Giant Ampersand - Washington/Centinela Redevelopment Part 6

It's been almost 5 years since my last post about the corner lots of Washington and Centinela which are supposedly destined for redevelopment. That's because pretty much nothing has happened on those lots - until this past week.

All of the sudden a 8-foot tall white wooden ampersand appeared in the middle of the lot on the north east corner.  I had no idea what it meant, but I was really happy to see it.  To me it meant that someone out there is thinking about this vacant plot of land.

A little Googling produced an answer.  The mysterious ampersand is a public project by Los Angeles-based artist Shannon Ebner.  According to the LAXART web site:

The ampersand is a conjoiner; it signals an incomplete thought and acknowledges that there is more to be said.

This is part of a Shannon Ebner exhibition at the Hammer Museum which started July 16, 2011.  Apparently this isn't the first time she's used an ampersand in her work.  See this photo from a year ago in Milan.

I've been waiting for the redevelopment on this corner to get underway since I moved to this Del Rey neighborhood 11 years ago.  I really hope, as the giant ampersand acknowledges, that there is more to be said...

What's Your Walk Score?

I punched my address into the Walk Score web site, and found out that my neighborhood, which is in Del Rey, CA, isn't too bad, but could be better. My Walk Score was 68 out of 100 which falls into the following range:

50 - 70 = Some Walkable Locations: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.

This seems like a cool web site to consult before you book a hotel or choose a place to live.

Del Rey Arts District

At the Del Rey Planning and Land Use Committee and Transportation Committee meeting tonight, a representative from the Sugarman Communications Group came to speak about the naming of the Glencoe-Maxella area where they're developing a lot of new lofts-style condos like Del Rey Lofts.

The rep said that they were considering naming the area bounded by Del Rey Ave on the west, Beach Ave on the north, Redwood Ave on the east, and Maxella Ave on the south. If the area had a name, he argued, it would make it easier for the developers and surrounding businesses to advertise and attract people.

There were two names that were under consideration:

1. Marina Arts District
2. Del Rey Arts District

The term Arts was chosen to reflect the fact that many of the new units under development are live/work lofts in which they expect a lot of artist-type people (graphic designers, media producers, and others that can work out of their home).

It probably isn't a surprise that the people at the meeting unanimously voted for the latter option, Del Rey Arts District, since the area is technically within the Del Rey boundaries and it would greatly help the neighborhood council's effort of establishing a Del Rey identity. A motion was made for the joint committees to endorse the naming of this district as the Del Rey Arts District.

I think it would be cool if this name is chosen and the area becomes well-known by that name. I am generally in favor of establishing a sense of place, and I think the artsy image being associated with Del Rey will favorably help the home values in the surrounding areas.

Del Rey in the News

I've lived in Del Rey for over 6 years now. It is one of those "adjacent to" communities that no one has ever heard of, even most of the people that live or work here. I am pretty familiar with Del Rey's identity (or lack of identity, actually) since I was involved with the Del Rey Neighborhood Council a few years ago.

In Del Rey, we have Mar Vista Gardens, Marina Del Rey Middle School, Playa Del Rey Elementary School, the Culver City Median Bicycle Path, and the Venice Japanese Community Center just to name a few of the places including one of the "adjacent to" monikers in their names. If that's not proof of a lack of identity, I don't know what is.

This weekend, to my surprise and delight, the Los Angeles Times ran a blurb about Del Rey in their Real Estate section's Neighborly Advice column Ready to Step Out of the Shadows. I found it interesting that the area was known as a good place to grow celery. I guess I should try that in my vegetable garden.

Maybe this article will help raise the awareness that Del Rey actually exists. One day I may be able to tell a cab driver "Take me to Del Rey" and he/she won't look at me like I'm a clueless person trying to get to Marina Del Rey or Playa Del Rey.