South Pasadena : Via del Rey to Stay Blocked

The City Council has squelched widespread rumors that a portion of a street barricaded since 1974 would be reconnected to its counterpart across the city line in Los Angeles.

Although the council voted 5 to 0 Wednesday to retain the option of reopening Via del Rey, just south of Camino Verde, members assured the overflow crowd in the council chambers that the street would not be reconnected to Van Horne Avenue in Los Angeles.

“It’s unfortunate that many residents were led to believe that Via del Rey would be reopened,” Councilwoman Evelyn Fierro said. “The status quo has served us well for 17 years.”

The street was originally barricaded after Van Horne Avenue was widened. Residents feared the development would lead to increased traffic in South Pasadena.

“To open it now, you would see pitchforks and torches all over town,” Councilman James Hodge said.

The council also rejected a proposal that the city give up its rights to the blockaded portion of Via del Rey so that a house could be built on the 10,000-square-foot property.

Local homeowners had argued that, unlike the street barricade, a house would provide a more formidable barrier to help curtail what they said was a rash of burglaries and robberies committed by Los Angeles residents, who raid the neighborhood and conveniently retreat across the city limits.