Brian Addison
Recent Posts
BNSF and Architects Cosponsor “Great Park” Design Competition for Commerce Rail Yard
| | 1 Comment
(Yes, this was our April Fool’s piece – DN) With the certification of the Environmental Impact Report [EIR] by the Los Angeles Harbor Commission for the development of a near-dock railyard, Burlington North Santa Fe Railroad Company [BNSF] called a joint press conference today with the City of Commerce Chapter of American Institute of Architects […]
Port of Long Beach Breaks Ground on Project Expected to Alleviate Rail Congestion, Truck Pollution
| | 1 Comment
In an attempt to not only clear traffic between the Port of Long Beach (POLB) and the Alameda Corridor rail line but also clear the air of pollutants, the Green Port Gateway–after years of discussion–is finally underway with a ten-month later-than-expected completion date. Originally slated to be completed in September of this year with a […]
SCIG Rail Yard Protestors to Go on Hunger Strike; Protest in Front of Villaraigosa’s Home
| | 7 Comments
Exemplifying a non-violent path to protest the proposed Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) project, The Los Angeles Port Working Group–a collaborative of community health and environment organizations– decided to go on a 24-hour hunger strike and all-day vigil in front Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s home. After the controversial project’s FEIR was unanimously approved by […]
Long Beach Transit, Please Go (More) Electric
| | 10 Comments
Long Beach Transit (LBT) is considering two common, albeit game-changing RFPs (depending on their decisions): to purchase new buses that fit within the so-called alternative fuel sectors–that is, hybrid, CNG, or electric. Before I even make another statement, there are two that shouldn’t even be on that list–and it isn’t electric. As dollar signs float […]
Long Beach: After Successful Small Projects, City Fabrick Launches and Aims for the Grander Scale
| | No Comments
City Fabrick, the nonprofit urba-nerd group in Long Beach, has officially launched. And this, Long Beachers, is a good thing. The organization has no little–or amongst cities like San Francisco, New York, and even good ol’ Los Angeles, not an uncommon–task: to rearrange the city’s physical space to “promote progressive urban design that enhances the […]
Long Beach: Terminal Island Freeway Removal (Once Again) Attempts to Find Funding for Study
| | 9 Comments
Last night, the Long Beach City Council voted unanimously to (once again) approved a motion to pursue a grant in order to further a study on the removal of the northern portion of the Terminal Island Freeway (I-103) that sits above Pacific Coast Highway in West Long Beach. This marks the second bold decision by […]
Long Beach: Controversial Mental Health Facility Finds New Home; Schroeder Hall Moves Forward
| | 4 Comments
After a long and arduous battle that pitted neighborhood fears of wandering homeless folk against the acquirement of an Army-owned property that the city hoped to turn into a new police substation, it seems that the city plans for Schroeder Hall are moving forward as planned. Instead of building the federally-mandated homeless facility near Schroeder […]
Long Beach: Name… The Already-Named Transit Mall?
| | 5 Comments
In what is undoubtedly one of the strangest campaigns yet, Councilmember Suja Lowenthal wants you to name the already-named Transit Mall Station per the MTA. Located on 1st Street between Pine and Pacific Avenues down, the at-grade station that services the Blue Line is part of the Metro–and has been for 23 years. In 2011, […]
Long Beach City Council, Three Community Groups Formally File Appeal Against SCIG
| | 4 Comments
With a vote of 8-0, the Long Beach City Council voted to undertake an appeal to the L.A. City Council in regards to the building of the Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) project. Council Woman Suja Lowenthal was absent. In addition, three of the largest community and environmental groups associated with criticizing the project–the East […]
Harbor Board Unanimously Approves SCIG Freight Rail Yard Project; Community Groups Outraged
| | 4 Comments
In what is undoubtedly a controversial decision–not to mention an utterly disheartening one as well for the multitude of community groups and leaders who opposed the project–the Harbor Board of Commissioners for the Port of Los Angeles voted unanimously to approve the building of the $500 million Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) rail yard. It […]
Long Beach: One (Giant) Step Closer to Connecting the Broadway Corridor
| | 5 Comments
Many feel the Broadway corridor–extending from Roswell all the way west to Cerritos–has continually lacked not just a cohesiveness that brings together other areas of Long Beach such as 4th Street and Pine, but also simple streetscape elements that increase accessibility, beautify the strip, and make it safer. The long strip is home to multiple […]
Long Beach: After Rocky Road, Senior Housing Complex Breaking Ground
| | No Comments
Following a tumultuous and rocky undergoing, the Ramona Park Senior Apartment complex along Artesia Boulevard and Downey Avenue will break ground next Tuesday. The 60-unit Long Beach Housing Development Company building–though not an original Redevelopment Agency (RDA) project which, when it was dissolved, took away a debilitating $1 billion in annual affordable-housing support–still initially needed […]