And then there were two.
Months of planning and three community workshops have narrowed the field of designs for a street porch to be located between Aves. 51 and 52 down to two.
In April, community members selected the installation of a street porch--or parklet--to be thein councilman José Huizar's .
Launched in the fall of 2010, Huizar's office has promoted the new York Vision plan as an effort to catalyze the business boom along York Boulevard with both short and long term investments.
In addition to the parklet, community members have also chosen to have six antique street-lights installed between Ave. 50 and 51.
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, community members who attended a planning meeting at El Chapin voted in favor of placing the plaza on York Blvd. between Avenue 50 and 51, just in front of the entry to the alley leading to the parking lot behind Do it Best Hardware.
Now, those who have attended the past planning meetings will have an opportunity to select the final design for the parklets.
The vote was needed after community members came to a deadlock in picking a final parklet design at the Oct. 5 meeting. Feedback on the final design is being solicited by Living Streets L.A., an architectural firm pegged by Huizar to coordinate the planning efforts.
Cathi Milligan--owner of the on York Boulevard and a frequent participant the planning meetings--said some design aspects of the parklets are already set in stone.
"There will definitely be a mosaic and they'll more than likely be made of concrete," Milligan said. "They'll also include planters."
The selection of the parklet as an immediate project--for which $50,000 in city money has been earmarked--has been the subject of some debate among local business owners.
Proponents say the first of it's kind project would be an aesthetically pleasing draw to the neighborhood that would boost the momentum of efforts to spur business growth along York Boulevard. Opponents, however, have derided the street porches as impractical and a draw for local homeless people looking for a place to sleep.
Drawings of the two final designs can be download at the right. Vote in our poll to let us know which parklet design you prefer, and we'll be sure to forward those results to Living Streets.
