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Take Me to the River: Green Development of L.A.'s Neglected WaterwayAugust 12, 2004By Carolyn Nott "If it's not impossible, it's not that interesting," said Lewis MacAdams capturing the attention of his audience at a joint ULI LA and AIA LA Urban Design Committee meeting about the restoration of the Los Angeles River. MacAdams, a distinguished poet, writer, documentary film maker and founder of the Friends of the Los Angeles River (FOLAR) was a panelist at the April 14 event at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens near Dodger Stadium. Ron Altoon, partner with Altoon + Porter Architects LLP was the instigator and moderator of the event. "It's the most significant real estate opportunity today," said Dan Rosenfeld, principal of Urban Partners, and another panelist. He warned that our community either "has momentum to continue mediocrity," or it can follow Lewis MacAdams' lead and take a more creative approach. The latter attitude was evidenced by the other panelists: Arthur Golding of Arthur Golding Associates; Ed Reyes, L.A City Councilman and Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the LA River; and Lupe Vela, a senior staff member of the same Ad Hoc Committee. When MacAdams founded FOLAR in 1986, he was inspired to restore the river's original spirit from a time when it ran wild over wetlands and willow thickets. Several days after the ULI/AIA meeting, I spoke to him on the telephone as he made his way by car to Ojai to give a reading of his poetry.  MacAdams: I don't think the problems posed by the Los Angeles River are really insoluble. They are complicated and will take a long time to solve. I didn't know everybody at the meeting, but there were some very smart progressive people there. This was an important moment where real business people, not only ecology students or environmental planners, are starting to be interested in the River. As real estate developers begin to look seriously at river-friendly development, the influence of people like Dan Rosenfeld - who combines vision and practical knowledge - will continue to grow. Urban Developments: Do you feel that you've succeeded in getting other people to buy into the idea? MacAdams: Yes, definitely. Everybody salutes it. There are infinite amounts of work to do, but basically the city digs it. The rest is how it evolves. UD: What kind of development would you like to see along the river? MacAdams: The River is 53 or 54 miles long, depending on where you're counting from, and I think there are many kinds. People tend to hold up San Antonio as a model, but their Riverwalk is only a mile long. Most of the river is pretty barren in a lot of ways, and those areas tend to be ignored. That's why the river through downtown is so important. It's the most barren, isolated, industrial 4_ miles. To make that into a gathering place would have a huge influence.  UD: By starting in one particular place, will the rest follow?MacAdams: Yes I think so. It's easier to see things that are there. It took a while to develop the little vest-pocket parks in Frogtown and now there are lots of those along the river. People love parks and to live near them. I see the creation of parkland along the river as being a very important aspect of the future of where people want to live in LA. UD: How did you first become aware of the river? MacAdams: I was working downtown on a CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) job. CETA was a huge Federal program during the Carter administration, where you could get $3.25 an hour and do almost anything. That's when I saw the River. I instantly recognized how things could evolve. It was one of those rare times in one's life when you could actually see what to do. UD: How does a poet and writer become so involved in social issues?  MacAdams: Well, I've always been on the cusp of poetry and politics. For a long time it was a struggle and the Friends of Los Angeles River actually helped me to bring it together. I'd always thought of poetry and politics as something I couldn't put together in a way that made me feel sane. The River has allowed me to do that.Carolyn Nott is a business consultant whose clients include Laschober + Sovich, Food Facilities Consultants. | |
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