I-5 Building Demolition Major Infrastructure Improvements Continue A number of capital projects are underway throughout La Mirada, and several more are scheduled to begin construction this summer. These projects build upon the City’s efforts in recent years to upgrade its infra- structure to meet modern development standards. The Valley View Grade Separation Project remains on track to be com- pleted by early fall. Traffic was recently opened under the bridge struc- ture, which allows vehicles to avoid stopping for passing trains. The $65 million project will enhance traffic safety, reduce the frequency of train horns, and provide other benefits to the surrounding neighborhoods and local economy. Caltrans has begun the process of demolishing several buildings it ac- quired along the I-5 Freeway in advance of the freeway widening project. The project design is nearing completion and Caltrans is currently com- Valley View Grade Separation pleting right-of-way acquisitions. Freeway construction is expected to begin in 2015. Another regional project, the Coyote Creek Bikeway, is also in prog- ress. Orange County is serving as the lead agency on this project, which will open Coyote Creek from La Mirada Boulevard to Hillsborough Drive to bicyclists with access also provided at Behringer Park. The Imperial Highway Median and Streetscape Improvements are making significant progress. A new traffic signal was installed at Val- ley View Avenue and Imperial Highway, and the medians are currently being constructed. Curb, gutter, and sidewalk improvements and the re- moval and replacement of street trees have also been completed. Work on this Los Angeles County cooperative project is scheduled for comple- tion in November. Several neighborhood street improvement projects are nearly ready to bid. The final phase of infrastructure improvements to the Foster Park neighborhood and the first phase of Measure I work in the neighbor- hoods north of Imperial Highway are scheduled to begin construction later this summer. Work will include street rehabilitation, slurry seal, curb and gutter repairs, installation of existing and new curb access ramps, removal and replacement of slotted cross gutters, and storm drain pipe repairs. “Projects such as the Valley View Grade Separation and I-5 Freeway expansion will benefit La Mirada and the region as a whole,” says Public Works Director Mark Stowell. “The Imperial Highway improvements and neighborhood infrastructure projects will enhance safety and com- munity beautification.” For additional information on these projects, contact Public Works at (562) 902-2385. Imperial Highway Medians 3 Shop! See! Splash! The Shop La Mirada campaign, known as Shop! See! Splash!, returns June 1! This program supports local businesses and rewards shoppers. For every $300 shoppers spend in La Mirada between June 1 and De- cember 31, they can redeem their receipts for a $5 voucher valid toward the purchase of Splash! or Theatre tickets, as well as recreation classes at City facilities. Shoppers can redeem up to $2,400 in receipts for a maxi- Home Values mum of $40 in vouchers. Some restrictions apply. Shoppers submitted a total of $567,283 in receipts during last year’s Continue to Rise successful campaign. The last day to redeem shopping receipts is January La Mirada single family home values have continued to re- 16, 2015. main strong. Building on 2013 when the median price of a sin- Call (562) 943-0131 for additional information. gle family home rose 16 percent from the prior year to $402,500, home values have continued to rise so far this year. Some 87 detached single family homes sold at a median sales price of $439,000 in the first quarter of 2014. Last Chance to Buy “Increasing home values and La Mirada’s growing assessed valuation overall show that homeowners and businesses contin- Vintage Street Signs ue to invest with confidence in the community,” says Commu- Time is running out for those looking to own a piece of La Mirada his- nity Development Manager Alison Moore. tory. La Mirada’s vintage residential street signs can be purchased for only $25 each. The brown and cream colored residential street signs, which were re- placed a few years ago, are a great piece of La Mirada memorabilia. Hun- Railroad Noise dreds of signs have already been sold. Collectors most frequently purchase signs from streets where they, their family members, or friends have lived. Study Update Street signs will be available until August 31, 2014. Proceeds are re- A study to measure noise levels in residential neighborhoods ceived by the La Mirada Community Foundation, a non-profit corporation located near the BNSF Railway corridor is in progress. After benefitting the local community. receiving a grant from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan A list of street signs available for purchase can be found on the City’s Transportation Authority earlier this year, the City selected Bol- website at cityoflamirada.org. For more information or to purchase a sign, lard Acoustical Consultants, Inc., an acoustics and vibrations call (562) 943-7277. testing firm, to perform the work. Noise monitoring devices have been installed at several homes throughout the neighbor- hoods near the BNSF Railway corridor. The study is expected to last through mid-summer and will measure existing noise levels, compare the results to acceptable state and federal standards, and identify potential mitigation measures. Keep Neighborhood Streets Clean The City works cooperatively with residents and property owners to improve the appearance of La Mirada’s residential New Starbucks Drive-Thru neighborhoods. Street sweepers clean the streets and gutters on a weekly ba- Coming to La Mirada sis. Street sweeping helps prevent harmful contaminants and lit- ter from entering the storm drain system, which ultimately leads Starbucks has announced that it is building a new coffee outlet at to the ocean. the southeast corner of Imperial Highway and La Mirada Boulevard. The City’s Code requires that refuse cans not remain at the The 2,419 square foot café will provide seating for up to 65 people and curbside or anywhere in the front yard for more than 48 hours. include 22 parking spaces. It will also feature a drive-thru for added Refuse cans left in the street prevent the sweeper from clean- convenience. The café will be built according to the new, modern design ing the street in its entirety. Residents can assist by remember- specifications called for in the Imperial Highway Specific Plan, which ing to remove refuse cans from the street after pick-up and stor- has guided recent developments at the Crossroads Shopping Center. ing them out of public view. Residents are also reminded not to Grading work at the location began in late April, and construction is place any harmful contaminants, including paint, gasoline, and expected to begin this summer. solvents into the storm drain system. 4 La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment Present Their Most ‘Practically Perfect’ Season of Shows Ever! World Premiere of Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE A Musical! GOOD PEOPLE! BILLY ELLIOT! MARY POPPINS! LATE NITE CATECHISM: LAS VEGAS! & ONSTAGE Production of CARRIE THE MUSICAL! Plus Six-Time Grammy Award-Winning Superstar Amy Grant! GOOD PEOPLE September 19 - October 12 In South Boston, this month’s paycheck covers last month’s bills, bingo is a night on the town, and sharp-tongued single- mom Margie Walsh has just been let go from yet another job. Scrambling to make ends meet, she looks up an old flame, hoping he’ll help her make a fresh start in this humor-filled drama from Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire about MARY POPPINS how twists of fate determine our path. May 29 – June 21 Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, Mary Poppins includes a score filled LATE NITE CATECHISM with timeless classics such as “Feed the Birds,” “Jolly Holiday,” “Step in Time,” and the Academy LAS VEGAS: SISTER ROLLS Award-winning “Chim-Chim Cheree.” Bert, the jack-of-all trades, introduces us to England in 1910 and THE DICE the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary October 24 – November 16 Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach Late Nite Catechism Las Vegas: Sister Rolls the Dice is the latest the family how to value each other again. Mary Poppins delighted Broadway audiences for over 2,500 class in the sinfully funny Catechism series. The church needs performances and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. a new rood, so Father Murphy has decided that Sister, with her extensive gambling experience running the church Bingo ONSTAGE: for the last 25 years, will organize a Las Vegas night! Sister CARRIE THE MUSICAL will tackle topics ranging from Magicians to Show Girls. Don’t March 12 – April 5 forget: ‘What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas,’ but God Twenty-five years after its spellbinding premiere shocked sees everything!” critics and audiences from London to new York, CARRIE, the most legendary Broadway musical of all time, comes to Los Angeles for the very first time. A misfit at school terrorized by BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL January 16 – February 8 her holier-than-thou mother at home, 17 year-old Carrie White Millions of fans…Thousands of standing ovations…Ten Tony has a secret. And when a prank at the high school prom goes Awards including Best Musical…One show shines above the horribly wrong, they’ll all find out just how scary a secret can rest. This is Billy Elliot The Musical, the spectacular show with be. Outrageous, controversial and completely thrilling, CARRIE the heart, humor, and passion to be named Time Magazine’s comes to L.A.