A dilapidated Glendale Boulevard in Echo Park needs some TLC
Photo by Josh Post
The recent issue of EPIAn Ways (for which, for full disclosure, I am the editor) highlights a problem we’ve always noticed but didn’t think we could do anything about: The dilapidated state of a stretch of Glendale Boulevard in Echo Park.
Glendale Boulevard is a far cry from what it started out as – it was the site of our first film studio, where Red Cars once ran, and the main thoroughfare into Echo Park from neighborhoods and cities north of the ‘hood. Now it’s a freeway for commuters, peeling paint on buildings, chain-link fences, empty lots and “for rent” signs. Most probably don’t even notice great businesses on that part of Glendale Boulevard, such as the music space Bedrock Studios, and the soon-to-be home of Echo Country Outpost, let alone what Echo Park is like beyond the main street.
Thankfully, Echo Park resident Josh Post has not only taken notice, he’s doing something about it. In the EPIAn Ways article, he calls the area between Berkeley and Duane Street a “dead zone,” where “trash clutters sidewalks, graffiti adorns dilapidated/empty warehouses, overgrown empty lots sit litter-filled behind chain-linked fencing, and not one tree is planted along this four-block stretch. The area has become the antithesis of ‘urban renewal.'”
He started by getting together with the Echo Park Improvement Association about cleaning up Glendale Boulevard – the short term goal to clean up trash, remove graffiti, and improve sidewalks. The long term goal to get businesses along Glendale Boulevard to actively participate in keeping it clean, to plant trees and other decorative elements to revitalize the area. He even proposed having a silent movie theater to “pay homage to the corridor’s history” (we LOVE that idea!).
So what drove Josh to take action? “Echo Park is my home,” he said in an email. “I want the most visible part of this community to be more representative of the true beauty and character of the neighborhood. I quickly realized on my daily jogs down Glendale Boulevard that nothing is going to get done to improve this area unless we, as community members, take action.”
Bravo!
If you agree, spend some time with myself, the Echo Park Improvement Association, and other neighbors and activists in a truly grassroots effort to clean up Glendale Boulevard:
Echo Park Community Cleanup: Glendale Boulevard
Saturday, November 5, 2011
9:00 am – noon
Meet at 9:00 am at the Jack in the Box
I live on Berkeley right at Glendale on the same side of the street as this picture shows, and I walk around that area all the time and can say that the street/sidewalk is totally gross. Nothing but garbage, potholes, and a lovely urine smell in the air… it’s really unfortunate because it could be really nice right there (despite the crazy traffic) and there are some people who have moved into the area that are trying to make it nicer, but as a resident I can tell you there is a serious lack of concern over this area by police and city workers. Hopefully that will change as the gentrification process takes effect, although I really wish we could have the city improvements without pushing out the people who have lived in this area for so long…
I live on Aaron St. and I am completely frustrated with the City. I have called 311 for trash pick up, emailed about careless businesses dumping waste, reported the businesses, and even gone outside to pick up trash myself. The sad truth is this side is truly neglected; we don’t even have street sweeping on Aaron Street. I am a creative professional and absolutely love Echo Park and I am proud to live here. There is so much history and ecclectic beauty to be found if you just look deep enough. I am willing to do my part as an Echo Park resident, I honestly hope more can find it in there hearts to take pride in their community and make an effort to come together and clean it up.
I’v been looking at that lot for the past 10 years and I have seen people cleaning it from time to time but for the most part it seems to be unattended. I wonder what the consequences are if a man goes in there and just cleans the lot up uninvited?
I live on Branden St. right in the area. It’s really a shame that this area, that was literally at the heart of what Los Angeles is today, has been so neglected. I call 311 as much as I can and have mixed results getting trash cleaned up, graffiti removed, etc.. I’ll keep trying, and I’ll be there in November! Thanks for organizing it!
I agree with the previous posters: it’s sad to see this once great corridor now so sorely neglected. This clean up is a great first step and I am delighted it’s happening. My husband, baby and I will be there! Thanks to Josh and the EPIA!
Now if only the city would follow suit. Councilman Garcetti told me he’s having his office look into additional signage for the crosswalk at Branden St. In addition to the filth, the traffic is a real hazard. People come off the 2 going 65mph!
WOW! finally this warms my heart so much you have no idea 🙂 i have lived there for 25 yrs! walk to jack in the box always fearing some weird mutated creature will pop up cause of the trash :p im glad we are paying attention to it. Sunset blvd and echo park blvd have become so trendy over the yrs with all the bars and shops we forget that echo park does not end there this block has so much potencial! theres little shops here and there that people dont take a chance to look twice. i also agree with the previous post something must be done about the traffic coming off the 2 frwy people are not being careful and speed out of the frwy I as well as my family will take part in this project in making our hood a better environment for our children and youth and will take pride looking out my window with my daughter and say we made that happene 🙂 cant wait already have gloves and shovel on hand see u in NOV.
Just wanted to say that we’re very excited to be moving to this part of the neighborhood. Can’t wait to meet all of you as neighbors. We’ve been loving residents of Echo Park for five years, and at first we helped clean the block of Valentine that our house was on, then we helped clean and garden our corner of Duane and Echo Park Ave and now we can’t wait to help with this cleanup! We plan on doing whatever we can to make the corner of Branden and Glendale one of the warmest, cleanest, well-gardened corners of the Park! We love the neighborhood how it is. We love the people here. But everyone could use a little less glass to step on and a little more gardens!
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