Group to Study Plan to Aid Merchants

A task force composed of authorities from several city agencies has begun to study how to fund an economic rejuvenation that would affect Foothill Boulevard and Commerce Avenue merchants.

“We’re right now in the planning stages,” said Tom Henry, planning deputy for Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs. “The goal is to come up with plans, ideas and strategies to revitalize and help improve business.”

Representatives from the city Community Development, Planning, Building Safety and Police departments and from the Community Redevelopment Agency are investigating whether the city can spruce up sidewalks and help businesses along the boulevard and avenue enhance their signs and facades, Henry said.

He said the task force wants to turn around the high rates of vacancies along several blocks of the commercial corridors, and that a public meeting on the effort to infuse more economic life into the region could occur in early October.

As part of the cleanup, apartment houses plagued by drug dealing might also be identified and targeted for overhaul or crackdown, Henry said.

Wachs represents a portion of the northeast Valley. In addition to plans for Foothill Boulevard and Commerce Avenue, he hopes to designate several other roads in the region as “scenic highways,” which could limit future development along the routes, said Wachs deputy Arline Desanctis.

“There will be, for example, guidelines on signage,” Desanctis said.

Also, she said the color, height and placement of future buildings along the thoroughfares might be controlled to enhance the surrounding landscapes.

The scenic highway designation is being reviewed for Big Tujunga Canyon Road, Sunland Boulevard, portions of the Foothill Freeway, La Tuna Canyon Road, Wentworth Street and Stonehurst Avenue, Desanctis said.

Henry said it’s too soon to tell how much the two enhancement projects might cost or where the funding will originate, though he said various grants might be available to help.