One of Altadena Heritage’s New Year’s resolutions for 2012 is to host a roundtable on the Future of North Lake Avenue.
We’d like to bring residents, business owners, planners, urban designers, and commercial real estate developers together to discuss about how to create a more lively and attractive business district. The Avenue looks rather bleak right now, with more empty storefronts and closed businesses.
Altadena, a community of over 40,000, should be able to support commercial activity for residents. Lake, along with cross streets like Mariposa, Mendocino, and Altadena Drive, possesses an inventory of mostly under-used commercial buildings (some quite charming) that could be home to boutiques, restaurants, and street life.
What can be done? We want to discuss community desires, as well as problems and impediments. Vacant shop windows are taking a toll, even while most of us would prefer to shop locally rather than drive to Pasadena or La Cañada.
Altadena Heritage hosted a roundtable discussion that kicked off a six-year long process that culminated in 2010 with a stronger Community Standards District to protect against bad development in our foothills. While Lake Avenue’s problems are completely different, we again hope to facilitate the conversation that’s already begun with an event that will put community needs and desires on the table.
What are your questions and concerns about North Lake Avenue? Please share your thoughts in the comments.