance, oldpetroleumbusinesseswerereplacedby anattractivecondominiumcomplex.Across thestreet,whathadbeenadesolatepipe yardisnowatractofsingle-familyhomes builtbyKaufmanandBroad,oneofthe country’slargestresidentialdevelopers.And soithasbeenwithmanysimilarparcels throughoutParamount.Architecturaldesign guidelinesforthesenewprojectshelp ensurestylisticcompatibility.

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RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION PROJECTS SINCE 1990:346

PUBLIC INVESTMENT:$3.85 MILLION

PRIVATE INVESTMENT:$1.23 MILLION

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RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION

Forexistinghomes,theCityhasprogramsavailabletoimproveproperties andincreasevalues.TheResidential RehabilitationProgramgivesqualifying homeownersgrantstomakeanynumber ofstructuralandcosmeticimprovements. Aseparateprogramoffersre-batesfor roofreplacements.Since1996,roof rebatesworthnearly$50,000havebeen providedtohomeownersthroughout town.

WHITE PICKET FENCES

Arathernovelapproachtostopping urbanblightinresidentialneighborhoods –specificallyintheformof chainlink–isParamount’sWhitePicket FenceProgram.Again,theCitycontributesamajorportionofthepurchase andinstallationcosttoreplacefrontyard chainlinkfences.Thenew,sturdy polyurethanefencesarerustandgraffiti resistant,don’tneedpainting,andserve notonlytoimproveneighborhood appearanceandpropertyvalues,but communitypride,aswell.

ArtAroundTown

3L.A.RIVER MURALS

11FOUNTAINS

29SCULPTURES

TotopoffParamount’seffortsattransforming itsphysicalenvironmentandenhancingthe standardoflivingforresidents,theCityhas putaspecialemphasisonestablishinga publicartprogram.Thishastakenmany forms,fromthelife-likebronzesculpturesat theParamountPondtotheconstructionof aseriesoffountainsonstreetcornersand entrypointsthroughouttown.Twenty-six

sculpturesgraceParamount,andalongtheLos AngelesRiverthreeplayfulmuralsofaquatic creaturesfroliconthelevee,biddingwelcome tomotoristsenteringtown.

Withitscalminginfluenceandliberatingeffect onthehumansoul,artisnotjustanembellishmenttotheCity’slandscape;itbecomesa fundamentalcomponentoftheenvironment.

L.A.RiverMurals

Aspartofanongoingefforttobeautify theCity’sentrypoints,Paramounthas paintedthreelargemuralsontheleveeof theLosAngelsRiver.ApodofwhalesfrolicwhereeastboundAlondraBoulevard enterstheCity.Aschoolofsharks,witha groupoforangeGaribaldi,traverse theeasternembankmentfor300feetat SomersetBoulevard.AndatRosecrans Avenueagroupofseaturtleshasjoined theparade.

Thisprojectisalsoanexampleofthe cooperativespiritbetweenParamountand otheragenciesongatewayimprovements. TheCityworkedwiththeLosAngels CountyPublicWorksDepartmentandthe U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineerstomake thesemuralshappen.

Fountains

SUSTENANCE

StylishSculptures

SOLARSAILS

PASSAGE

CRACKTHEWHIP

StreetsandSidewalks

BlueprintforTurningaCityAround

Toupgradepublicspaces,suchasstreetsandparks,

Constructingbeautifullylandscapedtrafficmediansonmajor improvethelookofthecommunity,instillresidentpride,boulevardsmakesasignificantandinstantimprovement.Use andalso“raisethebar”fordesignelementsrequiredof decorativeconcreteorpaversatintersections.Planttrees privatedevelopers. whereverpossible.Enhancecityentrypointswithdistinctive signageandotherdecorativetouches.

PocketParks

ALittleBitCountry

UtilityandRailroadCorridors

Totransformblightedvacantlotsintomini-parks.To

Enterintono-costleaseagreementswithlotownerstoutilizethe increaseparkspaceinbuilt-outurbancitiesatverylow lotaspublicspacewhileitisonthemarket.Stressthatownerwill cost.Involvesnoacquisition. berelievedofallmaintenanceheadachesforthelot.Usually requirescitytoassumeliabilityforlotwhileitisinpublicdomain.

Toprovideotheraestheticenhancementstomitigatethe

Removeanychainlinkandinstallpolyurethane,Kentucky-styleor blightedappearanceofvacantlotswherethemini-park picketfencingaroundlot.Lotimmediatelytakesonaruralfeel. conceptdoesn’twork(duetospacelimitations, Artistictouches,suchasanimalstatuesorcutouts,haybales,etc. contaminationissues,etc.).Decorativetouchesarevery canbeusedtomakethelotlooklikeapastureormeadow. inexpensiveandaddcharacterandapurposetothelot.

To“disguise”uglyutilityandrailroadcorridorsonmajor

Workwithappropriateutilitytolease,obtainaneasement,or boulevards.Utilitycompaniesusuallyleasetheir otherwisesecure15-footsetbacksattheserights-of-way.Install easementareastofarmingorstorageusesandhavefew, landscapedberms,decorativefencingandhardscape.Landscape ifany,developmentstandards.Sincetheeasementsare withflowersandshrubstohidetheusesintheutilityeasements. oftentimesverywideswathsofland,theseunsightlyuses canhaveamajornegativeimpactontheadjoining streetscape.

DesignGuidelines

CommercialRehabilitation

Toestablishstrict,specificarchitecturaldesignguidelinesAconsultantishelpfulhere.Withcommunityinput,ifnecessary, thataimfortheupscalelookofhigher-endcommunities.developdesignguidelinesfornewcommercial,andifdesired, Toensurehighqualitynewdevelopment.Towork residentialdevelopment.Guidelinesshouldbeflexibleandallow againstthetendencyofdeveloperstooffertheleast forchangesandnewideas.Themaingoalisjusttoensurethat expensiveandmostuninspireddesignsbasedonlow enhancedarchitecturalelementsbecomeapartofthedesign expectationsfromthecommunity. requirements.Forexample,dimensionalroofmaterial,orwindow bandingandotherpopoutstoprovideinteresttoanotherwiseflat façade.

Toremodelandrevitalizeexistingcommercialand

ARedevelopmentAgencyishelpfulhere.Createarebateorloan industrialpropertiesonmajorboulevards.Toprovide programtoofferincentivestoolderbusinessesalongmajor designconsistencyandkeepmajorcitycorridorslooking corridorstoremodel.Useanarchitecttodrawarenderingordoa clean,attractiveandup-to-date. photoenhancementshowingthepropertyownerwhatthefinished productcouldlooklike.Makepersonalvisitstobusinessestopitch theprogram.AdvertisethroughtheChamberofCommerce.

CodeEnforcement

BlueprintforTurningaCityAround

Tocreateanexpectationinthecommunitythata

HireCodeEnforcementOfficerstoenforcepropertymaintenance minimumlevelofpropertymaintenanceisrequiredand codes.Officersshouldbewellinformedofothercityprogramsthat expected.Topreventaslowslideintoblightordecay. mightbeabletohelphomeownerorbusinessownerwith Tomaintaintheappearanceofthecity. maintenanceissues.AstrongcommitmentbytheCityCounciland buy-infromthecommunity,aswellasflexible,matureCode EnforcementOfficerswhocanexercisediscretioninthefield,are necessaryforasuccessfulcodeenforcementprogram.

ResidentialRehabilitation; Toremodelolderhomesthatareaneyesoreinthe

Offerloansorgrantstohomeownerstofixupdilapidatedhouses.

RoofRebates neighborhood.Toassistlow-incomeresidentswith Focusimprovementson“curbappeal”itemssuchaspaint,stucco, propertyimprovements.Toprovideanincentivefor roofs,landscaping.Fundingsourcesmaydictatethisprogramcan homeownerstousehighquality,dimensionalroofing onlybeofferedtolow-to-moderateincomeresidents.Grant materialsinsteadofflat,20-year.asphaltshingle. programstendtobemoresuccessfulthanloanprograms,and,in theend,lessworkforthecity.Offerrebatestohomeownerswho arereroofing,conditionedupontheirusing30or40year dimensionalroofingmaterial,ortile.

WhitePicketFences

PublicArtProgram

DowntownPlaza

Toreplacechain-linkfencesinresidentialfrontyardswithProvideaneconomicincentive,suchasagrant,tohomeownersto sturdy,attractivewhitepicketfences.Toimprovethelookremovefrontyardchainlinkfencingandreplaceitwithan ofresidentialneighborhoodsatverylittlecost. attractivewhitepolyurethanepicketfence.Thisprogramworks bestwhenthecitytargetsanentireneighborhoodandhasfences installedonthemajorityofhomesonastreet.Instantlychanges thelookoftheentireneighborhood.Tendstosoftenthelookand distracttheeyeawayfromless-than-manicuredhomes.

Toenhancethelookofthecity.Tosoften“concrete

Ifpossible,establishanartfeeformajordevelopments.These jungle”lookofbuilt-outcity.Togiveresidentssomethingfeesarefoundinmanycities.Usethefundstopurchaseart pleasanttoviewandenjoy.Tocreateasenseofculture piecessuchassculpturesorfountains,andplaceinstrategic inthecommunity. locationsthroughoutcommunity.Dependingonthecommunity,art programscanbeeasyorhard.Ouradviceistokeeptheselection processassimpleaspossible.You’llsoonlearnthateveryoneis anartcritic.

Toprovideapublicspace“anchor”tothedowntownandRequiresaconsciousdecisiontoforegosomepotentialretail createauniqueenvironmentinthedowntownareato spaceinexchangeforadevelopmentthatwillcreatea“paseo” helpattractkeytenants. typeatmosphere,drawingpeopleintothedowntownwhomaynot otherwisecome.Hopefully,theywillshop.

“Thereismuchthislittlecitycanteachits neighborsaboutpersonalresponsibility, respectforothers,optimism,enthusiasm,risktaking,trustandgenerosityofspirit.”

LongBeachPress-Telegram, “LessonsfromaLittleCity,” March31,1997

“Inthisoncerundownandgang-riddenoutpostsouthofLosAngeles,thenewwhite picketfencesborderingfrontyardsonstreet afterstreetarejustonesignofacitywide makeoverthatisaspervasiveastheplummetingcrimerate.”

NewYorkTimes, “ACityClimbsOutoftheDoldrums,” March26,2002

“Thecityhasgonefromdangeranddecayto flowerbedsandStarbucks.”

KCETChannel28,“LifeandTimes,” April8,2002

“Justasimpressiveasthenewsaccounts,and insomewaysmoreso,wasabookletput togetherbythecitydescribingimprovements ...Youhavetoseethemtoappreciatethe changesinParamount,eitherbypayingavisit orbrowsingthroughphotosof‘before’and ‘after.’”

LongBeachPress-Telegram, “PackagefromParamount:ASuccessStory WorthRetelling,”May6,2002

TheReviewsAreIn

“TheLosAngelesRiver’sconcrete-linedchannelscansummonbleakimages...Butthe southeastLosAngelescityofParamountis offeringadifferentperspectivewitharainbow ofthreemuralspaintedontheriver’slevees...” LosAngelesTimesMagazine,“RiverofDreams: TheCityofParamountHasaVisionThing,” October27,2002

“Today,Paramountisknownforpocketparks andpicketfences...nolongeramodelof suburbanblight...”

LosAngelesTimes,Editorial, April26,2004

“TaketheParamountBoulevardexitnorth fromthe91Freewayoneofthesedaysand you’llseewhatwemean.Atfirsttheboulevardisdingyandsorry-looking,butwhenyou crosstheborderintothecityofParamount you’llbestruckbythedifference:trees,landscaping,nicelookingbuildings,anewlyreconstructedciviccenter,whitepicketfencesinthe residentialareas,pocketparks,andsome whimsicalcardboardcowsproppedupona vacantlot.”

LongBeachPress-Telegram, “ACitywithAttitude;Paramount,Success ComesfromaNon-simplisticApproach,” October19,2003