Bumpy Crossing

What is happening to Altadena Lincoln Crossing?
In December of 2005, Altadena Lincoln Crossing was under construction of its very own “Magic Johnson’ 24 Hour Fitness Center with the hopes and dreams of a community to receive it’s fair share of economic development and a commitment from it’s officials to see to it that Altadena got what it had waited for, for over 25 years.
For some this dream is still a possibility, now the question is when? For some it is a living nightmare. 3 years of waiting for the completion of the 1st phase of a 4-phase development it is no longer a dream. It is a nightmare for business owners and a dream come true for the Community Development Commission and “award winning� developer Dorn-Platz
The Community Development Commission and the Developer, Dorn-Platz believes that the Altadena Lincoln Crossing Project is booming and that business is good for the business owners of the multi-million dollar development and the community.
How the developer was chosen according to who you ask is still up for debate: If you ask the West Altadena Development Corporation (WADC) Directors, they did not choose them (the developer), in fact their director, thought they were bad news and foresaw a huge problem for the community from the start; others say the “CDC chose them; if you ask the CDC they say the community chose them. In spite of who chose them, no one wants to take responsibility or remove the developer from the project after the county purchased the land for $90 per sq.ft. and sold it to the developer for $15 per sq.ft.(Do the math) The developer has defaulted with their agreement with the CDC and the West Altadena Development Committee and their financiers East West Bank. Not to mention the developer have lost several lawsuits from contractors for non-payment. Small independent contractors fall prey to the developer for thousands of dollars owed them but have no legal representation because of the lack of funds owed them by the developer. According to the CDC, the developer has not done anything that would cause them concern, as the development is going through growing pains.
According to the CDC they receive numerous calls to their “Monterey Park� office from visitors to the incomplete development stating that “the development is beautiful� others say “it’s better than what was there�.(Speaking of the blighted liquor stores and empty buildings and lots). continued

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Business owners tell a different story, if the community really likes the development, where are the customers? Cracked walkways, rusting, rails, stained parking lots, leaking buildings, overgrown landscaping, windows that allow blinding sunlight into units, poor display of colors and lack of view for all buildings…beautiful to who’s standards? Compare Lincoln Crossing to, any other shopping center in Pasadena, La Canada, Alhambra, or even the East side of Altadena in the last 5 years. Many centers that are older look and function better than Lincoln Crossing.
Unfortunately, the big picture is not quite so beautiful; the blighted liquor stores and empty buildings have been replaced with a poorly built buildings and the underlining of blighted businesses and dreams that have turned into nightmares. The privately owned small businesses are living the nightmares of a community that has given up on the idea of economic development. Although there is a corporate exercise center, and a corporate chain restaurant to serve the public, the postal copy center and the grocery stores are in harms way and the smallest of businesses have received the brunt of the failure of the development.
Bessie’s Daughter’s Soulful Tacos, had a dream, to come to Altadena and provide a service to the Altadena community that it had long hoped for. A restaurant, which would serve its community; Bessie’s provided a dine-in and take out family restaurant with out the outdoor seating on its private patio as promised. A place where West Altadena could call home, dining on good, healthy food, providing jobs for its immediate community and the pride of ownership and success for the owner and her family.
The family owned restaurant was to provide hope to a community and a people that if you work together and work hard you can have something to pass down to generations to come. With the seal of approval from the County Board of Supervisors not just Bessie’s but all of the businesses in the shopping center were sure to be a huge success and step in the right direction for economic growth and stability in West Altadena.
Bessie’s was forced out of business in early May 2008 due, to a poorly executed lease agreement that was approved by her legal counsel, that was promised to deliver an opportunity of success to the small first time business. Adding insult to injury was the defectively installed sewer line that took over a year to correct, which caused the north side of the developments, businesses and customers to endure the sewer odor from an improperly installed sewer line. The owner requested the assistance from the developer to correct the problem, the county, the CDC and the Board of Supervisor, all which fell on deaf ears, until the sewer line was corrected a year later.
Some in the community have rumored; she (the owner) did not have her lease reviewed by an attorney,“she� didn’t know what she was doing; small businesses fold in the first year; her prices were too high, she had a great idea, who’d of thought of such a unique concept etc. etc. etc. No one wanted to admit that the developer and the county were in error. The blame has always been on the tenant that had NOTHING to do with the sewer line, the patio that was not permitted, the main entrance that was closed for the first 9 months of operation and the constant delays for full occupancy on the site and the on again off again construction on the south corridor. These obstacles can ruin any small business without major financial support in place.
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While construction began on the South quadrant of the development the North quadrant was eft incomplete without full occupancy for the site. The North quadrant was issued an indefinite temporary occupancy until, code violations are corrected, causing the site to operate without its full potential, so that it could begin building the south quadrant which houses Bank of America, Subway, a day spa, two un-leased retail spaces and 9 lofts above. None of which have any approvals needed to begin and or complete tenant improvements needed before opening.
The Farm Fresh Market is faced with eviction while trying to fight off the developers, which file frivolous costly court cases on a building that was defective and did not have the required approvals for operation.
As of today, the buildings and site are incomplete with monthly promises to the community of completion in the near future. Still no monument sign, a shell game for parking permits and easement approvals continue. These same promises have continued for years and have not been kept. The small business and the community has suffered and their cries have fell on deaf ears to the community organizations and officials that are to protect the community. The WAPAC is and has been the most ineffective organization with members that don’t have a clue about business, development or their rights as citizens. These elected officials rate very low in comparison to other PAC’s. Never has a body been so manipulated by officials, a developer, and professionals that have taken advantage of the fact the members are uneducated in redevelopment.
A word from the wise; NEVER enter into an agreement with a development prior to the completion of the site and make sure you protect your rights no matter what is promised to the community. NEVER believe that your officials will stand behind a project in a minority area by ensuring that their staff has the expertise to monitor and keep the project and developers in line with contracts and the same building standards that are afforded in more affluent communities. In this case Small Business Owners don't count, they are the least of a developers and officials concerns..The small business owners never had a chance to make it in this development. The sad part is that NO ONE cares about the lives of the small business owners that have been ruined. Seems like the developer is held harmless and has made off like a fat rat. In the end, it's all about the money.

I'm confused about Bessie's Daughters. If they are closed, how can they reopen? They still hold the lease? Did they just close so they stop losing money? I am puzzled. I was really hoping they'd make it, and I'm glad to hear they aren't completely beaten yet!

I live blocks away from this development, and I still don't see the point of it. Actually I would see the point, if there were decent stores there, but as it is, I drive to La Cañada to do my grocery shopping. Farm Fresh is an overpriced joke, and I've only gone there a couple times in emergencies. Paying a buck more for an item is OK for a single thing, but I'd never do my regular shopping there.

I thought with the rich folk moving into La Viña ("We speed down Casitas"), that NW Altadena would get some better services, but apparently not.

First of all, George Lewis is still the seated Altadena Town Council Chair. Second, Balders statement that no other develoiper was willing to come in is untrue, and Ken knows its untrue.He and I had several arguments about this issue. He was behiend the tight timeline, would not allow it to be extended UNLESS Eric Lloyd Wright was taken off the project, period. He worked actively to destroy the community approved vision for this project.

Finally, Dorn Platz has indeed damaged the whole of the Altadena community with a poorly designed and incompetently built project that still has leaking roofs and foundations, but it seems now the good news is they will kick out the major community tenant for someone who will pay them more money. Where exactly is the good news?

Aunt Bessie's establishment closed because of the menu and nothing else. I live in the neighborhood and tried to give them business but there food was not appealing. Farm Fresh has decent beer prices compared to the liquor stores in the area, and a decent bakery.

It is still Altadena. Get over it.

Aunt bessie's taco was born to lose. Any thought that "michigan style" tacos would be a hit (in LA, the home of the best mex food outside of mexico) was just a dream in the mind of the owner. You can't blame the landlord because you didn't do any market research and don't know what the public will buy. Lincoln crossing was not ment to be a goverment program to let poor people pretend to be businessmen.

Steve of Altadena
If her business was as poor as you stated, she probably would not have lasted as long as she did. Have you been to the neighboring Panda Express? They aren't doing very well either, so what is there problem? If the developer thought that Bessie's was a bad dream, why did they lease to her? According to the newspaper article, the developer had 30 days to lease the space and if that is true, why didn't they find a more viable business that could withstand the growing pains of the development? And by the way Steve, how can all of the small businesses be suffering at Lincoln Crossing are they all dreaming?

Well "Steve from Altadena" talk about poor people pretending to be businessmen, Dorn Platz borrowed ALL the money except the government subsidy it got, from banks and then had the local people who you denegrate, pay the loans back for them.

And if you knew ANYTHING you would know that redevelopment districts indeed exist to help poor people become businessmen and women. The fact is, the County Communinit Development Commission has perverted the law and the legislative intent of the law, by applying subsidy only to the developer and leaving the local minority tenats to their own devices to try to swim in shark infested waters.

Under the law, these things exist to provide DIRECT positive impact to the LOCAL BUSINESSES, not to the developer. This thing is a perversion. And BTW, the Redevelopment commission should have helped those business owners do market research, as should have WADC, who promised to do so, and never did.

Bessies Soulful Tacos-

Hey I miss that joint! I dont know what problems some folks here had, but the hot link taco was off the hook!

Farm Fresh was not an expensive market. I saved over $100 a month by switching from ralphs in LaCanada to Farm Fresh, and I ate much better quality produce and bakery goods while doing it.

Sure the buildings look fantastic. To bad there are no tenants. Now all Dorn Platz needs to do is screw over the 24 Hour Fitness and BJR and they will be batting 100%. 100% empty. I think I liked it better when there was a liquor store on the corner.

I also agree with taliesinred. Bessies was a great place to eat. I ate breakfast there every morning. Helga, it breaks my heart that you where forced to close. I miss your cheerful "good morning" greeting every day.

wdf its the best super market ive ever been into it .Cheap prices, great costumer service,fresh vegtebles& fruits..........
and we gonna suport u guys

Oh that it were so easy to simply have a developer snap his/her fingers and a previously blighted area becomes a thriving economic center. It is unfortunately one of the recurring themes we see so commonly now that when something doesn't meet our expectations - customers don't come in the numbers anticipated - that we blame the developer, the government, anybody but the business owner itself. Retail is generally not doing well all over right now due to the state of the economy. Retail food outlets, especially non-chain, have among the highest rate for failure of any type of business. Not every redevelopment effort turns out like Old Town Pasadena - which by the way was so successful that most independently owned businesses were driven out in favor of chains because of increased rent demands. Everybody - developers, the County, the individual shop owners - tried to do something risky here. If the community would have a more constructive dialogue toward making this work, than engaging in the blame game, perhaps this project can turn the corner.

Excuse me, I misread the article - Bessie's tacos have thrown in the towel. Also, I hear that the Farm Fresh is now closed.

Hey MOP - I live near the top of Casitas, and I think the worst drivers are the parents dropping their children off at the school on Altadena Drive. I have almost been hit dozens of times - too many to keep track of - by parents who pretend there are no stop signs at the intersection of Casitas and Altadena. They need to move those police officers up *there*.

Speaking from the bottom of Casitas, and the fact that I don't think school is currently in session, I can testify to the fact that the stop sign at Ventura is treated as optional by those Southbound on Casitas. Granted, that's true for much of Los Angeles, but I know that Casitas is used as just another section of freeway by people from the North.

LOL, you're right MOP, school's out right now - another great thing about summer! But there are still plenty of stop sign ignorers up on Altadena Drive - I have to practically peel out onto Casitas sometimes if I want to turn left (southbound) because there is simply no break in traffic for minutes at a time, and I'm only a block south of Altadena. I really feel for folks who live south of me.

I've heard it postulated that if more traffic went down Lincoln instead of Casitas, perhaps there'd be more business at Lincoln Crossing. I, personally, fantasize about having a nice coffee place at the corner of Lincoln and Altadena, but I think I heard that was going to be offices. Sooner or later, we're going to need a traffic light up there.

The Farm Fresh Market closed on Tuesday and is slated to re-open as a Super King market in the coming weeks. The truth of the matter is it is a deal that further damages the development. It damages the development because it damages the owner that has invested several million dollars into it. Some don't care about the "people that are damaged" but you should. The business owners are human beings and have put their lives into providing something to a community that was ignored. How dare Altadena organizations, committees and officials not care about the human side of this development. In a recent article in the Star News, Ken Balder states that the tenants and the developer have been hurt. It seems very clear according to the article that the developer is cared about more. Is he differnt? Is his blood and very being any different from the small business owners? Oh, that's right he has the mnoney and that's why he gets preferential treatment..Well, if he really had the money why has he borrowed it all and after borrowing it refused to pay for the buildings contractors. DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE. THERE IS A BIGGER PLAN THAT WHAT YOU SEE.....Do Your Homework. and You will find the bigger picture behind the development. Altadena needs to WAKE-UP!