Unity In The Community

I would be lying if I said the upheaval that took place in our country over the last year did not affect me. It did – in a big way. What a tumultuous year. I want so badly to stand on top of Mt. Lukens and scream about all the injustices, the accusations, the regulations, the hypocrisy and downright meanness. Most days, it’s more than I can bear and it’s not over yet. As an individual, I often feel powerless because what happens in Washington, D.C. is beyond me and beyond my vote. Instead of screaming, though, I have decided to take my own high road and ask others to join me in turning the temperature way down. We can disagree, and we still will, but it is time for the people of this country to stop pummeling each other.

What I have learned over the years is that I do have the power to make a difference here in my own backyard and that is more important than any nationwide effort. There are so many ways to engage, from helping those in need to protecting the open space we love. Another opportunity is to run for a neighborhood or town council position or to serve on a committee, board or commission. People who volunteer in these leadership capacities help us to achieve our collective goals and missions.

The Crescenta Valley Community Association, of which I am a steering committee member, has one guiding principle – One Valley, One Voice. It’s simple. From Sunland-Tujunga to Hahamongna, the CVCA values the Crescenta Valley as one geographic entity. Although composed of at least four different municipal jurisdictions, we all share similar visions across the communities for preservation and managed growth. Each area has a plan that sets community design standards so that new development appears seamless and not out of character to existing styles.

The CVCA is a grassroots organization consisting of community members who understand the importance of collaboration between jurisdictions with the institutional knowledge that if a project is installed in one neighborhood, it has a ripple effect on all other neighborhoods. Case in point is the three buildings being planned for 3950 Foothill Blvd. on the southeast corner of Lowell Avenue. This project is in the Glendale portion of La Crescenta, right at the border of Sunland-Tujunga, and will affect us all. It is being described as a new, four-story, 34-unit rental project with five affordable units plus four commercial units and a multi-level parking garage. The existing one-story, former preschool building will be torn down.

Everyone across our community is familiar with that intersection and knows that the lines of sight are limited and traffic is heavy. The In–N–Out car lines wrap around the corner of Foothill and up Lowell. The Chamlian School, when in session, has vehicles that line up on Lowell for blocks, obstructing driveway access and the streets below. The exit on Lowell from the Albertsons and Wells Fargo/Verizon complex spills cars out opposite the U.S. Storage Center. Most importantly, though, is that Lowell is a freeway access point for the entire valley. It carries thousands of cars every single day. The last thing we all need at that intersection, the highest point on Foothill, is a massive triple-structure with at least 96 more vehicles. And yet, Glendale Planning approved the first part of this project citing no traffic study was necessary. The detailed plans are currently under further review and will move to a Design Review Board hearing when completed.

Now would be a good time to refocus our efforts to local issues in our community. We should all work together to evaluate whether this project is right for our neighborhood. Please join the CVCA at crescentavalleycommunityassn@gmail.com to find out how you can help be a voice for positive change, right here at home.

Susan Bolan
susanbolan710@gmail.com