Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy

Silver Lake Reservoir Back in Two Council Districts

LarryK — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:38:46 +0000

The latest maps from the City of LA’s redistricting commission have placed the Reservoir complex back where it was, straddling a line between Council Districts 4 (Tom LaBonge) and 13 (Eric Garcetti). The draft maps will be subject to a series of public hearings and come before the full Council on February 29. Here’s an interactive from the Los Angeles Times:

http://graphics.latimes.com/la-council-redistricting-v2/

Councilman LaBonge & DWP to Preview Headworks Project for Silver Lake Community

LarryK — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:25:05 +0000

Councilman Tom LaBonge is asking Silver Lake community leaders to save the date of Thursday, March 8th, from 8-9 a.m. to attend a press conference with Department of Water & Power representatives to formally announce the Headworks Project.

As many of you already know, the River Supply Conduit Project has been under construction for the last two years. Yet many residents do not understand what the pipeline project is all about. This visit to the site of Headworks on Forest Lawn Drive will give you a good understanding of this massive and historic infrastructure project that will be delivering drinking water to the people of Los Angeles.

The Fruits of Our Labors Making Silver Lake a Better Place

LarryK — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:34:52 +0000

The Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy has been instrumental in the many improvements to the Reservoir complex over the past few years—the new path along Silverlake Blvd. is one of them, along with the opening of the Meadow last year. In this top photo, we see some folks enjoying the path, or at least getting their important daily dose of exercise!

The popularity of the Meadow (just go there any weekend afternoon and see all the kites and kids!) made it imperative to provide a safe way to cross busy Silverlake Blvd., especially since all the parking spaces are located across the street from the Reservoir complex. Thanks to Councilmen Eric Garcetti’s and Tom LaBonge’s help, the City of Los Angeles installed a pedestrian crosswalk by the classic Neutra ” VDL” house just across the boulevard from the Meadow (bottom photo).

Come on out and enjoy with us!

New LA City Council Maps Put Silver Lake Reservoir in One District

LarryK — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:30:15 +0000

The proposed new maps for the Los Angeles City Council’s 15 districts were released today, January 25th, and they place the Reservoir complex in one district, instead of being split in two, as it is now:

http://graphics.latimes.com/la-council-redistricting/

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-city-redistricting-20120126,0,7773637.story

The proposed map places the Reservoir wholly within the Fourth District, a seat now held by Tom LaBonge. Current district boundaries place the southeast end of the Reservoir in Councilman Eric Garcetti’s 13th District and the northwest end in the Fourth.

The City must redraw its lines every 10 years to reflect population and demographic changes. The redistricting process is overseen by a Redistricting Commission, which then presents its maps to the Council, which must adopt a plan by March 1. The new lines will take effect this year, and will impact elections in 2013 (when Garcetti is termed out) and 2015 (when LaBonge is termed out).

The Commission will now take the draft proposed maps out to a series of community meetings and public hearings over the next month. It is possible that the maps will change, but probably not by much. The new maps must reflect the fact that the San Fernando Valley grew over the past decade, while many areas of the central city, including Silver Lake, stayed the same or even lost some population. They also must comply with the Federal Voting Rights Act.

A State Commission recently redrew State Legislative and Congressional lines—the Reservoir will soon be in US Rep. Adam Schiff’s district, Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s district and State Senator Kevin de Leon’s district. Schiff and de Leon will be representing the Reservoir for the first time, while Gatto is the current Assemblymember.

A Novel, But Old Fashioned and Low-Tech, Way to Cut the Grass

LarryK — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:26:36 +0000

Should sheep be used to keep the grass and weed the Silver Lake Meadow? The Neighborhood Council considers it:

http://echopark.patch.com/articles/should-sheep-groom-silver-lake-reservoir-path

Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy Has a New Leader

LarryK — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:44:35 +0000

Craig Collins, a resident of Silver Lake for almost thirty years, was elected president of the SLRC at its November board meeting last week. He takes over leadership of the Conservancy from outgoing president Noah Stein.

Craig was active in conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest prior to moving to Los Angeles, where he spearheaded efforts to create a National Scenic Area in the Columbia Gorge. He also worked to develop solar and conservation energy policies for the Western states.

Currently he creates comprehensive visual and written strategic communications for a variety of non-profit, conservation and community organizations.

Also elected to continue serving in their posts as incumbents were Cherie Miller, vice-president; Herb Gold, treasurer; and Leslie Edmonds, secretary.

The City Maven Blogs About Headworks, Silver Lake and DWP Rates

LarryK — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:08:47 +0000

The City Maven, a blog that covers Los Angeles City Hall, recently posted a story about the Headworks by Travel Town, which will feature underground reservoirs that will replace Silver Lake and Ivanhoe in a couple of years. The story tied the project to possible DWP rate hikes:

http://www.thecitymaven.com/2011/11/09/dwp-reservoir-project-linked-to-proposed-water-rate-increases/

SLNC to Consider Re-Locating New Signalized Crosswalk

LarryK — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:14:31 +0000

A Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Committee will hear a proposal by Dion Neutra, son of famed architect Richard Neutra, to move the new signalized pedestrian crosswalk connecting the east side of Silverlake Blvd. with the new Meadow. His proposal is to move it to the intersection of Earl and Silverlake to create a crosswalk and traffic signal there because he believes that the current location blocks views of the famous modernist VDL House that his father designed and built in the mid-20th Century.

Residents on Earl Street are opposed to moving the signal because they say that it will turn Earl into a heavily trafficked connector between Silverlake and Glendale Boulevards in the same way that Duane Street is now. They say less drastic measures can be taken to protect views of the architecturally significant home. Here are the meeting details if you want to weigh in:

MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 7th @ 7:00 pm
Citibank (2450 Glendale Ave — Community Room)
Silver Lake Neighborhood Council (SLNC)
Transportation & Public Works Committee

Sheep at the Reservoir?

LarryK — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:32:56 +0000

Should SHEEP weed Silver Lake Reservoir Path? The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council voted to explore that option Wednesday night at its monthly board meeting; read about it here:

http://echopark.patch.com/articles/should-sheep-groom-silver-lake-reservoir-path

New Plan for Grassy Knoll Regulator Station Saves More Trees

LarryK — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:44:50 +0000

Good news for us tree huggers! The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has modified the alignment of the 66-inch pipe feeding the new regulator station, deleted the flow meter vault, and relocated the station and its appurtenances to protect three mature sycamore trees. The DWP also hired a consulting arborist.

In consultation with the arborist and in consideration of input provided by the Silver Lake Community, the DWP will be incorporating changes into the project design and construction that will preserve more of the mature trees located on the grassy knoll at the south end of the Silver Lake Reservoir, just beneath the dam and west of the Recreation Center. A more detailed description of the changes, along with a rendering, can be found here:

Grassy Knoll Proposed Alternative V3

Grassy Knoll Proposed Alternative Rendering