City Pursues Arts District Park Space

By Eric Richardson
Published: Sunday, May 13, 2007, at 07:13PM

Eric Richardson

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Way back in November of 2005 I noted a motion directing the City's General Services Department to look for possible park sites in the Arts District. After first saying in February of 2006 that it couldn't find anything, GSD turned in a June report indicating possible sites for a pocket park.

Just this month Jan Perry made a motion (PDF) that the City make an offer to purchase 735 E. 3rd street, the triangular plot where Traction, 3rd and Rose come together. Formerly a gas station, there aren't too many uses that could be squeezed into the site's 4,000 square feet. It would seem that a small park would be a great outcome for an odd parcel like this one. Given a little grass and a tree or two, this would make a great western edge to the scene on Traction.

Comments

Whitman Lam writes:

Wow, it's about time !! The sidwalks can use the relief as doggy restrooms. This is a good sign. The Arts district is finally recognized as a true residential neighborhood instead of the industrial hub it once was.

Here's hoping for more parks and greenspace in the concrete desert.

# on May.13.2007 AT 07:28 PM

Timothy Quinn writes:

Let's put some underground parking and a big purple tower there.

and some police tape . . .

# on May.13.2007 AT 09:54 PM

David Kennedy writes:

Don't forget to add dysfunctional social policy and turn a blind eye to enforcement of public order.

# on May.13.2007 AT 10:07 PM

Ed Fuentes writes:

...or a small baseball park.

# on May.13.2007 AT 11:43 PM

Joel C writes:

It's great that the idea of creating parks is moving from talk to action. I think this is an interesting little spot for a park. I just hope they can keep it from becoming a homeless encampment.

# on May.14.2007 AT 09:09 AM

Whitman Lam writes:

I think the small size can work to it's advantage.

It's not large enough to require a huge public investment or too much political scrutiny. Located on a busy intersection, with no privacy, that could help deter crime or homeless encampments.

It's barely big enough to fit all the basics: trees, flowers, shrubs, a park bench or two, and a small water fountain or art sculpture piece.

Even a fourth grader can design this pocket park. Which is why we need more like it...

# on May.14.2007 AT 10:10 AM

Ted writes:

Joel's concern is a real one. Angel's Knoll park is very pleasant in the early morning or late evening, but on a nice, warm day, when it should be filled with couples and families, it's mostly just homeless folks sprawled on the grass all over the place.

Given the vigorous ACLU homeless advocacy, is there any hope of taking back the downtown parks, so that the non-homeless people who live and work there can enjoy them?

# on May.14.2007 AT 10:13 AM

Eric Richardson writes:

Angels Knoll is different, though, in that its location on the hillside -- and off of a fairly non-pedestrian stretch of Olive -- creates isolation. There's no normal flow of activity that views into the park, and no way to travel across the park getting from one place to another.

# on May.14.2007 AT 11:05 AM

Rico A writes:

Let's hope the little park isn't going to be like the park at 3rd/Main. Ew.

# on May.14.2007 AT 03:34 PM

Tommy writes:

"Given a little grass and a tree or two, this would make a great western edge to the scene on Traction."

Not to mention a great eastern edge to the scene in Little Tokyo. ;)

# on May.16.2007 AT 03:03 PM

J Johnson writes:

enjoy it while it lasts! unfortunately this park is going to be developed as the Bunker Hill mixed use site....

http://www.crala.org/internet-site/Projects/Bunker_Hill/priorities.cfm

# on May.25.2007 AT 02:20 PM