City, business and community leaders will discuss retail opportunities and recruitment efforts downtown at a community forum on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel.
The forum will include 2nd District City Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal and representatives from the Redevelopment Agency, Downtown Long Beach Associates and the Downtown Residential Council, a new coalition of neighborhood and homeowners associations.
The meeting comes at the heels of public outcry over the state of downtown, including Pine Avenue, a once-booming commercial street with more than two dozen empty storefronts in the heart of downtown.
"What I like to do is initiate an honest dialogue with stakeholders in downtown that results in everyone rowing in the same direction and working together toward a common goal," Lowenthal said. "In talking with city and downtown stakeholders, it became pretty evident that we all needed to know where everyone is -- really be on the same page with the various efforts to addressing retail and economic development."
Lowenthal said the meeting will focus on the thinking behind the city's retail plan.
"People weren't sure what was being done," she said. "They see empty storefronts and there's a perception that nothing's being done.
"Well, there's a story behind that empty storefront and I think that's a story that needs to be part of this dialogue, giving the history and the foundation of the retail strategy and the evolution of the retail strategy that the city is working on and what the city can do better through the assistance of these residential stakeholders."
The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at 500 E. First St. in Long Beach.
The forum will include 2nd District City Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal and representatives from the Redevelopment Agency, Downtown Long Beach Associates and the Downtown Residential Council, a new coalition of neighborhood and homeowners associations.
The meeting comes at the heels of public outcry over the state of downtown, including Pine Avenue, a once-booming commercial street with more than two dozen empty storefronts in the heart of downtown.
"What I like to do is initiate an honest dialogue with stakeholders in downtown that results in everyone rowing in the same direction and working together toward a common goal," Lowenthal said. "In talking with city and downtown stakeholders, it became pretty evident that we all needed to know where everyone is -- really be on the same page with the various efforts to addressing retail and economic development."
Lowenthal said the meeting will focus on the thinking behind the city's retail plan.
"People weren't sure what was being done," she said. "They see empty storefronts and there's a perception that nothing's being done.
"Well, there's a story behind that empty storefront and I think that's a story that needs to be part of this dialogue, giving the history and the foundation of the retail strategy and the evolution of the retail strategy that the city is working on and what the city can do better through the assistance of these residential stakeholders."
The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at 500 E. First St. in Long Beach.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Thanks for this blog entry it was quite informative. Press Telegram did a great job on Pine Ave. reporting. The city of Long Beach government deserves condemnation of how it is treating downtown areas like Pine. They are pushing for gentrification the closing of a great book store, pushing for luxury apartments, push for starbucks I mean Suja Lowenthal is a joke this is what she wants. I am very happy that as a result of P-T people are finding what is going on downtown. With the recession what is the future of downtown? Tough questions needs to be asked. The City council and the Mayor have no answer. But I do admit it is not all Foster's fault the previous mayor did a horrible job on these things. I am a grass roots community organizer and I plan to hold a forums on these issues. Instead of condos, lofts, starbucks how about helping small businesses, how about more afordable housing instead of condos. These are things that are quite simple to do instead we are stuck with the collapse of pine ave. Great job P-T in exposing what is really going on. I really dislike P-T's editorial page which is just like the city government but the reporters I have always respected they gave treated issues like gentrification and gang injunction with fairness. Thanks for the information.
Vik