A dream? Or is it the light at the end of the tunnel...

Can you see it!? Look closer. It's there. With all that's going on in the world it's good to know that some of our developers have continued on through a very long, winding, bumpy, (previously) unpaved road.

If you don't know what we're referring to yet, check out the OTC Blog from February, 2019 here.

Check it out. We'll wait...

Just to recap, there has been a project under construction at the corner of Chestnut and Magnolia (soon to be 239 West Chestnut Avenue) for a 10-unit industrial condominium complex.

However, maybe it wasn't a road; maybe it was one massively long tunnel! Yes. We can see it. The glimmer in the eye that imagines what's on the other side. You visualize the 'concept' of what could be at the end.

So you enter the tunnel, with the dreamscape in mind. However, it is not your ordinary tunnel, it's more like an ACME tunnel. The project has been one long, continuously stretched tunnel. Think of Roger Rabbit taking the tunnel and stretching it for 12 years!!! Can you imagine a 12-year long tunnel!!!??? Whew! That is quite the journey! And when the light breaks, and finally steps out, you see the dream in its reality! Doesn't it look good! It's great when the final product looks like the concept! We love it when that happens.

Thankfully, most projects don't take this long to come to fruition and we're pleased that we can all see the light at the end of this tunnel.

While the developers have a few final items to finish, we're out of the tunnel with the end in sight. We expect they will be calling for a final inspection of the completed building in the very near future! Hooray!

If you are looking to lease one of these brand new industrial condos within this new development, please contact Filippo Fanara at Filippo@cibare.com.

And just like our developer we too have a light at the end of this long tunnel! It goes to show that perseverance wins the day. So on your next stroll, be sure to walk by and check it out... and don't forget to look down, you might find some inspiration in the sidewalk... a couple of poems embedded in the sidewalk. Read more about 'Footnotes' here.

So stay well and stay safe, dear readers; and please continue to come back to this blog during these times for some information and light-heartedness. Even as we face some challenges ahead, it is good to know that there's still a lot of great things going on in Monrovia and we're committed to keep you posted through more of these posts in the coming weeks. 

Would you like a free pizza?

Blaze Pizza opens this weekend in Foothill Park Plaza, specifically, at 108 W. Foothill Boulevard.  Follow Blaze Pizza on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and grab yourself a free pizza from 11:00 a.m. to midnight.  However, the offer is good only this Saturday (7/26/2014).  

Casually referred to as “the Chipotle or Subway of pizza” Blaze is one of more than a half a dozen food chains using the new trend of assembly line style of custom ordering.  The pizzas are baked in hot ovens for only a few minutes, offering fast, customized pizzas that you may...or may not want to share.  Check out their website for more information.

So what does this all have to do with the Community Development Department?  Well, other then the fact that we do love our food...several divisions and boards were involved in the opening.  The Planning Division worked with the property manager and business owner to get the process going, then coordinated with the state Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC).  Next, the Planning Commission approved Blaze Pizza's conditional use permit to serve beer and wine, the Development Review Committee (DRC) approved their sign, and just today, the Business License Section issued Blaze Pizza's...what else, their business license.  And finally, the Building Division reviewed, approved and inspected their construction.

Bon appetit!

2013 was a pretty good year after all

At the start of 2013, we were feeling cautiously optimistic, which is how we felt at the beginning of 2012 and 2011 only to be slightly disillusioned.  But oh what a difference a year makes!  All those phone calls, emails, counter visits are definitely resulting in something tangible.  Finally, we can say with some surety that things are looking up.  In fact, the Planning Staff has had a very busy year and things do not look like they are slowing down.  Despite the length of this post, this is just a brief overview of some of what's been going on here.

Planning Commission

Let’s start with the Planning Commission, they reviewed 43 entitlements in 2013 a 35% increase over 2012.  Too numerous to mention all of them, some of the highlights include:
 Monrovia’s first microbrewery—or any brewery for that matter—Pacific Plate located at 1999 South Myrtle Avenue was approved at the beginning of the year and opened their doors a few months ago.  Hope you got a chance to try their "Christmas in a glass".

 

5th & Huntington

A new 154-unit apartment building at the corner of 5^th & Huntington Drive was approved in the spring.  Construction plans are now being reviewed by the City and the developer is planning on breaking ground in the spring of 2014.  This will be a huge change for that corner and will make a terrific entry statement for Monrovia.
  
 
Del Taco is under construction at 945 East Huntington Drive, next to Fast5Xpress car wash which is also well under way.  Both businesses should be open in several months.  This was truly a collaborative process involving the residents of the mobile home park to the north, the developer, City Staff and also Duarte’s staff (since the City of Duarte owns half the street).

 

Del Taco

Fast5Xpress

 

 

New Restaurants in Huntington Oaks

Chipotle, Smashburger, Panera have opened in a beautiful new building that replaced Acapulco in the Huntington Oaks Shopping Center.  Menchie’s frozen yogurt will be joining them soon.

Additionally, an expanded Union 76 service station and Giving Hands thrift store both received their approvals this year.  A 21-unit and 4-unit Planned Unit Development were approved at 1323 South Magnolia Avenue and 535 West Lemon Avenue, respectively.  The 18-unit Ivy at Monrovia condominiums should be completed mid-Winter 2014.



Ivy at Monrovia (Olive side)

Ivy at Monrovia (Ivy side)

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Town continues to attract new restaurants.  Planet Cookie has transformed into Meridian.  S’Links at the south end of Old Town along with a new Japanese and bar and grill will make the 600 Block a hot dining destination.  Travel the world of food in the 600 Block.

Current Planning

Popeye's

Not every project, plan or permit is required to go before the Planning Commission.  The overwhelming majority of development is reviewed at a staff level.  From building remodels to landscape plans to new signage, the Planning counter has been busy this year.  Several existing businesses have completed or are in the process of doing major remodeling projects.  Popeye’s Chicken, the MonArc shopping center on Duarte Road (we’re still having trouble not referring to it as “the Super A center”) and AW Collision Center on South Mountain—big improvements to those buildings.




What's left of Wendy's

New Signs in Foothill Park Plaza



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wendy’s in the Foothill Park Plaza is undergoing its transformation…and speaking of Foothill Park Plaza, there have been several upgrades in 2013—new paint, parking lot improvements and a whole new sign program.

 

Literally, driving up the wall...in a good way

We’re happy to see that the car business is getting better too, both Sierra Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (that’s a mouthful) and Mini Cooper completed big remodels.  Check out their new “sign”.  It puts a whole new spin to driving up the wall.  We weren’t sure about it on paper, but really like it in person.  Watch for further changes to Auto Row in 2014…big changes.

 

 

 

 

Historic Preservation

505 North Alta Vista Avenue

The Historic Preservation Commission reviewed two new historic landmarks for the register: #128 at 201 Acacia Avenue and #129 at 505 North Alta Vista Avenue.  The Commission is also responsible for reviewing and approving exterior changes to the City’s 129 historic landmarks.  If the Commission determines that the proposed change is consistent with the architectural and historic character of the property, a Certificate of Appropriateness (C of A) can be approved.  Eight C of A’s were approved this year.  As a “working Commission”, the Commissioners are often requested to serve on subcommittees to work out specific details.  Despite the apparent lack of progress on a couple projects, both the renovation of the Aztec Hotel and the complete remodel of the building at 316 South Myrtle Avenue have relied on their expertise.  We expect to see some visible progress on both properties over the next few months.

Advance Planning

Also known as long range Planning, this section of the Division is responsible for the update of the City’s General Plan and Zoning Ordinance.  In addition to a couple of project-specific amendments to the City’s General Plan, the primary focus in 2013 was the update of the Housing Element.  Over the year a consultant was hired to assist in the preparation of the Element.   This included a community workshop as well as a citywide survey was conducted earlier this year.  Public hearings will be held by the Planning Commission and City Council in early 2014.

Filming

Our staff processed an agreement to turn over the day-to-day activities related to monitoring film production in the Monrovia to FilmL.A., a non-profit organization to promote filming in Los Angeles County.  Working as adjunct staff, they will take over much of the legwork required in processing permits for filming production…at no cost to the City.

Transportation

The City’s flagship transit program, Monrovia Transit dial-a-ride provided over 50,000 trips in 2013.  Watch for new vehicles in 2014.  The City’s portion of Proposition C monies (one of three countywide ½ cent transportation taxes) funded the resurfacing of the majority of Olive Avenue.

Gold Line construction is going full steam ahead and while the City’s Public Works Department is taking the lead on the interface with the new light rail system, many of the City’s divisions, including Planning, have been involved.  We’re all feeling the pain of construction, but in the end, we’re confident that this will be a great thing for Monrovia and the San Gabriel Valley. 

 

Well, there you have a very brief…ok not so brief overview of what’s been going on around “the counter.”  Although we’re not prone to make resolutions, we are striving to blog more often.   So stay tuned, there’s going to be a lot more good stuff coming soon. 

Happy New Year!

Collision Center Completes Modern Renovation of Building

AW Collision Center of Monrovia completely renovated the property at 1875 South Mountain Avenue, giving the building an amazing appearance on the outside and a high tech upgrade on the inside. 

 

Exterior

Interior

In September 2011, Planning Commission approved the AW Collision of Monrovia project, allowing the business to occupy an industrial building that was built in 1969 and had been vacant for several months. The AW Collision of Monrovia is one of the largest collision repair providers on the west coast and has exclusive agreements with auto dealerships for BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche and Volvo.

A very dated building has been dramatically changed with the removal of wood siding that covered the windows on the front building façade, the installation of new high quality commercial windows and the addition of two “state of the art” spray booths in the warehouse portion of the building. The final touches with new landscaping and a new coat of paint have brought a very tired piece of property back to life.   

Before

Before

After

Time Warner Constructs Unmanned Facility in Monrovia

Time Warner's Unmanned Facility

Time Warner recently completed construction of an unmanned facility at 446 E. Duarte Road.  Want to know more?  Let's have a little lyrical fun while we get you up to speed:   
 

 When you get a chance

While driving down this street,

The site at 446 E Duarte

Will give your eyes a treat!

A new brick building they did build

With block walls and plants and trees,

Time Warner has equipment here

In their unmanned facility.

Steel awnings and black iron work

On this façade you’ll find,

A nice improvement to this site

Of which all is well combined.

So video, data and phone uses

In this building there will be,

Now you know what’s at this site

So, drive on by and see!

Time Warner's Unmanned Facility

Okay, our serious hat is back on. Here's a tad less poetic description of what's been going on at 446 E. Duarte Road:

Time Warner has just completed construction of a 4,729 square foot unmanned automated facility at 446 East Duarte Road.  The facility houses electronic equipment necessary to provide video, data, and wire line phone services on a 24/7 basis.  An emergency backup diesel powered generator is also on-site due to the 24/7 operation of the facility that includes 911 service. 

Development of this split face concrete block structure with steel awnings and decorative iron work has greatly improved this property, which formerly housed various buildings with deferred maintenance issues.  Construction includes a new 8’ high decorative block wall on the side and rear property lines along with an 8’ high wrought iron fence on the front property line.  Landscaping areas are dispersed around the site, including a 5’ wide landscaped strip along the street facing side of the front fence.  

Jack in the Box

Updated on November 14, 2012

 

Now open!  The new Jack in the Box located at the southeast corner of West Huntington Drive and South Magnolia Avenue is up and running.  Store hours for the 2,588 square foot restaurant are from 6:00 a.m. until midnight in the dining room, and 24 hours for the drive-thru.  This site was the former home of The Pottery Ranch store.    

      

The building is located on the west side of the property with the parking spaces located on the east side of the building.   Wrapping around the building on the north is the drive-thru, which continues south along the west side of the building.  Customers can access the site via Huntington Drive or Magnolia Avenue.  

Using an exposed neon design, the Jack in the Box sign is a flashback to the style typically found on businesses located along Historic Route 66.  The sign is mounted on a replica of the background used by the Pottery Ranch sign.

Updated on October 18, 2012

In just a few months, you'll be able to sit down with a Sourdough Jack at the southeast corner of West Huntington Drive and South Magnolia Avenue.  Construction at the site is moving along quickly and, according to their banner sign, this Jack in the Box location will be "Opening Soonish".     

Original Post on August 29, 2012

In September 2011, the Planning Commission approved a request from Jack in the Box Corporation for the development of a 2,588 square foot restaurant with a drive-thru and 24-hour operation at the southeast corner of West Huntington Drive and South Magnolia Avenue.   The site is the former home of The Pottery Ranch store.

Former Pottery Ranch Site

 The building will be situated on the west side of the property with the parking spaces located on the east side of the site.   The drive-thru will wrap around the building on the north and will continue south along the west side of the property.  It will be accessed via Huntington Drive from a new driveway that has been designed to be away from the intersection to lessen traffic impacts.   Another driveway will be located off of Magnolia Avenue for both ingress and egress from the site.  The proposed hours of operation will be from 6:00 am until midnight for the dining room and 24 hours for the drive-thru.

Site Plan

The building is a mixture of stucco and brick with metal awnings and a standing seam roof.  The Jack in the Box sign will be a flashback to the exposed neon style found among businesses that were located along the old Route 66.  The background of the sign will be mounted on the replica of the background of the Pottery Ranch sign.

Front Elevation

Pottery Ranch Sign

Santa Teresita Construction Update

This 22-unit assisted living facility is the first structure to be completed in the “Rose Gardens at Santa Teresina” development. The development will take place in four phases and encompasses the 12 acre Santa Teresina Hospital site (2.7 acres in Monrovia and 9.3 acres in Duarte). Over time the grounds will be developed with skilled nursing facilities and assisted living and independent living units in a campus type setting for seniors.  For more information about the Rose Gardens visit Santa Teresina's website.

North-facing elevation

East side of the building