Councilmember Tom LaBonge and the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services gathered the local Larchmont Village community for a special groundbreaking ceremony early Monday morning. The event was a celebration of the commencement of work on the Larchmont Boulevard Medians Phase II project – which includes new medians and a gateway sign on North Larchmont.
Bureau of Street Services Director Nazario Sauceda explained how the medians will significantly transform the northern, traditionally quieter portion of Larchmont Boulevard, with three eight-feet-wide landscaped medians to be installed between Melrose Avenue and Rosewood Avenue. “This project is particularly gratifying because it’s a “great” project with the key components: community vision and community participation,” remarked Sauceda. “The area will benefit from a greener environment that will help to cool the street, promote the pedestrian nature of the street and help to mitigate traffic problems like illegal u-turns.”
The northern most median will contain a vertical monument similar to the monument installed at Larchmont Boulevard and Third Street.
The Phase II project was designed by and will be constructed by the Bureau of Street Services and will be completed in fall 2013. It was awarded grant funds as a part of the 2009 Metro Call for Projects. Community groups also contributed funding, including the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society, the Windsor Square Association, and the Hancock Park Garden Club.
A number of community stakeholders were recognized by Councilmember Tom LaBonge for their efforts to help make this Phase of the Larchmont Median project a reality – 10 years after the first set of medians were installed at the southern end of the Boulevard. Â Many community leaders were awarded City commendations, including Fluff McLean and Myrna Robin Gintel – the original champions of the overall Larchmont median plan.
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