GPIA Achievements:
2012 - Alisa Smith serves as president.
2011 - George Brauckman serves as president for a third, non-consecutive term. During 2011 the new high school in Glassell Park at Taylor Yard is named for Supreme Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor. The school opens its doors to students in September after a decade of community activism to keep the school on track from GPIA, local residents, and many other community groups in Northeast Los Angeles.
Council District 13's Senior Advisor, Mitch O'Farrell, convinces Wells Fargo to donate the foreclosed property of former gang members/drug dealers in the Drew/ Estara area of Glassell Park to the City. In its place Mitch brings together the resources to create a community garden for local residents. GPIA donates funds for a storage shed for the site. Mitch announces his run for Council District 13 in the March 5, 2013 election, to replace Garcetti, who is running for mayor of L.A.
2009 - 2010 - Jim Kiehl serves two years as president. Verdugo Village signage is put up to create an identity for the neighborhood surrounding the intersection of Verdugo and York. A very successful and well attended GPIA meeting welcomes new police chief Charlie Beck to speak.
2007 - 2008 - Laura Gutierrez is elected GPIA President. A very successful job fair was held at the Community and Senior Center co-sponsored by the GPIA. The Glassell Park South Monument is refurbished and the garden underneath replanted.
GPIA welcomes Fresh & Easy, Tesco’s very first store in the United States to Glassell Park, at the former Albertsons and Lucky’s store on Eagle Rock Blvd. Home Depot, facing strongly organized opposition from the GPIA and our community, abandons its plans for another Home Depot on San Fernando Road in Glassell Park.
Joan Lundy, beloved past president of the GPIA and respected community leader, dies June 7, 2007. A memorial is held at the Glassell Park Community and Senior Center attended by City Council President Eric Garcetti, Former Councilmember Jackie Goldberg, Councilmember Jose Huizar and other dignitaries.
2005 - 2006 - George Brauckman serves for two years as GPIA President. Paperwork submitted for the GPIA to become a 501(c)3 charitable, tax-exempt organization. Status granted in September of 2005. First annual Glassell Park Community Festival takes place under the leadership of Festival Chairperson, Laura Gutierrez. Local bands, eateries and artisans featured at this family-friendly event at the GP Recreation Center Park.
GPIA along with the Friends of Atwater Village and other community organizations throughout Northeast LA launch the No Home Depot Coalition - Northeast Los Angeles, . The Coalition calls for a mixed-use development offering good restaurants, retail chains, coffee shops, book stores and a gym at the former Kmart site instead of another Home Depot. Council President Eric Garcetti's office, through the efforts of District Director Mitch O'Farrell, brokers a deal for the million-dollar Glassell Park Community and Senior Center -- dedicated in the summer of 2005. The nearly 7,000 square feet of space donated and built by Public Storage offers a separate Seniors room for the Glassell Park Senior Club; a kitchen; Assembly Room; conference rooms; and offices for the GPIA and the GPNC. Council District 13 opens a satellite field office here as well, staffed to serve CD 13 constituents in Northeast L.A.
GPIA joins the Neighborhood Council and others in testifying against developer Richard Meruelo's attempt to wrest ownership of Parcel F at Taylor Yard away from the Los Angeles Unified School District. LAUSD begins Eminent Domain process to regain possession in order to build a new high school in Glassell Park that will ease overcrowding at other existing High Schools in Northeast Los Angeles. Expected opening date is fall 2011.
GPIA appeals to City Council and Bureau of Street Services to fast track repairs to hillside roads damaged during 2004's disastrous rains. BSS moves the repair dates up by several months. Rose and Tony Alvarado's house on Mimosa St. is destroyed by landslides during these rains. GPIA arranges free storage at Saf Keep Storage in Glassell Park for the Alvarados. After years of residents' complaints about the poor condition of Lavell Drive, GPIA organizes a walk-through with Bureau of Street Services and gets south section of Lavell Drive resurfaced within 2 months. North Glassell Park Monument garden on Eagle Rock Blvd. is refurbished and updated with beautiful, colorful plants. Sprinkler system is repaired and modified to water the garden by Bureau of Street Services at GPIA's request. GPIA partners with the GPNC to plant 19 trees on parkways on York Blvd. and surrounding side streets as you approach the Glendale border.
GPIA welcomes Super King Market to Glassell Park at the abandoned Ralph's market on San Fernando Road. Super King is an instant and unqualified business success. The mixed-use development at 3901 Eagle Rock Blvd. (where the McDonald's was NOT built) breaks ground and the Masonry Builder's sign --an eyesore of a decade-- is torn down.
2003 - 2004 - Tony Scudellari serves for two years as GPIA President. Under Tony's leadership, GPIA organizes opposition to a McDonald's Restaurant at 3901 Eagle Rock Blvd., since our area is already over-saturated with unhealthy fast-food restaurants. McDonald's is denied a conditional use permit for the drive-through window thanks to compelling testimony from concerned residents before the East L.A. Area Planning Commission. McDonald's sells its property to another developer (at a $2 million profit) making way for a residential development. Tony takes advantage of email by instituting GPIA Action Alerts. Glassell Park Child Care Center opens on Crestmoore Place after years of vigilant oversight by GPIA past president Joan Lundy, who kept this project on track.
GPIA organizes a media event at Walnut Canyon attended by then Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa. Ultimately, the Santa Monica Conservancy adds Walnut Canyon to its list of properties to acquire for a nature preserve in our neighborhood.
Improvement Chair, Alonso Calderon, organizes a tree-planting day with Helene Schpak and plants nearly 200 trees, primarily around Division and Cazador Streets near San Fernando Road. Beautification Chair, George Brauckman, wins a $10,000 grant from the City to refurbish the Crestmoore Place Steps. The sides of the landings are covered with river rock and a graffiti-resistant coating applied to the rocks. Lighting is improved at the steps.
GPIA becomes a charter member of the Southwest Museum Coalition, a grassroots effort to make sure the integrity and significance of the Southwest Museum is preserved after it had been purchased by the Autry Museum of the American West.
2002 - Mitch O'Farrell becomes GPIA President. GPIA website is created for the first time ever, with the help of member Marino Pascal. Membership nearly doubles under Mitch's leadership. A successful walk-through is held with Bureau of Street Services to pave hillside roads badly in need of repair. GPIA continues to support the Neighborhood Council organizing committee. The Council is the third to be certified in the City of Los Angeles.
GPIA board successfully lobbies City Attorney's office and LAPD to close down a drug-dealing house on Verdugo Road. GPIA surveys its membership to find it overwhelmingly opposes a McDonald's restaurant with a drive-through window at 3901 Eagle Rock Blvd. GPIA launches, "Friends to Preserve Walnut Canyon," in an effort to preserve the canyon above Division Street and below Loveland Drive as a nature park. Several clean ups in neglected areas of Glassell Park are held. Ruby DeVera wins grant to have mural painted on the side of corner grocery store at Fletcher and Estara supplanting an empty wall which was a magnet for graffiti. Susie Wilkinson wins grant to plant a garden on the concrete triangle Median in front of the Public Storage Building.
Mitch leads efforts to beautify Ackerman Drive, formerly a dumping ground for bulky items and unseemly night time behavior. 15 Jacarandas were planted on either side of the street and large rocks are lined along the roadway to prevent dumping and beautify this stretch of the street.
2001 - Betsy Mines is elected President. GPIA forms an organizing committee that ultimately establishes the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council.
2000 -
1999 - Joan Lundy, more to come.
1998 - Joan Lundy, more to come.
1997 - Joan Lundy, more to come.
1995, 1996 - President Bob Toscano dies and Charles Farmer takes over for Bob. And is re-elected president in 1996.
1994 - Linda Herbert, more to come.
1993 - During GPIA's silver anniversary year, Linda Herbert becomes president. Free packets of flower seeds distributed to members to beautify our area. Linda Herbert named to Councilman Hernandez's ad hoc committee to evaluate the best use of land left vacant by the Southern Pacific railroad at Taylor Yard. Steve Bloodworth and GPIA members plant trees in the Eagle Rock Blvd. median and in other locations. Anthony Chierichetti adopts the Glassell Park monuments and keeps them graffiti-free.
1991, 1992 - Richard Ferraro returns as president for two more years. Verdugo Vista Terrace and surrounding streets resurfaced at the urging of past president, Elizabeth Cherichetti. Councilman Alatorre petitions the city to immediately upgrade street lighting on the
troublesome Drew St. in Glassell Park. GPIA holds its first yard sale and nets $495.00 for the association.
1990 - Tony Mascitti again becomes president of the GPIA. The now 24-year old "Community Christmas Tree" is decorated for the holidays. GPIA petitions for street lighting and obtains lights at three locations. Councilwoman Gloria Molina awards the GPIA with a $2000 grant to be spent on community enhancement. The GPIA-proposed widening of W. Ave 33 is included in the capital improvement list for 1990; construction to begin in 1993.
1988, 1989 - John Balaoing, a city building inspector, becomes president for two years. The NITE LITE bar is refused a permit to reopen. Division Street finally repaved. Elyria Canyon developers downsize their proposal for 45 new homes due to efforts of the GPIA and the Mt. Washington Association. City Council allocates $25,000 for gates to the Ackerman Canyon Area with support from the GPIA and local residents. GPIA participates in a huge graffiti paint-out in the neighborhood, cleaning up 17 sites, using 70 gallons of paint. GPIA petitions L.A. Department of Transportation for better traffic signals at W. Ave 40 and Eagle Rock Blvd. GPIA lobbies for and wins a reduction in the size of a proposed apartment building on Carlyle Place from 63 units to 25.
1986,1987 - Ruby DeVera assumes the presidency for two years. GPIA opposes the granting of a liquor license to a convenience store in a mini-mall on the corner of Eagle Rock Blvd. and York. GPIA strongly opposes granting of a license to Los Candiles Bar at Division and Cypress for a topless bikini bar. Developer Elliott Megdahl presents his proposed development for a new shopping center at Ave. 40 and Eagle Rock Blvd. (now site of Rite Aid shopping center). Thrifty drug store opens at the center on February 26, 1987.
1984, 1985 - Richard Ferraro returns as GPIA president for two more years. A 16-page petition containing 347 neighbors protesting the existence of the NITE LITE Bar on Eagle Rock Blvd. forwarded to Councilman Joel Wach's office. New Northeast LAPD division headquarters formally dedicated on March 21, 1984 in its new Glassell Park location. GPIA lobbies for street repairs on Division St. Past president, Dominick Bachiero passes away at age 71. Two crepe myrtle trees are planted in his memory in Elysian Park. Another Council area redistricting takes place. Glassell Park residents in a quandary as to in which district they now reside: the 2nd?; the 13th?; the 14?
1982, 1983 - John Gabel elected GPIA president for two terms. Council areas are redistricted and Joel Wachs represents a portion of Glassell Park. Dignitaries attend the dedication of the new Glassell Park Recreation Center facility opening on July 16, 1982. New stop signs installed at W. Ave. 42 and Scandia Way. GPIA member Gino Dal Ponte creates and donates the GPIA Lectern used at all meetings (and still in use today). Residents of Glassell Park and GPIA members obtain a signed document from developers of the Scandia Way-Kite Hill project, that the roof lines of new homes will be no higher than the Street level above.
1980, 1981 - Dr. Richard Ferraro elected for two terms as GPIA president. Construction starts on the new swimming pool. At GPIA's request gates are installed to lock the pedestrian tunnel under Verdugo Road in front of the Rec Center for night time safety concerns. On April 11, 1981 the $1.3 million, 75' by 120' pool is finally open and dedicated. A DREAM OF A DECADE COMES TRUE!!!
After heavy rains, homes on Oban and Allegre Sts. begin to slide from their foundations. Three homes are demolished, three others moved to new locations. A 6,000-pound gross limit is posted on Division St. by recommendation of the GPIA. Councilwoman Stevenson directs the Northeast Police to monitor gang-related activities on Drew St. near Estara in Glassell Park.
1979 - Sister Delores O'Dwyer, principal of St. Bernard's Elementary School becomes GPIA president. Union Oil wants to locate a huge Oil Fuel Tank in Glassell Park. Residents revolt and Councilwoman Peggy Stevenson announces at the GPIA meeting that Union Oil's plans were abandoned due to community resistance. GPIA urges the department of Building and Safety to cite 15 properties for trash accumulation, abandoned autos, poor maintenance and other infractions. Past president, Bonnie Templeton, arranges a donation of 300 plants from the Los Angeles Garden Club for the Verdugo Road on ramp to the Glendale Freeway. Plans unveiled for a new 9,000 square foot Glassell Park recreation center gym for $825,000.00; construction set to begin in 1981.
1978 - Dr. Bonnie Templeton elected president. Meetings changed from monthly to bi-monthly, and from Wednesdays to Thursdays. GPIA tackles traffic problems, signals and excess tonnage on our streets. Howard Jarvis speaks at our May meeting regarding Prop. 13.
1977 - Longtime member, Elizabeth Chierichetti becomes president. She leads effort to have Ackerman Drive paved and extended 600 ft to West Ave. 42 to give alternate egress down from the hills. Plans and drawings for the new swimming pool revealed.
1976 - Dominick Bachiero elected president for a second term. During this Bi-centennial year, GPIA encourages members to plant a patch of red, white and blue flowers in their yards. City Councilwoman Peggy Stevenson attends our April meeting. She is the leading advocate in City government for the new Glassell Park swimming pool. GPIA lobbies and receives a 3-way signal for vehicles leaving the Lucky's (now Fresh & Easy) parking lot, enabling drivers to make left-hand turn north onto Eagle Rock Blvd. safely. Pedestrian push button installed (at GPIA's request) at the cross walk at West Ave. 40 and Eagle Rock Blvd. Petition is circulated for bus service on Division St. between Ave. 42 and Cypress Ave. GPIA works with Congressman Ed Roybal to keep the Glassell Park Post Office open on Saturdays for resident's convenience. Councilwoman Stevenson applies for a $50,000 federal grant for new sports field lighting at the Recreation Center.
1975 - Charter member Dominick Bachiero elected president. Funding for the new swimming pool at the Recreation Center is approved. New city-sponsored trees are planted along Eagle Rock Blvd.
1974 - Gula Hagerty again becomes president. The hillside stairway on Crestmoore Place is replaced. The Glassell Park monuments are unveiled on March 24th. Many dignitaries attend. GPIA meets with Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley in the Mayor's conference room to raise the profile of Glassell Park and the GPIA. An election/candidates forum held. Prop 13's Howard Jarvis debates the tax issue with GPIA member Richard Ferraro. St. Bernard students journey to City Hall to ask Mayor Bradley for a swimming pool at the Glassell Park Recreation Center. Lucky's Market at El Paso and Eagle Rock Blvd. (now Fresh & Easy) opens its doors.
1973 - George King elected president. GPIA donates microphone system to the Glassell Park Recreation Center. City Council is lobbied by the GPIA for improvements at the Rec Center. GPIA is incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the State of California. In November, construction begins on the two Glassell Park monuments. Construction is begun on extending the Glendale freeway to the 134 freeway. A five year retrospective audiovisual presentation wows members at the annual anniversary dinner.
1972 - Anthony Mascitti returns as GPIA president. GPIA demands that the State Highway department hold true to its commitment to complete the Glendale Freeway. The association is advised that funds have been allocated. The media lauds the GPIA for its lobbying efforts. City approves the Glassell Park marker/monuments. Councilman Art Snyder makes generous donation to the GPIA's fund to pay for the Markers. The Moss Avenue tunnel is closed after the tragic death of a Glassell Park resident. Kmart comes to Glassell Park.
1971 - Gula Hagerty elected president. Glassell Park Merchants invited to a merchant-mixer at Old Virginia Restaurant. GPIA sponsors its first benefit golf tournament. Planning begins on the marker monuments at York and Eagle Rock and San Fernando and Eagle Rock. First candidates forum held and 200 people attend.
1970 - Carl Heydeman elected president. Heydeman and several GPIA members travel to Sacramento and deliver copies of petitions urging completion of the Glendale Freeway, at that time left unsightly and unfinished in Glassell Park. State Senator David Roberti listened to GPIA members and later that year funds were approved to complete the freeway in 1972, rather than 1976. Glenda Gripekey is chosen, "Miss Glassell Park". After meeting with city officials, several abandoned eyesores are demolished. GPIA representatives lobby the state legislature again. This time to do away with overhead power lines. President Heydeman stresses the importance of trees, trees and more trees -- for beauty as well as health -- in an article in Northeast Newspapers. Traffic signals at 12 Glassell Park intersections are improved.
1969 - Anthony Mascitti elected first GPIA President. More and better street lighting installed. GPIA advocates for demolition of abandoned buildings. Installation of Glassell Park city ID signs. Contract signed with City of L.A. for creation of the landscaped, island median at Division St. and West Ave. 33.
First GPIA picnic held at the newly named Glassell Park Recreation Center (thanks to lobbying by the GPIA). An idea of a full-sized swimming pool at the Recreation Center conceived at the picnic. A "Community Christmas" Canary Pine tree is planted on the Eagle Rock Blvd. median in front of the Rite-Aid Shopping Center. $6,753 is raised for the Gonzales family when their El Paso Drive home slides into the street during the heavy rainstorm of 1969.