MountainViews - July 14, 2005
by R. A. Lovka

Twenty years of hoping, waiting, petitioning, and plenty of Project Area Committee pushing will bear fruit this Saturday morning (July 16) in West Altadena, where Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich will preside over an official ground-breaking ceremony for Altadena's Lincoln Crossing project.

While the site along the east side of Lincoln Ave., running from Woodbury to Crosby and Casitas streets has been undergoing preliminary grading and digging during the past month, Saturday's event marks the "all clear" for construction on Phase One of the project to begin.

"We're shooting to have the 24-Hour Fitness and the new Farm Fresh Supermarket up and running by the end of this year,' said Greg Galletly, project manager for developer Dorn-Platz and Co. "We know how long the community has been waiting for a supermarket," he continued, "so that's our main focus. We look to have the entire phase completed and all tenants in service by spring of 2006."

Galletly told the West Altadena project Area Committee (PAC) and community members that the project "already has nearly a dozen businesses on board to lease sites in the development," and that he anticipates final agreements for a 5,000 square-foot, full-service bank to be completed in the next three weeks.

"This project is a reality," Galletly emphasized. "It's not one of those deals where something gets built and no one moves in. Lincoln Crossing will be a vibrant gateway to Altadena," he said.

Besides its major anchors tenants, the development will house several food and service businesses, including Panda Express, Coffee Gallery, Mat's Pharmacy, a pizza establishment, office supply store, nail-care solon, and a dental firm. Ringing the upper level of the [project] will be apartments and studio-style housing units.

A community outreach program focusing on employment for local individuals and sub-contractors has been an ongoing process, through the efforts of the county's Community Development Commission and HUD. The outreach is spearheaded and locally by employment and housing manager Sheila Frye and local activist Ron Carter, in conjunction with developer Dorn-Platz and general contractor Summit Builders.

Saturday's groundbreaking ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. at the project site. Light refreshments will be served.

Besides Supervisor Antonovich, developer Ray Carlisle and officials from Dorn-Platz and Summit Builders will be on-hand, along with PAC chair Bernardean Broadous and 4610 tract representatives Billy Nwoye and Bobby Thompson.

Thompson is also the Altadena Town Council's seated representative to the PAC, and has pressed for an official "but short" ceremony to kick off the construction. "The entire community is invited to come out and participate, Thompson said. "It's been a long, long road of community involvement to make this day a reality. It's a celebration!" he exclaimed.

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©2005 MountainViews