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This is to remind your of the meeting on the part 150 study tonight at 7pm at the Airtel hotel. Be their if you can.
Here is the agenda
and Hahn's proposed Helicopter curfew and comments
By Rick Orlov, Staff Writer
The beautification of Los Angeles International Airport has started -- timed for the Democratic National Convention in August -- and so has the criticism.
The palm trees are too short, critics say. The columns are silly. And, as for the $112 million cost -- well, that's just out of line. "It is another case of form over substance," said Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, whose district includes the airport. "This money could have been better spent improving traffic around LAX or encouraging the airlines to use Ontario Airport. "All this does is tell you when you're at the airport," she said.
Another critic, El Segundo Mayor Mike Gordon has similar concerns. "We would much rather see them deal with traffic gridlock, sound insulation and noise," Gordon said. "It would be better spent on alleviating the problems, rather than beautification. That should come after you've mitigated all the problems."
It is not a new complaint.
"We are doing all the other things as best as we can," said Kim Day, airport deputy executive director. "I think people do not understand that we have limits on how we can use money. It's not like we have a pool of money to just go to soundproof homes and improve traffic. We are spending as much as we can on those programs. "The other thing is we have 65 million passengers a year in a facility designed for 45 million. I don't think it's outrageous to want to maintain that asset," Day said.
The beautification plan approved last year calls for a series of columns 25 feet to 60 feet in height along Century Boulevard leading up to LAX. Architect Ted Tanaka said he is convinced that the criticism will disappear and the new features will be considered landmarks when construction is complete and the columns are lighted up at night.
"We already have tourists stopping to take their pictures," Tanaka said. "Once it's done, this will be a landmark for the city and the airport." Tanaka said the columns symbolize an airplane on takeoff and, along with the landscaping, will soften the stark countenance of the airport entrances in a corridor marked by concrete and steel of hotels and offices.
"We are trying to soften the environment, and we hope that landscaping and sculptural pieces will help with that and maybe lead to a slowing down in traffic along Century," Tanaka said.
The columns, palm trees and landscaping are only part of the program. Signs also will be installed to provide better and more accurate information on conditions at the airport. Even the overhead ramp at the airport will be painted and new lighting installed to make it a brighter area.
Day said airport officials are pleased with the work done so far and believe it will provide a signature for LAX. Tanaka said he is pleased at how well it is going.
"If you look at the renderings and the work we've done so far, it's almost identical," Tanaka said.
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