Pasadena Star News - June 29, 2005
by Kimm Groshong

ALTADENA - Grading for the first phase of the Lincoln Crossing development on Lincoln Avenue is well under way. Signs inform passers-by that Summit Builders Construction Company has been selected as general contractor. Supervisor Michael Antonovich has an official on-site groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. July 9.

What may be less obvious is that, for months, the developer and a group of dedicated community members have been working to integrate local and minority workers in the project.

Sheila Frye, a community outreach coordinator based in Houston, has been hired to ensure locals have opportunities to work on the development. Tow members of the Altadena Town Council's Land Use Committee, Ron Carter and Tecumseh Shackelford, have joined Frye to improve the level of community involvement.

Frye says she has received about 60 applications from people in the community who are interested in working on the development's construction.

"That's incredible," she told attendees of the West Altadena Project Area Committee's meeting Monday. "It just tells you there's a need for employment in this area."

Frye said four of the eight contractors hired for the early stages of the development are interested in sponsoring people from the community as apprentices. Some of the subcontractors also have said they want to hire locals for full-time, long-term employment, she said.

Greg Galletly of the development Dorn-Platz & Company said he hopes to open the project's 24 Hour Fitness and Farm Fresh Ranch market by the end of the year, with smaller tenants following in the spring. Leases are being worked out with Panda Express, Subway, Mat's Pharmacy, The Coffee Gallery, a nail studio, a pizza maker and an office supply and services company. A bank has signed a letter of intent to occupy a 5,000-square-foot piece of the project.

Others at the meeting Monday said they were concerned about the development's parking situation. Resident Randy Katai said a petition with about 50 signatures is circling to protest a permit that would allow the fitness club to operate with fewer parking spaces than required by code.

Katai said he worries overflow parking would clog residential street, "making a bad situation even worse."

Galletly said parking codes assume each of the businesses will be used at its peak level all the time.

Paul Novak, planning deputy for Antonovich, said the county's Department of Public Works reviewed the project's parking study and agree with the analysis.

The county will hold a public hearing on the permit at 9:30 a.m. July 6 in Room 150 of the Hall of Records at 320 W. Temple St. in Los Angeles.

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©2005 Pasadena Star News