2008: LA River, 5 Freeway

Photo: Atwater Village Newbie, 2008. Hyperion Bridge crosses the LA River at Glendale Blvd. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Compare with yesterday's 1953 Clarence Inman photo. In the above photo, the big vacant lot in the foreground is the former site of Monte Sano Hospital. The bridge footings (the piers extending into the river, south of the Hyperion Bridge) for the Red Car Trolley are still in place in the river.

Since the early 1990's, the Army Corps of Engineers allowed the trees to grow in the the river as a restoration of riparian habitat in our section of the LA River, also known as the Glendale Narrows.

Also worth comparing with the 1953 photo, is the 5 Freeway corridor between the river and Griffith Park.

Related Links:
Clarence Inman Photo Collection
Atwater Village Newbie's aerial LA River photos
Atwater Village Newbie's Red Car Project
Atwater Village Newbie

1953: LA River, 5 Freeway Corridor

Photo: Clarence Inman Collection, 1953. The 5 Freeway now runs along the west side of the LA River (this side of the river). (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The Red Car Trolleys crossed the LA River on their own dedicated bridge (just to the right of the Hyperion Bridge in the photo above). The tracks continued south to Downtown along private rights-of-way on the slope above Riverside Drive on lots we we now call the Menlo Property (between Glendale Blvd and Fletcher), across the Fletcher Viaduct and further south on the Red Car Property to the 2 Freeway Corridor.

2009: Former Monte Sano Red Car Stop

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 18, 2009. A 157 unit apartment building sits on the former Monte Sano Red Car Trolley Stop at the corner of Riverside Drive & Glendale Blvd. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

See all Monte Sano related posts.

Monte Sano Stop Circa 1987

Photo: Clarence Inman Collection, around 1987. Monte Sano Red Car Trolley Stop changed little from 1955, when the tracks were pulled up, to 1987. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The former Monte Sano Red Car Trolley Stop was a big open space that neighborhood kids played on prior to a 157 unit apartment building breaking ground in 1987.

Bob Inman grew up in a house adjacent to the Monte Sano Stop. This summer, Bob shared his father Clarence Inman's photos of the neighborhood with us.

This property, known as the Menlo Property, is currently under public comment period (until Dec. 2, 2009) for a zone change and application to build an additional 120 units. In the coming days, we'll review the history of the area since the 1980s, around Monte Sano Stop at Riverside Drive & Glendale Blvd.

1955: Monte Sano Red Car Trolley Stop

Photo: John F. Bromley Collection, May 19, 1955. Glendale-bound Red Car Trolley at the Monte Sano Stop (corner of Riverside Drive and Glendale Blvd.). (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Found on www.railpictures.net.

Click here for more Monte Sano photos and history.

Corralitas Pits of Doom

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 11, 2009. Fresh excavation of the Corralitas Pits of Doom at 2463 & 2467 Corralitas Drive. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

It was over a year ago when a neighbor discovered his missing dog at the bottom of one of Pits of Doom, adjacent to the Corralitas public staircase. This week, work seems to be moving forward.

Corralitas Guard Dog Grew Up

Photo: Diane Edwardson. He's just a bit larger than earlier this year. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

2 Freeway Terminus Redesign: MTA Committee Hearing Wed., Nov. 18, 2009

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 24, 2009, 9:04 AM. Southbound 2 Freeway below Corralitas Drive. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The MTA will request additional funding from the MTA Planning & Programming Committee for continued studies of alternatives for the 2 Freeway Terminus Redesign. They also want to consider the "Hybrid Alternative" as the "locally preferred alternative." It is not.

Wed. November 18, 2009
1PM
MTA 3rd floor Board Room
1 Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Meeting Agenda Item #10

A few weeks ago, MTA slipped a "Hybrid Alternative" into the mix out of the blue. Echo Park Community Action Committee, who has been involved from the beginning of the public process, accuses the MTA of CEQA violations. They also think the "Hybrid Alternative" should be called "Alternative F" as it is a completely new alternative not studied under the EIR.

Los Angeles County Bike Coalition is opposing the "Hybrid Alternative" as it is unsafe for bicyclists who wanted traffic removed from the flyover ramp, as much as the community did. Read more on LA Streetsblog.

This whole process has been confusing and time consuming. Most communities would lose interest. However, the MTA need only look at the history of the 2 Freeway on their own website to remember the Echo Park community stopped the 2 Freeway from continuing through to the 101 in 1962. This community has a long memory and does not give in easily.

Corralitas Public Staircase: Crumbling Infrastructure

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 11, 2009. In a month's time, weeds masked deep cracks in the Corralitas Public Staircase. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 13, 2009. The cracks were much more evident a month ago. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Even at the height of the real estate boom, the City had no money for public staircase repair. Let's hope we don't have a big El Nino year, as the Corralitas Pits of Doom still loom below this section of staircase.

Silver Lake Court: More Than Just Defensive Landscaping

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 11, 2009. Silver Lake Court is the paper street directly adjacent to some Lake View Ave. neighbors' fences on the Red Car Property. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

These Rocks Say, "Don't Drive Here!"

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 11, 2009. Red Car Canyon. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Neighbors are building low rock barriers in an effort to curb some of the off-road vehicle activity in the wooded canyon between Corralitas Drive & Lake View Ave. They've left ample room for pedestrians, bikes and strollers to pass. Neighbors are recycling concrete chunks dumped on the Red Car Property by another neighbor's inconsiderate contractor.

Unfortunately, a Lake View neighbor's gardener seems to think it's necessary to move the rocks once a week so he can drive back into the canyon to pick up debris from the Lake View backyard. Everyone else has to actually carry debris out their sideyards to the street. Continued use of the Red Car Property as a roadway only encourages illicit off-road activity after dark.

Red Car Canyon is the most beautiful part of the property. Let's keep it that way.

Red Car Property: Flat Rat

Photo: Diane Edwardson, April, 10, 2009. Found on Red Car Property between Riverside Place & Lake View Ave. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Yesterday's Flat Snake reminded me of Flat Rat from the archives.

Corralitas Drive: Flat Snake

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 11, 2009. 10" long gopher snake found dead on Corralitas. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 11, 2009. Rest in peace little snake. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Found on Red Car Property

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 11, 2009. Keys found hanging from California Black Walnut Tree just south of India. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Corralitas Drive: Fox Tail Agave

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 10, 2009. Fox Tail Agave (Agave attenuata), a non-native but drought tolerant succulent, is shooting up a stalk soon to be covered in flowers. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Bugs Help ID Velvety Soft Mystery Plant

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 20, 2009. Ants tending aphids on Velvety Soft Mystery Plant near Adelbert on the Red Car Property. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Last month, while shooting photos on the 18-Acre Elysian Park Parcel, I noticed ladybugs tending aphids on what turned out to be a plant with smaller, yet similar flowers as the Velvety Soft Mystery Plant. It turned out the plant on the 18-Acre Parcel was different variety of Milkweed.

On the Red Car Property, bugs were getting high off this plant's flowers in June. This was the first year I'd seen it flower on the Red Car Property.

It's worth noting, the ants in the above photo are a different species than the California Harvester Ants native to the northern end of the Red Car Property.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 20, 2009. Some Milkweed survived the City's brush clearance in June and continues growing near Adelbert. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

A search of CalFlora indicates the Velvety Soft Mystery Plant is Indian or Kotolo Milkweed (Asclepias eriocarpa), a native plant. If you access the additional photos on CalPhotos, several photos show bugs similarly getting high off the flowers, as I witnessed in June.

Los Angeles River: Fletcher Bridge * Hyperion Bridge

Print: Paul Landacre, "Three Kids and a Horse," 1943, features the Hyperion Bridge crossing the LA River.

While you're checking out the new LA River Bike Path under the Hyperion Bridge, take a moment to think about Paul Landacre's landscape of the river. Landacre was a Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract Resident until his death in 1963. His cabin is a historic landmark.

*Correction July 1, 2010: I've been meaning to update this post for quite some time. The original post stated this was the Fletcher Bridge. The Fletcher Bridge does not have the curved arches like the Hyperion Bridge. I apologize for any confusion this caused.

Los Angeles River: New Bike Path Under Fletcher Bridge

Photo: Diane Edwardson, 2002. LA River bike path used to start and stop at the Fletcher Bridge. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

It used to be risky to attempt to walk or ride under the Fletcher Bridge. The steep grade and slick concrete made going under the bridge difficult, if not dangerous. Joe Linton reviews the welcome improvements under the historic Fletcher Bridge on LA Creek Freak.

Corralitas Drive: Raptor Watch

Photo: Shawnda Thomas Faveau, October 31, 2009, 12:59 PM. Red Tail Hawk on Corralitas Drive. (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

Halloween brought an early Trick-or-Treater to Shawnda's house. While watching a football game on TV, Shawnda felt like someone was watching her. She glanced out the window and caught sight of a Red Tail Hawk on the telephone pole right outside. Shawnda quickly grabbed her camera and snapped a few frames. 
It may be the same hawk that's been hanging around the top of Corraltias.


Photo: Shawnda Thomas Faveau, October 31, 2009, 12:58 PM. Red Tail Hawk on Corralitas Drive. The Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract is in the background. 

If you have photos of neighborhood wildlife, please share them with us: redcarproperty@gmail.com.

2 Freeway Terminus Redesign

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 2, 2009, 9:42 AM. Typical southbound traffic on the 2 Freeway as seen from atop Corralitas Drive. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Last night, the MTA hosted a community meeting to say why they couldn't support the community's choice of Alternative D for the 2 Terminus Redesign. For a full recap and link to what had been community's choice: The Eastsider LA.

Corralitas Drive: Raptor Sightings

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 25, 2009, 9:53 AM. Red Tail Hawk in the treetop at 2600 Corralitas Drive.

A smallish Red Tail Hawk has been hanging around the treetops and telephone poles at 2600 Corralitas Drive. A Lake View Ave. neighbor, just on the opposite side of Red Car Canyon, reports a hawk has been hanging around the treetops in his pine trees too.

October 25, 2009, around midday, a neighbor and I witnessed a very large Golden Eagle flying low and slow over the Corralitas end of the Red Car Property. It came from a tree on the slope close to the 2 Freeway; dropped down to about 20' from the ground where the Red Car Property meets Corralitas Drive; then continued soaring slowly toward the trees on the Lake View side of Red Car Canyon. Golden Eagles are more commonly found in Griffith & Elysian Parks. It was an awesome site as it was much larger than the Red Tail Hawks. The head and beak are much larger too. Sadly, neither of us were able to get a photo with our cellphones.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 25, 2009, 9:53 AM. A moment later the hawk took off, exposing its red tail.

Photo: Todd H., week of October 19, 2009. Hawk on telephone wire at 2600 Corralitas Drive at dusk.

Neighbors report seeing a hawk regularly hanging around this part of Corralitas Drive late in the day too. It may be the same hawk in the above photos, as well as one of the hawks seen on Sept 29.

2 Freeway Terminus Redesign: Meeting Tonight

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 9, 2009, 9:24 AM. Back around 1994, CalTrans cut down all the trees between our part of Corralitas Drive and the 2 Freeway. It took 8 years to get some bushes planted. They refused to give us trees. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

2 Freeway Terminus Redesign

Community Open House

Wed., November 4, 2009

6-8 PM

Mayberry Elementary School

Multi Purpose Room

2414 Mayberry St.

Los Angeles, CA 90026

2 Freeway Terminus Redesign: Just Go To The Nov. 4th Meeting

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 2, 2009. 9:54 AM. Eleven homes on Corralitas Drive are less than 50' from the 2 Freeway. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

August 24, 2009, Metro held a "focus group" meeting at Mayberry Elementary School for the 2 Freeway Terminus Redesign. At the meeting, a representative from CalTrans admitted that traffic on the 2 Freeway over the next 20 years would increase 50% under the "No Build Alternative." All the other options presented would increase traffic from 100% to 300%.

I asked for a percentage of traffic increase under each plan at every meeting for the 12 years I've been attending meetings on the 2 Terminus. Because this new information was not readily apparent in the Environmental Review, I can only say to my neighbors, "Go to this meeting and ask a lot of questions."

Don't forget to ask how they will be mitigating for the increase in air pollution that comes with the increase in traffic all the way back to the 5 Freeway.

2 Freeway Terminus Redesign

Community Open House

Wed., November 4, 2009

6-8 PM

Mayberry Elementary School

Multi Purpose Room

2414 Mayberry St.

Los Angeles, CA 90026

Click here for the history of the 2 Freeway corridor in our neighborhood.

2 Frwy Terminus Redesign: Community Meeting, Wed., November 4, 2009

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 1, 2009. Southbound 2 Freeway from the Oak Glen overpass. The "Hybrid Alternative" involves moving the exit from the southbound 2 Frwy to northbound Glendale Blvd, to the opposite side it exits on now. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Despite a 17 year process redesigning the 2 Freeway Terminus at Glendale Blvd. leading to overwhelming support from the community for Alternative D (which maximized public park space), The Powers That Be created a bastardized version they'll present at a Community Open House on Nov. 4 (details below).

The bastardized version, or as Metro calls it, the "Hybrid Alternative," completely ignores one of the main purposes of the Terminus redesign: removing vehicle traffic from the southbound flyover ramp at the Terminus. Years ago, I remember then City Councilmember and later, Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg as well as County Supervisor Gloria Molina insisting this was a primary goal because the traffic coming off the flyover ramp was unsafe for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Term limits have led to a lack of institutional memory in all of our elected offices. A mind-numbing array of jurisdictions and funding sources (CalTrans, MTA also known as Metro, DOT, City, State, County, Federal) have kept all but a handful of dedicated volunteers from keeping track of what's going on or even what the original goals and promises were. Combined with 2 balkanized Neighborhood Councils and 3 or 4 very different neighborhoods near the Terminus that have completely different issues with the 2 Freeway, and guess who gets the short end of the stick? Could it be the community?

So, if you live near the 2 Freeway between the LA River and the Terminus at Glendale Blvd., or in one of the nearby neighborhoods which suffer cut-through traffic for the 2 Freeway, you should attend this meeting and ask a lot of questions.

2 Freeway Terminus Redesign

Community Open House

Wed., November 4, 2009

6-8 PM

Mayberry Elementary School

Multi Purpose Room

2414 Mayberry St.

Los Angeles, CA 90026

Click here for the last 2 Freeway Terminus Redesign post.

Corralitas Drive: Day of the Dead

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 23, 2009. Turn back that clock & get an extra hour of sleep to nurse that Halloween hangover. (Click on photo to enlarge.)