35 comments

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  LBRez

  1 year ago

  Call it oo-la-SHEFF-ski Park!
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  jimbo

  1 year ago

  With all due respect to Brian, is this the best place to spend $1M for a park. As a local resident with 3 kids, I would never take my kids to a park on 7th Street that subjects them to toxic vehicle fumes. I think we can find a more family freindly place to put a park. Is Brian just looking for an improved entrance to the City so the "Gateway" project will be a financial success for his firm?
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  Gunther

  1 year ago

  jimbo. you should try moving out to the suburbs. ever been up and down ocean blvd by chance? A much busier stretch with people enjoying the open green space and guess what, not dying from toxic fumes. playing soccer, running, bbqing, reading, lounging, it's all there. What about Bixby Park, which is surrounded by streets on every side. Even has a street running through the middle of it.
  
  go for it brian. i think this is a great idea. this roseman guy sounds like a goof with low self esteem and something to prove. he's like the bouncer at the club that won't let you in because you remind him of that guy in high school that stole his girlfriend. i have a good idea long beach, fire this guy and put somebody in place that will sign off on it. i've driven through this intersection plenty of times and it always seems confusing to me. i can't see traffic being worse with this change and it's not like people taking shortcuts through neighborhoods is anything new for long beach or any other crowded city around LA for that matter. give me a break.
  
  to sum it up, nice work ulasheffski. and to roseman, go stick your dick in someone else's mash potatoes.
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  jimbo

  1 year ago

  Gunther. My kids and I get out a lot. No rational person would compare the traffic volumes at Ocean/Cherry to 7th/Alamitos. Lets just call this proposal what it is. A gateway for the Gateway. Taxpayers get the bill to improve the entrance to a project Brian is conneceted with. And by the way, the Gateway project will add more traffic and smog to Bixby Park at Ocean/Cherry.
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  SBM

  1 year ago

  I live around the corner from the Armory and would love to see a park here. If anything it may bring some of those toxic vehicle fumes down. This area is in much need of green space. Whether or not you choose to take your kids to play there is up to you. I would much rather inhale fumes as I walk my dog on some "green" then when I walk it on the sidewalk looking at cement and buildings with bars a block away. Seriously if vehicle fumes are your concern your in the wrong city. This area needs some change..... green change!
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  Tom

  1 year ago

  jimbo just doesn't get it. First, as someone who lives near the proposed site of the park, it would definitely get used. This area of Long Beach has the lowest ratio of parks to population and there are few other parks close by. There are different kinds of parks—this one would not be a park for a quiet stroll but it would serve many, many uses for folks around here. Second, it's wrong for jimbo to assume that Brian would have some financial interest in the park happening. It would take so long for the park to happen that such an assumption doesn't make sense. It’s sad that in this day and age people rush to try and find some underlying rationale beside that of simply trying to improve our city. I look forward to seeing jimbo’s concrete suggestions for improving the city and the work he will do in his spare time to try and make them happen--I will take those suggestions seriously and not impugn his motives. Third, one thing I do like about the park is that it would act as a kind of gateway for the downtown (and would be great for MoLAA too). To not have a park there makes a statement, namely “we think of 7th street as a giant offramp for the 405/710 freeways” and “we don’t care about downtown Long Beach.” I once heard Councilmember Suja Lowenthal emphasize very correctly that a prosperous downtown benefits everyone in the city, and this would be one small step in that continuing effort. Fourth, anyone who doesn’t like this idea must justify the current situation, a crazy, ugly interchange that has a very high number of accidents. Taxpayers pay for all those accidents with the city services used to clean them up. Reducing those accidents could very well pay for the park within a decade or so. And the lives damaged or lost because of those accidents, as well as damage to cars and property, must factor in to the cost of *not* making this park happen.
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  JuanPardell

  1 year ago

  SBM, Although providing more open space is a great idea, certain areas of downtown Long Beach are unable to properly sustain their parks. For example, Cesar Chavez Park was designed to benefit all resident of the immediate area. From what I remember, the park gets dominated by groups who utilize the majority of the available space for makeshift soccer games. That doesn't seem fair to all of the neighborhood residents. However, the paramount issue is whether most residents of the area would feel safe at the park. The Armory neighborhood is still riddled with negative elements. I believe, it will take more than just a park and museum to make the area viable for all to enjoy.
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  Sebastian

  1 year ago

  Once again, this is a perfect example of City Staff making policy. Please, this is the job that we elected the Council for. I thought that the era of Hankla was long past. Thank you Pat West for insisting that Dave Roseman make it happen. Dave should have done this in the first place. He should have brought forward a plan for making this park a reality without compromising traffic safety and then let the Council decide if they wanted to implement it. Brian originally brought this idea forward before Pat West worked in Long Beach and I suspect that at that time someone on Staff did not want to commit funds to this Central Long Beach project. Now, we have a City Manager who understands his role as an implementer, not a policy maker, and I feel that this park and many other quality of life projects in Central Long Beach will become realities.
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  r_funk

  1 year ago

  I agree, Jimbo is a moron.
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  STE

  1 year ago

  Really? So anyone who is willing to stand up and persevere the through beuracratic nightmare associated with a well supported, community endoresed, quality of life enhansing, not city hall generated idea is in it for profit? Really? Jimbo, I thought most of the Self-Centered, Myopic Cynics spent there time kicking puppies. Your statment sounds a bit libelous to me, before you impune someones character you might try volenteering some of your own time. But then you would have to be infavor of something.
  Have a nice day!
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  Gunther

  1 year ago

  to jimbo, stop being such a hater. i personally love that it's a gateway for all different parts of downtown long beach. like someone else said, attacking this guy's character is just callous.
  
  at juan, congratulations for another really lame comment. you're complaining because people are playing pick-up soccer games inside chavez park??!! isn't that part of what you do in a park. and that park is pretty big...plenty of room for everyone to stretch out. there's a group of guys that play makeshift soccer games at bluff park that i see quite often. and i'm telling you, every time i see them it just makes my blood boil, playing soccer in the park is just wrong wrong wrong. please stop activating the park you bad little soccer players, so that they bums, bangers and addicts can get their park back.
  
  to everyone else, great comments. i'm proud to share the streets and parks with you.
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  Robert Garcia

  1 year ago

  What's amazing to me is that EVERY person I have ever spoken to in the Downtown community supports this idea. Over 20 community associations and groups support this project including the North Pine Neighborhood Alliance, the West End Community Association, and the DLBA.
  
  What is it going to take for this thing to happen? I hope that with a new City Manager, we will see some movement on the park proposal....
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  Mike

  1 year ago

  Traffic engineering is not a rational science that many may believe. There are a lot of assumptions that are subjective and vary from different traffic departments. Creative opportunities exist and should be explored at this intersection. I am happy Pat West has provided the leadership to force this issue to be reexamined.
  
  Mr. Roseman alludes that a park will hinder everyone's mobility, for only one benefit, a park. However right now the outlined streets are only designed by Mr. Roseman to move traffic which is only one benefit at the expense of other amenities such as pleasant walkable sidewalks, viable street fronting businesses and a park.
  
  Traffic accidents are horrible and with my experience at this intersection there are still a lot of accidents occurring, in fact I'm not convinced the number of accidents have been reduced since Engineering has upgraded this intersection. One easy study would be to see if accidents have actually been reduced and if so by how much.
  
  I was recently involved in a serious accident at Hill and Redondo, where I was waiting at a red light and a car slammed into me at 40 miles per hour, with out breaking. My car was totalled, I required medical care and have missed work and play. My neighbor was also seriously hit at this intersection two years earlier. The officer at the scene stated that because there are three intersections (Hathaway, Stearns and Hill) very closely spaced, drivers struggle with "visual separation" between this intersections. This means that drivers cannot separate the signals because of their close proximity and therefore miss one of them, putting the driver and others at serious risk. This would be the same issue at MLK and Alamitos when driving on 7th Street.
  
  We have two knowledgeable professionals that should forget about past disagreements and roll up their sleeves to come up with a viable solution that makes the intersection safer for motorists (note another accident occurred the day the District wrote this article) and benefit businesses and the community.
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  m_steiner

  1 year ago

  Great Article! This area is desperate need of a park and would be a diamond in the ruff for this location. I believe this could also fix the wierd traffic situation that it currently poses. This addition along with the musem accross the way is one more thing that is needed to get rid to help get rid of the blight in this area.
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  Dave in Alamitos Beach

  1 year ago

  This is so irritating just to read, I can imagine how Brian and Bonnie Lowenthal must feel. This particular quote just frosts me: “If losing a street worsens the traffic, we can’t do that.” I've got news for Roseman, the traffic is already terrible, and this small change would mean virtually nothing. Besides, it's traffic SAFETY he should focus on, not traffic reduction. Armory Park might slightly increase traffic congestion, but it would no doubt heighten traffic safety.
  
  Oh, and a small note to Jimbo - the fumes are already there whether you're breathing them in a park or in an asphalt jungle.
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  Robert Garcia

  1 year ago

  Also....check out this link to read over 65 comments of support on the project from local residents....
  
  http://www.lbpost.com/newsdesk.php?id=44&it...
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  mike guardabascio

  1 year ago

  there's a nice google maps shot at that post link of where the park would be as seen from overhead; good clarification for anyone who's confused about the logistics.
  
  make it happen, long beach.
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  mike guardabascio

  1 year ago

  also, another great article, dave.
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  Greggory

  1 year ago

  Okay, so on the one hand we've got experts on each side with differing opinions about the traffic impact of the proposed park, and on the other hand we've got unanimity about the park improving the quality of life and a redo of the intersection improving its safety; and we've already got money set aside to do the park. So, it sounds like the stall is due to the mud of the status-quo thinking.
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  Vsan

  1 year ago

  Brian, as a an owner of property in the area and a frequent flyer of Alamitos and 7th St& MLK I agree that your idea of a park for this area would work. Not only will it minimize the amount of accidents but will provide the much needed green space thus allowing childred to stay off the street and play on some real grass. It would also help reduce the amount of heat collected by mother earth. In a society that is focused on green alternatives for transportation, building, etc. you sure wouldn't think the issue would be how to make the cars happy. For anyone that doesn't know Brian....I have had the pleasure of knowing Brian for several years now and his intentions are nothing but good!
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  GS

  1 year ago

  I work near this location and and i thik this project is an excellent idea. It wil create a safer way for pedestrians and vehicles crossing these blocks.
  Currently, at least once a week, we have an accident at this corner.
  
  This project will help to reduce the number of accidents happening at one of the "most dangerous intersections in Long Beach."
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  Russ Roca

  1 year ago

  I can tell you as the photographer that took the portrait of Brian at that strange intersection, I was fearing for the safety of my gear and myself. Primarily, that strange lane that allows cars to merge from Alamitos to MLK. For a car to do that successfully, they have to wait for oncoming traffic from Alamitos to be clear as well as gauge the incoming traffic from MLK across the concrete barrier. We were there for a total of 20 minutes and I couldn't wait to leave.
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  JG

  1 year ago

  This project has been out in the community for far longer than Shoreline Gateway. There is no relationship. Questioning motives is a surefire way to stifle creativity and volunteering in the community. Sad.
  
  I'd love to see MMA (the expert traffic consultants commissioned with public money to do two reports) address the entire controversy. They will be hesitant because they do a lot of work with the city. But a professional response is obviously required. Go to it, District. If they say the proposed changes may be more safe, inaction by the city is the cause of liability that should be of concern.
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  Gina

  1 year ago

  Brian is too kind to respond to Jimbo’s unfounded comments. I am not. If you had any knowledge of the past, Jimbo, Brian had started working on Armory Park long before Studio-111 started working on the project at Ocean. He spent many evenings after work presenting his idea to various community groups. Brian understands the danger of traffic as it remains one reason why he has been fighting so hard for this. We live in this area and drive through that intersection daily. You should remember that his proposal removes the most dangerous intersection in Long Beach. Personally, I think to leave the intersection alone would be considered negligence by the city. If the choice is to either keep an unsafe intersection or potentially have slower traffic, I would much rather be inconvenienced by slower traffic than be inconvenienced by death or dismemberment. Please see this most recent report: http://www.lbreport.com/
  
  
  As far as children playing in parks, and not all parks are for children, he also fought for the new pocket park being created in the Craftsman Village. In case you have never realized or do not live in or near the downtown, this is one of the densest, most overcrowded portions of the city, with the least amount of park space. Sadly, neither one of these parks will fulfill the needs of the community but at least Brian, a volunteer with no financial benefit, is trying to do something about it. So when you, Jimbo, imagine, design, propose, get community buy-in, and the money in the city budget for a park, all on your own free, volunteered time, then maybe you will have the right to criticize. Brian is not paid city staff. He does not benefit from financial gain. He volunteers his efforts to make this area a better place. In an era of cynicism, I know that our small brains have a hard time understanding this sort of action. Sorry Jimbo, your inferences are completely off base and only stand to bring awareness to your ignorance.
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  JuanPardell

  1 year ago

  Gunther ---- Aren't soccer fields supposed to be used for soccer games? Next time you wan't to battle wits with me, please don't come unarmed.
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  Gunther

  1 year ago

  good one juan. you really got me there. soccer is only the biggest sport in the world played widely in the richest of countries and the poorest of the poor. and sure, they always make sure to play on a real soccer field, because after all that's where you're supposed to play soccer right?! perhaps the next time you a dad and his son playing catch in the park you should tell them to "cut out that nonsense" and find a baseball field. god forbid if a nerf football breaks out in a public park. the wrath of juan the unorganized sport hater is going to strike down upon you.
  
  thanks for pointing the spotlight on your own stupidity. the podium is free if you would like to take another crack at it sporto.
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  Dave Wielenga

  1 year ago

  Juan the Unorganized Sport Hater! Fear his wrath!!!
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  meg

  1 year ago

  It is absolutely false that Brian is proposing Armory Park to promote the Gateway project, I know work on the park had begun before Studio 111 was involved with Shoreline Gateway. Even if this was not the case, the volumes of voluntary work that Brian has completed make it clear that he is not a person motivated to promote himself but rather is motivated by a desire to improve this city. He has the knowledge and the vision to create a better city and Long Beach is extremely lucky to have him as an involved citizen.
  
  We must fight to create green space in Long Beach , especially in the areas which have so little. Without even considering the intangible benefits of quality of life issues, the tangible benefits of reduced urban heat islands, water infiltration, and reduction of storm water runoff to name a few - are worth pursuing. There is a solution, though it might take more work to find it.
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  JuanPardell

  1 year ago

  I'm all for more green space in Long Beach. The issue, is whether city government has the resources to properly protect the parks. In the more wealthy areas of the city, the parks are well taken care of. For example, El Dorado, Marina Green and parks in the 3rd district are always well cared for. This is not the case when it comes to parks in the 1st, 6th, 7th and 9th districts. Therefore, why doesn't Park & Rec explain the inequity of care? Why is there a different standard?
  
  Gunther ----- Next time you venture over to Chavez Park, why not politely ask the crowd of soccer players dominating the space if they can consolidate their game so you and you kid can play catch? Please supply us with a response. Also, bring a Spanish dictionary or translator (just in case your linguistically challenged).
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  Mina

  1 year ago

  The bottom line is the City of Long Beach needs to continue to evolve and improve to reach its full potential. Brian is an amazing resident trying to reach toward the goal of a better Long Beach.
  Perhaps the Armory Park design needs to be expanded to include the neighboring streets to accommodate the traffic volumes and changes that will occur. Either way we have to move forward, we have to decide that it is better to take longer to get where we are going and live better along the way. I think everyone can agree that quality spaces are well worth it once they are achieved. I support Brian's plan and any like it that will look for solutions to similar urban issues.
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  Michelle

  1 year ago

  There are many neighborhoods which would benefit from this green space-Craftsman Village Historic District, East Village Arts District, St Anthony neighborhood- not only will it provide green space for our area but it will also provide a much-needed solution to traffic issues and blight. Our area has been negleted by the city for too long. We deserve to have a neighborhood that looks inviting- after all, Alamitos is the gateway to MOLAA, the aquarium and downtown. Do we want visitors to see how the city has left this area to rot? Our neighborhoods will stand behind this idea and we will come out in numbers to support it. Brian, just tell us where and when.
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  david c.

  1 year ago

  build it... and they will come!!!
  
  we need armory park. great use of this land.
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  AMY M.

  1 year ago

  WOW....ALL OF THESE OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE TRAFFIC SITUATION IS VERY INFORMATIVE, REALLY, BUT I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD ANY MENTION ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY OCCUPYING THE 4 APARTMENTS IN THE BUILDING THAT SITS ON THAT PIECE OF LAND. I KNOW NOBODY CAME KNOCKING AT MY DOOR ASKING HOW I WOULD FEEL ABOUT MY HOME BEING TAKEN FROM ME OR MY DAUGHTER HAVING TO BE UPROOTED FROM THE ONLY HOME SHE HAS EVER KNOWN. I HAVE LIVED IN THIS BUILDING FOR 7 YEARS AND UP UNTIL YESTERDAY 06-04-08 HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE ABOUT ANY PLANS TO DEMOLISH OUR HOMES. I THOUGHT IT WAS STANDARD PROCEDURE TO POST NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS SO THE "COMMUNITY" CAN VOICE OPINIONS ON THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT NOBODY IN THIS BUILDING WAS EVER GIVEN THAT COURTESY. IN CASE NOBODY ELSE KNOWS YET THEY HAVE SERVED MY NEIGHBORS AND MYSELF WITH EVICTION PAPERS AND A PLAN TO START DEMOLITION AROUND AUGUST 4, 2008.
  
  OUR LANDLORD WHO ALSO OWN THE MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART , THE LOFTS AND VARIOUS OTHER RENTAL PROPERTIES IN LONG BEACH, HAS OBVIOUSLY RECEIVED SOME COMPENSATION FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR THE LAND BUT SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELP OUT THE PEOPLE WHO RENEW THEIR LEASES EVERY YEAR, PAY RENT ON TIME ETC.
  
  AND FYI , AS FAR AS THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT STATISTICS FOR OUR LITTLE MLK / 7TH ST. INTERSECTION LET ME JUST SAY THIS MUCH...VERY RARELY IS THERE ANY FATALITY INVOLVED. I THINK I HAVE SEEN 2 IN MY TENOR HERE THE LAST 7 YEARS AND BELIEVE ME, I HAVE PROBABLY SEEN UPWARDS OF 100 PRIOR TO THE ADDITION OF THE RUMBLE STRIP ISLAND, A SECOND " NO RIGHT TURN ON RED” SIGN THEY POSTED NEXT TO THE EXISTING SIGN NOBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO AND APPARENT "TWEAKING" OF THE 2 RIGHT TURN LANE LIGHTS. THEY HAVE CUT BACK TREMENDOUSLY ON THE AMOUNT OF ACCIDENTS OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO. IF PEOPLE WOULD STOP TEXTING FROM THEIR CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING, PUTTING MAKEUP ON, READING STREET MAPS. ..THAT NUMBER WOULD DROP EVEN MORE.
  
  ******SPECIAL REPORT**** I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO APPLAUD THE DECISION BY THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT TO UTILIZE THEIR MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS AS "BABYSITTERS" FOR THE INTERSECTION SINCE NONE OF OUR ESTEEMED "COMMUNITY MEMBERS" CARE TO READ STREET SIGNS ANYMORE. “RIGHT LANE MUST TURN RIGHT" MEANS WHAT IT SAYS. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
  
  THANK YOU LBPD AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
  
  THANKS FOR THE WEB SPACE TO VOICE OUR OPINIONS ON THIS MATTER
  SINCERELY,
  
  AMY~ SOON TO BE FORMER TENANT IN "THE TRIANGLE BUILDING"
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  Dave in Alamitos Beach

  1 year ago

  Amy, I'm sorry that you and your family have to move, but seven years at one rental is a pretty long residency. And since you are such a good tenant, you should have no problem finding an even better location for you and your family. It sounds like any decent landlord would be lucky to take you on.
  
  I know it's hard to put ourselves in other people's situations, but I personally wouldn't mind moving away from an intersection where I had personally witnessed over 100 traffic accidents, including two fatalities.
  
  Perhaps you can contact your landlord to see if he can provide any assistance? Or maybe the RDA can point you in the right direction.
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  Dwight K Snider

  1 year ago

  Amy, contact your district's councilperson first-thing Monday. It's their job to help and support you and all other residents of the district they represent. At least that is what they always tell us when running for election.
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