Building Fire

Building Fire
Originally uploaded by ephs.

This classic brick building at Alvarado and Sunset caught fire on July 14, injuring one person. The fire started in an upstairs apartment but two businesses below sufferred heavy water damage. These kind of buildings play an important role in defining our commercial streets, creating a lively environment for pedestrians (as well as providing housing on upper floors). Many have been torn down for mini-malls and parking lots that are more friendly to motorists. We hope this building is repaired in a preservation-minded manner.

Restoration Workshops

Restoration Workshops
Originally uploaded by ephs.

The last of our trio of Summer Restoration Workshops will be held on Sunday July 22. See the Preseevation page for details. The photo is from our Shopping for Salavage Workshop last weekend.

Elegant Density?

Elegant Density?
Originally uploaded by ephs.

The mayor has used the phrase "elegant density" to describe well designed and perhaps even stylish big development needed to house a growing population. Well, instead of elegant density, Echo Park seems to get more "ugly urban" as this giant box rising on Cortez Street west of Glendale Boulevard show. The blob like building will serve as a sterile storage box for people and overwhelm the smaller Victorian-era homes now hidden from view. Nothing wrong with building apartments, and big buildings are not necessarily bad. But do they have to be this over bearing and sterile?