These old lamposts being devoured by creeping nasturtium vines were spotted outside the back gate of Heritage Square Museum in Lincoln Heights/Montecito Heights (the neighborhood designation is variable). The nasturtium has been growing wild there for at least twenty years and it’s amazing to me how large and prolific the vines grow.
This small grassy area filled with walnut trees, sycamores and some oaks was once part of the series of parks that bordered the Arroyo Seco Parkway (now known as the ‘Pasadena Fwy’). However, at some point in the 90s, the park was fenced in to discourage transients and homeless camps. Perhaps too, Heritage Square preferred the privacy.
It would be lovely to somehow create a trail along the Arroyo Seco so that those of us who enjoy walking can easily move through the Northeast LA area. According to the good folks at LA Creek Freak, an Arroyo bike path is being planned for the area slightly south of here. I’d much rather our City spend it’s limited funds on these kinds of projects instead of ‘Star Trek’ bright LED lights and unnecessary and costly new bridges.
Those lights are crazy bright! When one down the street got installed I kept thinking there was something happening over there, like some overnight street repair or police action. I don’t think those neighbors are gonna be too happy.
An Arroyo Seco walking trail would be cool. I also appreciated the link about L.A. bridges. All the bridges mentioned are of the concrete variety, but what about the good ol’ bridge that we kids use to cross to get to Nightengale? That one is made of iron/metal, what’s the story on that one? Anyway, good post Chimatli.
Those lights will save us money. If they don’t want them in Venice, send some over to South LA.
I don’t want the lights in Lincoln Heights, it makes my street look like Long Beach or something…I’m just glad they don’t shine right into my bedroom window unlike my neighbor.
By the way, the Board of Public Works approved the new bridge project. This effort must be lining someone’s pocket because it makes no sense to tear down a historical monument to build a new bridge. The traffic issues were supposed to be resolved by the recently renovated North Broadway/Buena Vista bridge. The authorities of this city are so incredibly disappointing.
http://blogdowntown.com/2010/06/5391-fight-over-fate-of-historic-north-spring
Interesting observation. As the museum does more events (visitorship has doubled in the past three years) and as the blacksmiths take up residence (check out http://www.adamsforge.org if you want to take classes), more of the areas we traditionally use for other things have been showing up on all sorts of fun blogs.
As for the lights, when the City was replacing lights in the downtown area for more modern fixtures, a couple of contractors asked them not to throw these out, recognizing the historic value. The City agreed, so long as they took them. The contractors then gave them to Heritage Square thinking we could use them. Unfortunately, the museum lacked (and lacks) the infrastructure to put them in the ground. That said, we’ve been working with a pro-bono lighting consultant to see what can be feasibly done including using some on the “south 9”, so to speak.
With Adam’s Forge taking up residence there and a couple of other proposals in place from similar groups, in addition to a new preservation program that will teach construction workers preservation skills and a new historic pharmacy on the docket to be built this year, we may need to figuere how to get more light out of the place. The streetlights may (or may not) play in to that plan. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Anyone who would like more information on the currently planning going on, please feel free to email me at development(at)heritagesquare.org. Especially if you have a talent for meshing competing visions, send me an email.
Brian,
Thanks so much for stopping by the site and for contributing all the awesome news regarding Heritage Square!
Glad to hear there are contractors out there that recognize the historical significance of the objects they come into replace. All too often, here in Lincoln Heights, I’m too late to the scene to tell all the modern “renovators” to at least donate or give away the historic objects they are replacing rather than throw them away.
Also, I’m very happy to hear about your new preservation program, it’s very needed, especially in this area.
Please let us know about events and happenings at Heritage Square, I’m sure our readers would like to be informed. I will be posting about Lummis Day shortly.