Deforest Park Neighborhood Association (DPNA)
Monthly Meeting Minutes
Date: 2/15/2018
Meeting called to order at 7:06 PM by DPNA President Dan Pressburg
Flag salute at 7:07PM by Officer Frank Pena
Announcements:
Visitor – Uduak-Joe Ntuk- Alumni, Professor, LBCC Commissioner = Candidate, running for LBCC Board in 4/10/2018; works for City of LA and works part time at Cal State LB; grew up in Deforest
Candidate Brunch Saturday 2/17/2018 9:30AM-1:00PM at 167 E. South
North Station Report:
7:13PM
Long Beach Police Department 9th District provided Officers Frank Pena and E. Saldana
Very few crime reports
Breaking and entering and burglary 2/10 at 7AM with a fumigation deal – Encourage neighbors to keep an eye out and take out valuable; call Police Dispatch and have home placed in District Dispatch Watch (can do the same for when you are on vacation)
Stolen vehicles – 2 recovered
Articles stolen from 2 vehicles in early AM – license plates in one, tires in another
3/28/2018 Commander’s Meeting at North Station
7:19PM
Old Business Announcements
Neighborhood Clean-Up and Community Potluck Brunch on 2/10/2018 11:00AM-1:00PM at 167 E. South St. – Both turned out well; clean out lasted 90 minutes as barrel was filled quickly as did e-waste bin; alleys cleaned out as well breakfast had good turnout
7:20PM – Council Office Updates/ 9th District Report from Alyssa Gutierrez, Policy Director
5:00PM Come out to Council Meeting at City Council Chambers (free parking at 332 W. Broadway Ave.; for info call 562-570-6137) on Tuesday 2/20/2018- Vice Mayor Rex Richardson will be discussing motel issues with problem behaviors – putting together a nuisance ordinance proposal to address human trafficking, drug use, and criminal activity going on in motels all over the city. Not being used as intended to in past (i.e., for tourism) – feasibility study, asking Council to look into it and start conversation
Pilot Program has been occurring over last few months to help address the problem – key is to look at long-term solution involving Land Use Element, hotel conversion to senior housing, etc. . . 6 motels enrolled in program, including 1 in Deforest (Stallion on Atlantic; 2 others in District with one being Luxury Inn)
Q&A – What is the origin of the motels? = LB Blvd and PCH back in day were for truck stops and families passing through in past but now with other freeways is not necessary.
Q&A – Do any of the hotels put up numbers for sex trafficking? Yes, they are putting up awareness posters. Also, encouraging motels to require drivers license to check in.
Thursday 2/22/2018 at 5:30PM Black History Month Pop-Up at Michelle Library
Monday 2/26/2018 at 3:00PM Grand Opening of new Farmers Market at Houghton Market; will occur every Monday
7:33 PM Speaker – Corazon Lomeli – ReMax Realtor – Update on Real Estate
90805 – in 2017 – 21 closed sales vs. 44 for sale; in 2018 – 11 sales vs. 34 for sale
Lots of sales occurring; property values are going up
Deforest Park is tucked in; hidden gem
Have welcomed only 37 in 2017 vs. 66 in 2016 in Deforest Park
Prices in Deforest Park specifically are from $455-465K for a 3 bed, 1 bath home
Mortgage Bankers Association and National Realtors Association project prices going up for mortgage rates will go up to about 5%
Don’t hesitate, but now as house price sales are going up as are mortgage rates
For a $400K house, mortgage is $1900 only, about $2400-$2500 for taxes and insurance
This information is not counting investors; there are a lot of investors in this area
7:40PM – Vice Mayor Rex Richardson, Council Member 9th District
Thank you DPNA Executive Board and DPNA
Members from Pride Real Estate Council present and honored Rex from PrepA and dropped aware item and it shattered; brought new one today
North Long Beach is going through a major transformation right now – residents are in support of investments, new programs, and activities
Just in District 9 – $250 million in investments – Jordan High School, new library, new fire station, new park center
Measure 8 for park funding with new center in Houghton Park ($4 million from council and total of $7 for just that project because it is only regional park – has senior programming, health facility, and youth programming and only one in this area; park there for 93 years and in bad condition needs revitalization; part of wing collapsed in winter 2016 due to years of wear and tear)
Atlantic Ave. Development – studies showed there was poor retail; no bank in most populace council district #9
New Development Project #1 – 1st project is near Waba Grill at Atlantic & Harding and own entire shopping center; city owns the other half of the block and partnered up with the other owners to re-develop the entire block and create a unified block with better traffic flow and engagement with – Called The Uptown – going to Planning Commission next month
Some retail in front with parking in the back; laundry mat being removed; shipping style (Steelcraft-like) to go into development along with butler building (exposed wood, metal wood that is industrial look)
Coffee shops, brewery, restaurants, and services – help meet was is missing in the neighborhood – goal is to break ground this year
Q&A- How far does it go?- from 61st to Harding.
What kinds of restaurants? No new drive thru, with exception of the coffee place
Can there be some expectation to real estate with new retail? If you have a vacant lot, the property values got compressed so there will be natural increase with development.
Affordable housing for young people in this community? Live-work options? This project is only retail; single unit houses were proposed on Linden but not a focus at this time because residents wanted to focus on lack of retail initially
Comment – Thank you for including the pedestrian experience. Also, consider the biking experience as well.
New Development Project #2 – Atlantic and Artesia vacant lot – Uptown Commons coming soon – focus on 3 things: 1) restaurant space, 2)financial institution like credit union or bank, and 3) coffee shop – in next 6 months more details to come along with a plan
New Development Project #3 – North Village vacant lot near Michelle Obama Library – in past was to make a Town center for North Long Beach; goal is to create a common living room- master re-development from Lab Holdings will create a space that can fill a lot of needs for many types of individuals (similar concept exist in Anaheim Commons) – This collection of individuals is respecting the corridor with the type of retailers they are brining – more movement next year
$7 million Wetlands Restoration Project in Deforest Park – will have own nature similar like El Dorado; working with a group to do afterschool programming; not just a park but a conversation corps, too. Entry way will be different.
Q&A –
Is SteelCraft a success in Bixby Knolls? It is always busy and city is happy with it. Bellflower and Garden Grove are putting ones it. You can put a project like that in areas where people would not normally go and it brings in value. For more detail on numbers, ask the Developer and District #8 Council Member. We need street dining in District #9and improve design aesthetic.
For people who have property to put a granny flat can they have curb cut outs? We don’t yet.
Comment – Looking forward to expansion of bike sharing program in North Long Beach next year. Rex – previously there was no real biking in this area with increase dedication for devote biking lanes such as Artesia Blvd; in future Daisy and Myrtle at Harding
Building on South and Orange and Mexico City Restaurant – unclear as it is a private property decision; right now there is a permit for space next door w/ regard to labs and maybe medical marijuana but unclear yet; located across street from liquor street w/ shootings and lots of police activity. Question -There is a for lease sign on that liquor store? – will have to see what happens; can add additional requirements when there is a transfer.
Rex made another pitch regarding the 5 hotels are nuisance on LB Blvd and we need your help – come to council meeting and support this issue
8:48PM – DPNA Announcements
Additional Comments or Questions?
Call for motion to adjourn by Dan Pressburg; 1st and 2nd noted
Meeting adjourned 8:39PM
Reminders and Dates to Remember:
7:00AM Good Neighbors Spires Del Amo and Cherry 2nd Tuesday of the month
7:00PM Starr King 1st Wednesday of the month
7:00PM Grant Meeting, American legion Post 560 59th & Orange 2nd Thursday of the month
7:00PM Coolidge Triangle Neighborhood Association 3rd Wednesday of the month
7:00PM Deforest Neighborhood Association 3rd Thursday of the month
DPNA Board Meeting on Thurs. 2/22/2018 at Old Dairy and Creamery House 167 E. South
Pop Up Uptown Event at Michelle Obama Library – 4th Thursday 5:30PM-8:30PM
