There's a lot of chatter lately about bringing streetcars back to Downtown LA, specifically a Broadway line that would connect LA Live to Disney Hall. A recent New York Times article proves streetcar-envy is widespread, mainly thanks to Portland's successful model which rehabbed an entire neighborhood and sent property values through the roof. Now, an editorial in the Pasadena Star-News says bringing the old red and yellow cars to the 'Dena would make the prosperous burg even more so. Calling for an L-shaped route from Old Pas before turning south on Lake, the article says these mini-transit lines can go up quickly, get people out of the car and into stores, and make urban living more livable.
· Streetcars? Again? [Pasadena Star-News]
· Streetcar possibilities have Downtowners fired up [Curbed LA]
Not deterred by yesterday's shaker, a brave soul is decamping from Toronto for a new life in greater LA. This reader hears the 'Dena is nice, but where in the 'Dena? Old Town? Bungalow Heaven? Near the Little Old Lady? And how about a church? Help is needed: "My partner/husband and I are from the SF Bay Area and have been living in Toronto for the past three years. We used to live in a bungalow in Alameda, and are thinking more and more that we want to move to Pasadena. We’re both self-employed and can work at home, so commuting really isn’t a problem... We’re gardening fanatics, so Pasadena beat Alameda in both weather and bigger homes/yards for less money....I’m hoping that you might be able to give us some neighborhood advice—are there up and coming neighborhoods? Areas to avoid?"
· Ask Curbed: Why Does Real Estate Hurt My Brain? [Curbed LA]
An interesting new property to highlight: A church aka a property that is a "most unusual fusion of early California architecture with gothic influences" has hit the market in South Pasadena. And for those who were secretly hoping, yes, the "current zoning permits exotic animals (such as Llamas)," according to the listing. Located on 3/4ths an acre and consisting of multiple structures that measure about 4,000 square feet total, it's listed at $1.249 million. That seems like a bargain.
PASADENA: A reader writes: "The construction site at the corner of San Pasqual Street and Mentor Avenue in Pasadena now has signs around the fences advertising Granite Park Pasadena. Units are supposedly going to sell for $1 million to over $2 million! Little pricey for me, but just wanted to share!" The architect is known name Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh. But who will buy all those condos? [Curbed InBox]
LOS ANGELES: Ron Radziner, FAIA and Leo Marmol, FAIA, the duo behind firm Marmol Radziner have written a new book; a party next week will celebrate the book and the launch of Marmol Radziner Prefab's new Rincon model home. Will Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio be served at the party? Guessing CHARDONNAY. [Curbed Inbox]
"One poor lady even fainted right there on the curb!" That's blogger Los Anjealous chronicling the ongoing run at the IndyMac building in Pasadena. We'll point out it's been really hot, too. But look at those TV cameramen zoom in! [Photo via Los Anjealous]
· The New Deal Is Officially Dead [Los Anjealous]
Huge victory for local balloon vendors. Yesterday Sen. Jack Scott (D-Altadena), who had proposed a bill that could kill off mylar balloons, softened his anti-foil stance, and instead offered some new measures regarding the balloons. Scott, who argues the foiled devils get caught in power lines and cause outrages (his bill had the backing of the states' electrical companies), is now proposing that fines increase from $100 to $250 if balloons are found not to be properly weighted (under existing state laws, mylar balloons are already required to be weighted); additionally, Scott is asking students from University of California to come up with an alternative fabric to make these foil balloons. The balloon council, which had been protesting the proposed ban via public gatherings, issued a happy-sounding press release on their Save the Balloons web site. The only loser in this whole deal may be the newspaper headline writers, who will no longer be able to write headlines like these: "Measure fills balloon sellers with worry"'; Senate bill foils future for local mylar balloon"; Assembly committee grounds balloon ban; and of course, the one below.
· Proposal to ban foil balloons shrivels [LA Times]
· What A Pro-Mylar Balloon Rally Looks Like [Curbed LA]
Dennis Crowley, a bicycle advocate and advocate for the rebuilding of a "bicycle freeway" from Pasadena to Downtown is dead. Crowley specifically was hoping to resurrect the 1900 Horace M. Dobbins’ California Cycleway, a wooden structure that was actually built in Pasadena but was demolished when the car came into fashion and we all decided we liked freeways better. He had hoped to see a similar, though probably not wooden, bike way built between Pasadena and LA.
· Bicycling advocate Dennis Crowley dies [Whittier Daily News]
· Historic and Archival Photos of the California CycleWay [CycleWay Coffee]
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From the studio lots to the downtown lofts. From the beachfront bungalows to the canyon views. From the south bay to the valley, from the westside to the eastside—Curbed LA covers our sense of place, and the neighborhoods we call home. Read more about Curbed LA...
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Huge victory for local balloon vendors. Yesterday Sen. Jack Scott (D-Altadena), who had proposed a bill that could kill off mylar balloons, softened his anti-foil stance, and instead offered some new measures regarding the balloons. Scott, who argues the foiled devils get caught in power lines and cause outrages (his bill had the backing of the states' electrical companies), is now proposing that fines increase from $100 to $250 if balloons are found not to be properly weighted (under existing state laws, mylar balloons are already required to be weighted); additionally, Scott is asking students from University of California to come up with an alternative fabric to make these foil balloons. The balloon council, which had been 
