2 Freeway Terminus EIR Ignores Neighborhoods North Of Oak Glen

Photo: Diane Edwardson, January 12, 2009. On clear mornings, the rising sun lights up the particulate matter created by exhaust from traffic on the 5 Freeway, in the valley between Elysian Park and Glassell Park. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

CalTrans and MTA are holding a public hearing tonight for the 2 Terminus Redesign. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was supposed to evaluate environmental effects of the design options all the way to the 5 Freeway. The contractor failed to evaluate anything north of Oak Glen and the 2 Freeway. Yet, all design options, including the "Do Nothing " option, will put more traffic idling on the 2 Freeway adjacent to Corralitas Drive.

This EIR is so half-assed, they used data from an air quality monitoring station over a mile and a half away, but not the monitoring station that sits at the corner of Duane St. and Glendale Blvd., at the end of the fly-over ramp of the Terminus.

Several Corralitas neighbors spoke to the contractor who did the sound monitoring survey for 2 Terminus EIR when they installed the equipment on Corralitas Drive. Yet that was not included in the EIR.

The EIR fails to evaluate traffic impacts the to 5 Freeway, Riverside Drive and particularly to Allesandro, as more traffic will cut through from the Riverside Drive exit (at Allesandro).

The EIR failed to evaluate a potential bike path from the Terminus to the Los Angeles River, as required under the scope of the project.

The EIR failed to even identify that ADA accessible sidewalks are necessary on either side of the 2 Freeway, even though there are bus stops along Allesandro. Sidewalks were never installed on the freeway side of streets because they assumed no one would walk there. Tell that to people who take the bus - especially once construction starts and we have increased traffic on Allesandro.

I am supporting design option D, along with Echo Park Community Action Committee. If we're going to have more traffic, then we may as well get the most park space out of it. Option D keeps the flyover ramp and the overpass and turns them into functional park space.

Make your concerns known at tonight's public hearing for the SR2 Terminus Redesign:

Tuesday, June 16, 2009
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Mayberry Elementary School
2414 Mayberry St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026

More information call the MTA project helpline: (213) 922-3010.

Allesandro Way: Future Sound Walls, The "East Berlin/Escape From New York Aesthetic"

Photo September 2012. Artist's rendering of a 12-16' tall sound wall on Allesandro Way, looking north from Oak Glen, on the Silver Lake side of the 2 Freeway. CalTrans has increased the height of the wall, originally planned at a height of 8-10' in the 2009 EIR. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

 

After the recent community meeting on plans for the redesign of the 2 Freeway Terminus, many neighbors on the Silver Lake side of the 2 Freeway were outraged enough to take action. One neighbor created this before/after set of photos of Allesandro Way to help neighbors understand what they would lose if the sound walls are imposed on us.  Others are circulating petitions.

Photo: September 2012.  Say good-bye to all those trees on Allesandro Way if the sound walls are constructed. 

 

Neighbors who are closest to and at eye level with the 2 Freeway do have legitimate need for sound walls. However, giving us walls in exchange for trees is not a good solution for the neighborhood as a whole. The problem stems from there not being enough room for both trees and sound walls (according to CalTrans and the MTA). 

 

Benkin Jong. current MTA project manager for the SR2 Freeway Terminus Redesign Project, made it clear to neighbors (both individually and publicly at the meeting) that the only people who's opinion mattered, were those who live right next to the 2 Freeway. 

 

The hundreds of homes lining the hillsides of either side of the 2 Freeway have no say on giant walls that will affect not only their property values but also their physical and psychological health. 

 

Another neighbor (who's been here for more than 10 years) writes, sound walls will be an "extremely horrible visual addition to the neighborhood. While searching for properties in different parts of the city, it was these very walls that kept us from purchasing near them. They give neighborhoods an East Berlin/Escape from New York aesthetic that is cold and claustrophobic. Walling off one neighborhood from another just seems like a horrible solution to any problem. The tagging of these walls is a given, just take a look at the green gate around the Semi Tropic construction along with all the other "walls" in the area.

 

Many of the trees that are very close to the freeway will have to be removed to put walls in. I sign on to the plan of planting more trees, more foliage to help disperse sound and help air quality in the immediate area. That is an actual solution that does not carry with it all the other negatives that walls do."

 

Neighbors are going door to door on Allesandro Way and Cove, gathering signatures urging the sound walls be dropped from the 2 Terminus plan.

 

Worth noting: the Catholic Church at the Terminus & Glendale Blvd managed to get the sound walls removed from the plan for the section in front of their school and church because of the prison-like effect sound walls would impose. 

 

Click here for a reverse angle shot from the Oak Glen overpass of the same grove of trees.  

 

Click here for all our 2 Freeway Terminus posts.  

 

Related: The Role of Vegetation in Mitigating Air Quality Impacts from Traffic Emissions, EPA

 

2 Freeway Terminus Redesign: Meeting Wednesday

Photo: Futterer, Holyland Exhibition, 1962.  Without trees, you can see how narrow the slope is between the 2 Freeway and adjacent streets, like Allesandro Way (right) and Allesandro St* (left).  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

 

CalTrans plans to cut down all the trees that have made the 2 Freeway more tolerable between the Terminus (at Glendale Blvd) and about Rosebud Ave.  What will we get in exchange?  More than a quarter mile of sound walls on either side of the freeway through our neighborhood. 

 

The effects of sound walls were never studied in the EIR for the Terminus Project.  We discovered sound walls hidden on the maps for every option.  The EIR never discussed their impact on our Hillside neighborhood.  Sound will likely be amplified for homes higher on the hills since the sound will bounce around in the "canyon effect."  

 

CalTrans will not be planting trees around the walls. The EIR failed to enumerate how many trees would be cut down.  When questioned in a public hearing about this fact, CalTrans & MTA officials admitted all the trees and shrubs would be cut down, but could not provide a number (which is required), nor could they say where they would be planting replacement trees, other than not around the sound walls.

 

Expect an increase in health effects from a decrease in air quality.   Considering we just lost nearly 4 acres of trees on the nearby Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract, we can't afford to lose any trees in the neighborhood now. 

MTA is hosting a community meeting next week regarding the 2 Terminus Redesign:

Community Open House

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

6 - 8 pm

Mayberry Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room

2414 Mayberry Street

Los Angeles, CA 90026

info: metro.net/sr2

 

 

We've written extensively about the 2 Freeway Terminus Redesign.  Click here for all our related posts.

 

*Allesandro Street is misidentified in many of our older photos as "Allesandro Ave."  I discovered in my paper files from the 1990s and even earlier, letters from various City departments identifying it as "Allesandro Ave."  So I always thought it was "Ave" not "St."  It was even "Ave" on a street sign at the corner of Rosebud & Allesandro.  That street sign was replaced about 10 years ago.  Allesandro Street, or as identified in the above photo as "Ave," should not be confused with Allesandro Way - on the Silver Lake side of the 2 Freeway.  We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. 

2 & 5 Freeway Interchange: From The Archives, "Oceans of Concrete"*

Photo: Kleven, 1960. Rosebud Ave on the Corralitas side of the 2 Freeway may be the road in the foreground (parallel with the bottom edge of the photo) prior to realignment for the 2 Freeway. The corner of one of these now cleared homes was in yesterday's post. Note the vast swath of homes cleared in Elysian Valley (on the other side of Riverside Drive) for the 5 Freeway. (Click on photo to enlarge.)


Photo: Kleven, 1961. Matches photo above. Note the shape of the Glassell Park hills in the background of each. It's hard to to tell exactly what you're looking at until you realize just how many on-ramps and off-ramps are in the 2 & 5 Interchange. (Click on photo to enlarge.)


Photo: Smith, February, 1971. Shot from a bit higher on the hill than the previous two photos, but it gives a good perspective on the oceans of concrete poured for the 2 & 5 Freeways. Yes, that's snow on the San Gabriels in the background. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Photo: Edwardson, 2004. Thankfully, trees have grown over 46 years to help block the view of the 2 & 5 Interchange. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

We're reviewing the photographic history of our neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway, in anticipation of the EIR for the 2 Freeway Terminus Project. (2008)*


*PLEASE NOTE, this post was originally posted October 31, 2008: "Oceans of Concrete: 2 & 5 Freeway Interchange." 

Due to  last week's tanker fire & planned rebuilding of the damaged portions of the interchange, it's time for another look at the neighborhood before the freeways. 

Click here for all our 2 Freeway History posts.

2 Freeway Terminus Redesign: Get Ready For More Traffic & Fewer Trees, Meeting Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Photo: Diane Edwardson, April 10, 2012.  Homes on Corralitas Drive are less than 50' from the 2 Freeway, yet the EIR for the Terminus Redesign decided we would not be impacted despite the fact that CalTrans has consistently said we would see an increase in traffic idling here, no matter which design option was chosen.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

 

The 2 Freeway Terminus Redesign also calls for cutting down all the trees on either side of the freeway and construction of a quarter mile or more of sound walls through our neighborhood.  Of course this option was slipped into the maps and never actually discussed in the EIR.  Sound walls do nothing for homes above the walls - most of the neighborhood.  They will not be planting trees to block the sound walls (they'll plant ivy), thus inviting graffiti vandals, creating an eyesore and decreasing air quality in a neighborhood already severely impacted by commute traffic on the 2 Freeway. 

 

MTA is hosting a community meeting next week regarding the 2 Terminus Redesign:

 

Community Open House

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

6 - 8 pm

Mayberry Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room

2414 Mayberry Street

Los Angeles, CA 90026

info: metro.net/sr2

 

Over many years, we've written extensively about how State Route 2 Freeway Terminus Redesign would affect our neighborhood.  Click here for all the related posts.

1955 - 1960, Eminent Domain Takes Homes For The 2 Freeway

Photo: Futterer, Holyland Exhibition, 1960. Shot from Fellowship Parkway, looking at the Silver Lake side of the 2 Freeway site, after homes and Red Car tracks removed. (Click on photo to enlarge.)


Photo: Futterer, Holyland Exhibition, probably 1955. Prior to track removal. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

In 1955, Pacific Electric decommissioned the Glendale Line. The Glendale Line survived longer than many other trolley lines, because the private right-of-way through our neighborhood allowed the trains to move faster (without car traffic) than on City streets.

The State declared eminent domain, taking homes in the paths of the freeways under construction throughout Los Angeles. The above photos provide a record of the homes removed for construction of the 2 Freeway near the Whitmore Stop. According to neighbors present at the time, many homes were moved to other parts of the neighborhood; around Allesandro Elementary School and Elysian Valley.

The Holyland Exhibition lost all but 6 feet of their lush front yard on Allesandro Way, which was moved right up to the building's front doorstep. The top photo also shows where the state cut into the adjacent hillside to make room for the 2 Freeway. In the coming days we'll review neighbors' ground level view of the destruction and radical landscape changes.

We're reviewing the photographic history of our neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway, in anticipation of the EIR for the 2 Freeway Terminus Project.

2 Freeway Corridor Cleared of Homes

Photo: Futterer, Holyland Exhibition, 1960. Looking southbound from the slope removed for the 2 Freeway at Lake View Ave. and Allesandro Way. (Click on photo to enlarge.)


Photo: Futterer, Holyland Exhibition, 1960. Same location as above photo, reveals the swath of homes cleared for the 2 Freeway on the Silver Lake side. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

We're reviewing the photographic history of our neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway, in anticipation of the EIR for the 2 Freeway Terminus Project.

By 1960, the Red Car Trolley tracks were long gone. Homes south of Corralitas were cleared from the path of the 2 Freeway. In the top photo, note the striped brick building at the corner of Allesandro Ave. and Whitmore. It made an earlier appearance with a Red Car Trolley.

2 Freeway Terminus EIR is Coming!

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 9, 2008. Typical morning commute on the 2 Freeway at the Rosebud Ave. overcrossing and Corralitas Drive, shot from the top of the Corralitas Staircase. The Semi-Tropic Spiritualists' Tract is the hillside across the freeway. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) sent out word the State Route 2 Terminus Improvement Project's Draft Environmental Impact Report would be released in mid-October and the public would have 45 days to review it.

To mark the EIR draft release, we'll look at the history of the neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway in October on the Corralitas Red Car Property Blog, illustrated with lots of photos from neighbors dating back to 1922.

The MTA and CalTrans have been talking about redesigning the 2 Terminus at Glendale Blvd. for years. The Silver Lake and Echo Park communities overwhelmingly prefer "Alternative D," which would create an additional 5 acres of public park at Lasorda Field of Dreams.

When questioned directly regarding the impact of all the proposed designs, including the "do nothing" option, MTA and CalTrans officials admitted we would see an increase in southbound traffic on our section of the 2 Freeway, no matter which alternative was chosen. So support Alternative D, at least we get something in return for increased air and noise pollution in our neighborhood.

Review all of the alternatives on the MTA's website.

2 Freeway Terminus Redesign: Sound Walls Part 1, Corralitas Drive*

Photo: Diane Edwardson, April 13, 2009. As if those 8 houses on Corralitas Drive weren't already in a hole next to the 2 Freeway, cutting down all the trees and building 8-10' sound walls will certainly enhance the effect. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 1, 2009. Corralitas Walk is the 9' wide, public right-of-way adjacent to the Red Car Property and the 2 Freeway. If you cut down the trees on the freeway and build an 8-10' high sound wall, this will become a dark alley besieged by graffiti vandals and not be a safe place to walk. At least now, light comes through the trees. Any trees planted on this side of a sound wall will not likely grow due to the lack of sunlight.

Sound walls are graffiti magnets. Since sound naturally rises, sound walls will do nothing to dampen the sound for homes up above the freeway. Considering the "canyon effect" of sound bouncing around the hills, it's possible it will increase the noise level in some places.

*Note: In the earlier EIR the sound walls extended vaguely down toward Rosebud. There was not a definitive answer to the sound wall question in 2009. In fact, in public meetings, the MTA denied the sound walls were in the plan, despite being on the plan drawings in the EIR. So you should go to the meeting.

UPDATE: According to Plan F, there are no sound walls planned adjacent to Corralitas Drive. See post: 12-1-10.

The MTA is hosting a community meeting Tuesday, November 30, 2010 regarding its 2 Freeway Terminus "improvement" project.

Oceans of Concrete: 2 & 5 Freeway Interchange

Photo: Kleven, 1960. Rosebud Ave on the Corralitas side of the 2 Freeway may be the road in the foreground (parallel with the bottom edge of the photo) prior to realignment for the 2 Freeway. The corner of one of these now cleared homes was in yesterday's post. Note the vast swath of homes cleared in Elysian Valley (on the other side of Riverside Drive) for the 5 Freeway. (Click on photo to enlarge.)


Photo: Kleven, 1961. Matches photo above. Note the shape of the Glassell Park hills in the background of each. It's hard to to tell exactly what you're looking at until you realize just how many on-ramps and off-ramps are in the 2 & 5 Interchange. (Click on photo to enlarge.)


Photo: Smith, February, 1971. Shot from a bit higher on the hill than the previous two photos, but it gives a good perspective on the oceans of concrete poured for the 2 & 5 Freeways. Yes, that's snow on the San Gabriels in the background. (Click on photo to enlarge.)


Photo: Edwardson, 2004. Thankfully, trees have grown over 46 years to help block the view of the 2 & 5 Interchange. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
We're reviewing the photographic history of our neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway, in anticipation of the EIR for the 2 Freeway Terminus Project.

1960, Corralitas Drive: Tree-Lined Suburbia

Photo: Kleven, 1960. Corralitas Drive was once a tree-lined suburban street with front yards. This portion of Corralitas now lies under the 2 Freeway. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

In 1960, the Kleven family bought their home on Corralitas Drive. Over the next few years, the Klevens watched the State destroy the idyllic tree-lined street where kids played in the front yards. Like Futterer at the Holyland Exhibition, the Klevens had the forethought to keep a photographic record of the rapid changes that came with freeway construction.

Prior to the 2 Freeway, Corralitas Drive had two means of vehicle access. In exchange for losing our second vehicle accessway, we got a less than 10' wide public pedestrian access to Allesandro Way and Lake View Ave., adjacent to the 2 Freeway.

We're reviewing the photographic history of our neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway, in anticipation of the EIR for the 2 Freeway Terminus Project.

SR 2 Freeway Terminus Project: Nearly 2000' Long Sound Wall On Allesandro StreetThe Pedestrian Point Of View

All photos: Diane Edwardson, 2009, 2013. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

According to a newsletter emailed to people who went to a meeting for the 2 Freeway Terminus Project last summer, CalTrans plans to begin construction on about 2000' of sound walls between Oak Glen & "north of El Moran Way" sometime in winter 2014/2015. 

Despite another year, CalTrans is still short on details about the sound walls.  So here's a walk down Allesandro Street, from Oak Glen to Rosebud (a few hundred feet north of El Moran), along with the questions we think CalTrans needs to answer because we've been asking them since the EIR was open for public review in 2009.  If we have to accept the wall (I opposed it from the beginning), we need a whole lot more in exchange for the loss of our trees.

CalTrans is putting a 10' tall sound wall, close to the fence, between Oak Glen & Loma Vista.  Will they be widening the sidewalk (heck, will they be building a real sidewalk) because there is a bus stop 50' feet south of the intersection? 

Exactly how many trees, including the Brazilian Pepper Trees (with their locations marked on a map) will CalTrans be removing for sound wall construction?

We need to see a plan that show exactly where on the slope the wall will go.  We need to see a landscaping plan for new trees on paper, with trees on both sides of the wall.

The northbound 2 Freeway lanes are about 20' from "the sidewalk."  In earlier meetings, CalTrans said there is no room for mature trees and a sound walls.  This is one of the few flat parts of the parkway, most of it is slope.

The entire length of Allesandro on the freeway side needs a real walkable sidewalk.  It is only asphalt encased in a concrete curb and barely passable by one person, let alone ADA accessible. 

North of Loma Vista, the longest portion of the sound wall (1530'), will move to the top of the slope.  The slope on the 2 Freeway parkway increases in height & becomes steeper & narrower as Allesandro moves closer Riverside Drive.

It would be really helpful if we knew exactly which trees CalTrans will be removing.  We won't see trees this size in our lifetime.  They were planted when the freeway opened in 1962.

The bulk of the trees are Brazilian Pepper Trees which CalTrans would prefer to call a shrub so they don't have to enumerate or replace them.  But those are some 40' tall, shrubby trees.

North of Whitmore, a very long retaining wall is adjacent to "the sidewalk." It varies in height from 6 to 10' tall and is constantly hit by graffiti vandals.

Through this section, the sound wall would sit at the top of the steep slope.  So there would be 2 walls creating a 25-30' edifice on Allesandro.  Ask CalTrans for technical drawings of the walls, with section cuts, with the existing trees marked on the plans, so we can see exactly where wall go.

If we have to accept a the eyesore of sound walls CalTrans needs to widen & give us a real walkable side walk for the entire length of the wall.  Trees are important psychologically & physically for living and walking near the freeway.

At Walcott Way, the steep slope appears to be 20' above the top of the roughly 6' retaining wall. 

Same location as previous photo, you can see the narrow parkway does not allow much room for wall construction & trees.

At El Moran, across from the Artis small lot subdivision in the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract,  the retaining wall is about 9-10' tall, while the slope only gets steeper.

Rosebud Ave is only a few hundred feet north of El Moran.  Ask CalTrans exactly where the sound wall will end?  Their PR states, "north of El Moran Way."

The View From The Hills.

We've written about sound walls a lot.  Click here for all our sound wall posts

Great Wall of Echo Park: The Eastsider

CalTrans 1-page Fact Sheet
CalTrans Metro Newsletter

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.

Election Day Under the 2 Freeway

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 4, 2008. Riverside Drive under the 2 Freeway. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Voter turnout at Allesandro Elementary School was high this morning as evidenced by the parking on both sides of Riverside stretching almost all the way to Allesandro Ave. under the 2 Freeway.

We're reviewing the photographic history of our neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway, in anticipation of the EIR for the 2 Freeway Terminus Project.

SR-2 Freeway: Northbound Lanes Closed At Night

Photo: Diane Edwardson, March 26, 2015.  A 12' sound wall is not going to help the top floor of that apartment building on Allesandro St.  We made that point, in writing, during the EIR process for the SR-2 Terminus Project in 2009.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

CalTrans announced another round of nighttime lane closures on the Northbound 2 Freeway in conjunction with sound wall construction.  Before they started working at night last month, I let them know the hawks were nesting  - with photos - and they promptly scared off the hawks by starting work directly below the tree with the hawks' nest.  Text of the press release follows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GLENDALE FREEWAY SR-2 SOUNDWALL PROJECT

LOS ANGELES / ECHO PARK - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced construction of the soundwall along the Glendale Freeway (SR-2) between Oak Glen Place and Rosebud Avenue. Closures are as follows and subject to change.

Saturday, May 10, through Friday, May 15
Northbound SR-2
8 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Up to two lanes between Glendale Blvd SR-2 and Golden State Freeway I-5 
7 p.m. to 6 a.m. – On and Off Ramps & Connector to I-5 CLOSED between Glendale Blvd SR-2 and Golden State Freeway I-5

Construction dust and noise is anticipated as crews excavate and remove dirt, grind surface layers of pavement and perform other related tasks.

Detours will be posted.  Minor delays are expected.  The California Highway Patrol will be on duty.  Peterson-Chase Construction is the contractor on this $8.6 million project which is expected to complete in early 2016.

 # # #

According to the press release, more info:

www.dot.ca.gov/dist07

caltransd7info.blogspot.com

twitter.com/#!/CaltransDist7
peter.jones@dot.ca.gov

1961, Earth Moving Begins

Photo: Futterer, Holyland Exhibition, 1961. The 2 Freeway corridor from the corner of Lake View Ave. and Allesandro Way. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Earth moving for the 2 Freeway through our neighborhood began in 1961. According to neighbors present at the time, the freeway construction went remarkably fast. The State had not yet cleared all the homes from the path of the freeway on Corralitas Drive in 1960. We'll see the path of destruction on Corralitas next week.

We're reviewing the photographic history of our neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway, in anticipation of the EIR for the 2 Freeway Terminus Project.

2 Freeway Terminus Project: EPIA Meeting Thursday, April 5, 2012

Photo: Diane Edwardson, February 11, 2012.  Get ready for more traffic like this on the southbound 2 Freeway if the redesign ever happens.  Of course the EIR said Corralitas would not be affected despite CalTrans admission that ALL proposed alternatives would put more traffic idling in the southbound lanes, below us, than we already have.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

From: Echo Park Community Action Committee (EPCAC)

Echo Park Improvement Association (EPIA)

Subject: Metro to present Terminus Project Update

Where: EPIA meeting
Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital, Elysian Park
Thursday, April 5, 2012
7:00 pm

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will present an update of their activities on the SR2/Glendale Freeway Terminus Project at the Thursday, April 5, 2012, meeting of the Echo Park Improvement Association (EPIA). It has been 18 months since Metro last informed the community of
its actions.

Although members of EPCAC and the EPIA were in touch with Council President Garcetti's office, Congressman Becerra's office, and Supervisor Molina's office in 2011 for help in getting new information about Metro's "hybrid" design for the Terminus Project, Metro provided little. Nor did community-led petitioning efforts draw any response from Metro.

Petitions were signed by numerous residents and business people opposing Metro's plan to do away with street parking on the west side of Glendale Boulevard south of the "flyover" off-ramp. Petitions were also signed opposing the sound wall proposal for the southern end of the Terminus, and more were signed in opposition to the planned deletion of a left-turn lane from the off-ramp on the east side of Glendale Boulevard.

We urge to you attend this meeting to find out what, exactly, Metro has to say.

Judith Raskin, Chairperson
Echo Park Community Action Committee

Click here for all our 2 Freeway Terminus related posts

Click here for all our 2 Freeway History posts (read: lots of historic photos)

Freeway Ramps Overwhelm Neighborhood

Photo: AAA of Southern California, USC Digital Archives, 1961. The 5 & 2 Freeway interchange seen from what is now the CalTrans maintenance yard across from Allesandro Elementary School on Riverside Drive. Formerly on the site of the CalTrans yard, the Elysian Valley Branch Library was demolished, not relocated, for freeway construction. To this day, Elysian Valley does not have a public library. (Click on photo to enlarge.)


Photo: Diane Edwardson, 2008. Trees and vining plants help take the edge off multiple freeway ramps crossing Riverside Drive, adjacent to Allesandro Elementary School. The ramps are overwhelming from below. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

We're reviewing the photographic history of our neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway, in anticipation of the EIR for the 2 Freeway Terminus Project.

1960-1961, 2 Freeway Grading Hell on Corralitas Drive

Photo: Kleven, 1960. All photos shot from doorstep of 2445 Corralitas Drive. (Click on photos to enlarge.) Before the grading began for the 2 Freeway, you could walk across an open field to Allesandro Ave. and the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract from Corralitas Drive.


Photo: Kleven, 1961. First they cut down all the trees.


Photo: Kleven, 1961. Then the grading began.


Photo: Kleven, 1961. The pile of earth grew to obscure the once pleasant view.


Photo: Kleven, 1961. If you stood on the fence, you could just barely see over the pile of dirt. Note the house in the bottom right corner. The owner must have been one of the remaining holdouts to eminent domain. Neighbors, present at the time, tell of these holdouts frustrating the State. So the State just piled up the dirt next to and all around their homes until the owners finally sold or were arrested and removed forcibly by Sheriff's deputies. (Click on photo to enlarge.) Also worth noting are the three houses on Alvarado, which appeared in earlier photos from 1923.

Corralitas Grading Hell: Part 1
What part otf the neighborhood is this today?

We're reviewing the photographic history of our neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway, in anticipation of the EIR for the 2 Freeway Terminus Project.