ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

Don't get me started! I blogged this very topic a year and a half ago!
http://www.ojaipost.com/2006/04/choosey_about_business_at_what.shtml
The only progress we've seen is the new Chantico Inn (finally). How 'bout that old bowling alley?

My vote goes to the "Subway Coming Soon!" banner which has thankfully come down from its intended destination in the arcade. The Bryant Street buildout isn't so hot either.

Dennis and Lisa,

Downtown is a blight! I appreciate seeing some vacant space here and there. The only truly "sustainable" approach is to reverse the maximum density, nature hating effects, of the industrial era. "Parks" are not the only approach to non commercial space. I would love to see more "blighted" commercial space in Ojai. We would all breath a little easier. Do you remember what it was like before the traffic? Chantico hardly represents "progress". I nominate the Chevron station.

then why don't you buy the land and turn it into a park!?

Eyesore #1: The abandoned Texaco Station across from Starr.

Eyesore #2: The old bowling alley. I seriously don't understand why this space hasn't been purchased. it has the potential for something great. Perhaps a large organic market, or something for the youth of Ojai, since not everyone likes to skateboard.

Eyesore #3: The old Ford dealership, previously Ojai Spas. Knock that old, rotting building down, and make a botanical garden, or something nice, it's one of the main areas you drive by on the way to town. I think Ojai Valley Inn owns that property now, so chop chop. Chances are, they will build a huge stucco wall around the whole border of that piece of land and make more parking and misc. for there patrons.

Eyesore #4

That vacant field in Meiners Oaks where old foundations still sit, plans were made to build, and they just up and left with a tacky fence surrounding it. Build a nice little strip mall with 3-4 vendors, and a medium sized market for Meiners Oaks, the local one that's already there can expand! That land needs to be taken care of.

I honestly think Ojai is wasting money by building this ugly little parks that NO ONE ever goes to, (Cluff Vista) just to fill up open space. In such a touristy market, can no one honestly think of a single business to put in these eyesores? Leaving them empty lots that have been torn down would just look like it is, empty, and a waste of space.

And lets not put a stop light in an intersection everytime someone gets killed.
We might as well get it over with and put a light in on Tico Rd., Park Rd., and one in Meiners Oaks. Let's slow the flow of traffic down even more, (it's bad enough with people driving 30-35mph in 45 zones all throughout Ojai. Maybe it will draw some more traffic to the Autobaun, I mean, Creek Rd. I understand the 35 and 25 mph zones in Ojai, but when people go 20 in a 35 past park and ride, all the way to Bocalli's, they need to get off the road. It should not take 20 mins to get out of this Valley.

Put in a new highway from just past Canada Larga, and make it spit out on one of those vacant orchards on the east end. There is plenty of land and trees between those two places to construct one incognito like, leaving all the trees and making it just a beautiful drive in the hills home. It would virtually cut downtown traffic down drastically, take the hassle of driving through Oak View, Mira Monte, and Ojai through all those lights just to get home. With the housing growth, I think we owe it to ourselves for a new road to town.

Put in a new highway from just past Canada Larga, and make it spit out on one of those vacant orchards on the east end. There is plenty of land and trees between those two places to construct one incognito like, leaving all the trees and making it just a beautiful drive in the hills home. It would virtually cut downtown traffic down drastically, take the hassle of driving through Oak View, Mira Monte, and Ojai through all those lights just to get home. With the housing growth, I think we owe it to ourselves for a new road to town.

I can think of a few. But the most obvious one to share would be the bowling alley. But the ones that bother me the most are the ones not so easily seen by the general public, and my backyard doesn't count.

Underneath the bridge on McAndrew just before it turns into Thatcher Rd. Tonnes of graffiti. The mouth of the flood control above Canada St. Again, graffiti. The Barranca along side the skate park. There is always allot of trash dumped over the fence from the skate park. For pet peeves, well one, gum covered side walks. Why do people who chew gum choose to spit it on the ground for the rest of us to step over or on, leaving it to become another glob on our walk ways. I gave up regular gum chewing years ago, nothing worse than a reformed anything.

Not exactly in Ojai, but an eyesore nonetheless. At Lake Casitas after the weekend. After all the out-of-towners actually get of town, they leave the entire park an absolute pig sty. Monday is no day to be on the cleanup crew there. The staff do a great job cleaning up, yet, I feel why should there be such a mess in the first place. The indifference of people of there affect upon others always amazes me. And it is not just the kids we expect this from who do it, it is adults.

The entire town of Oak View (and for that matter Casitas Springs) needs a facelift.
I wouldn't know where to begin but would sure like to see a "Beautification Committee" spring up.

I don't think Oak View is an incorporated city as of now. But, in the last few years, volunteers have been putting hundreds of hours in planning and work, for improvements, some of which have come to fruition. And some of their efforts have been hampered by code, regulation with the state concerning what they can do along 33. Such as planting trees and side walk improvements. I find it ironic that the state that has done little to nothing to improve their Hwy. 33, get in the way of those are actually volunteering their time.

Also the these same and other volunteers have created places for the kids to go to after school, improved their library and parks. It is slow, but there has been progress and I believe Oak View will be not just an alternative to Ojai, but a real choice, as I believe it is already.

I just had to give O.V. their props. I've read a great deal about their efforts and was impressed by them.
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The mention above concerning another road into Ojai, is a good idea. I've been advocating this idea for years, but no one I ever spoke to seem enthused or actually cared. Yet they gripe about the traffic. Personally, I would like to see a road going/continuing from Boardman Rd. loop around and could join up with Canada Larga. Easier said than done, but think of all the advantages, particularly this one: Had this road been in place during the floods, it might have still been good enough for the Ojaians to drive in and out of the Valley with ease.

That ghettolicios
Texaco is first on my list.

At a recent Planning Commission meeting (July 18), the Texaco property was on the agenda. Unfortunately, I can't find the minutes from the meeting online, so don't know the result of the discussion. However, here is the agenda text:

3. CONCEPT REVIEW (CR 07-05) FOR SITE IMPROVEMENTS AND BUILDING RENOVATION TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE COMMERCIAL USES for property located at 110 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai, California 93023, Assessor’s Parcel Number 021-0-106-100. Property Owner: Arnold Meyerstein. Representative: Whitman Architectural Design, Martin Hartmann.

RECOMMENDATION:
1. Provide the applicant with comments and recommendations regarding the preliminary proposal (CR 07-05), based on the staff report, preliminary site plans, the applicant’s presentation, and the public input received; and
2. Provide the applicant with preliminary indication of whether or not it supports the project.

Sounds like some positive motion.

If you build it, they will come.

(referring to highways)

Eyesores? Trash.

If everybody in Ojai (and everywhere else) picked up just one piece of trash off of the ground every day and threw it in the appropriate container, this town would look a lot better. Anyone here ever been to Switzerland? Mauritius? There are entire countries where people have an anti-litter mentality, and don't treat trash, when they see it, as someone else's problem.

Do I live by my own advice? Yes; every day, all day. I drive my friends nuts, but I've also driven most of them to pick up litter, too.

By the way, that man in the snap-brim hat who picks up litter on the first mile of Creek Road very early almost every morning is Johnny Johnston, the County CEO.

As I work across the street from Cluff Vista, I visit frequently and it does not bother me at all to be alone there. You may be interested to know that very site won the OVN Eyesore Award several years in a row as an abandoned gas station, (hardly an open space) before it was made into an attractive little park.

I have to say that I appreciate the new word: ghettolicios. Thanks Isabella.

Eyesore - all of the day labors in downtown Ojai and Meiners Oaks. I have said this many times, if a day labor can hang out all day long then why can't the teenagers?

It took awhile, but Cluff park grew on me. I can appreciate the plant choices for being appropriate for the climate, and not being a maintenance preoccupation and the smells of these plants being pleasing. It is underutilized, probably for not having a grass area with cool shade. Maybe a couple of trees that grow big would set that park off.

Another point on Cluff. It is my understanding(And please come in and correct me if I have it wrong) that for any business to be there, the toxic waste beneath it would have to be cleared out-for it was a gas station(Adamson Shell). All gas stations leak fuel over time. The clean up cost is high and prohibitive for most new businesses and I guess it never qualified for Super-fund status(if ever applied for). So long as the property is in City govt. hands, clean up can be delayed indefinitely, thus the park and not a business. This was the very problem with the old Texaco station.

I might add That ?Mrs.? Cluff helped turn that eyesore around.

I remember Smokey and the Bandit (1) being filmed at and around the old Shell station. I could watch from my job at Carrows, or was it Bayless.

agrees with Dana about Cluff Park - I think they may have even received some grant money to help put the Park together. It would have cost too much for any type of business to build there because of the toxic waster underneath. There was some loophole (that may be a strong word for what it was) that if it stayed under city government, they didn't have to clear up the mess underneath.

I remember Smokey being filmed too. Dana - how long ago were you in Ojai? sounds like you and I were here during the same time period! I graduated in 1980.

The new development being built to replace the old Ojai Frostie building simply ruins the view coming into town. It blots out the views of the museum building AND the topa topas and just presents an out of proportion "taco bell spanish" facade.
I would MUCH rather see an empty lot than a new development.
Ojai is losing it's soul to developer's greed and architect's egos.
Another lovely architectural statement is the giant McMansion on the corner (I believe Lion and Eucalyptis streets) in downtown Ojai. They could not have built a bigger house on that lot.

and did I mention some of the lovely car gardens in Meiner's Oaks? Or the Motor Homes that people park on the street?

Donna, I was there since I was born, and Graduated Nordhoff Class of '75'. I was so fortunate to be in Ojai at that time. I sorta always knew it at the time, but was busting to get out. When you leave places like Ojai, you realize how special and rare these types of communities are. Presently, I'm in Philadelphia, but my youngest and I return to Ojai tomorrow!

Meiners Oaky, totally agree on car gardens and the over-sized house on Lion. That was a big mistake allowing those plans. I will see, for the first time the changes at the Frostie location. I was always concerned as to how much the development would take away from the mountains and the museum. Will see it tomorrow.

From the looks of it, it's time to suggest to the current Ojai Valley News Editor that they revive Fred Volz's annual eyesore competition! Maybe Dennis Rice can write a Letter to the OVN.

PS Cluff Park is an awesome place to watch the Full Moon rise over the Ojai Valley. The points made by Dana and Donna about the history of Cluff Park are accurate (far as I know). I've had some nice relaxing moments in that little nature oasis, in the midst of a busy day.

I just saw the pictures of the pergola. What happened? The night before I left Ojai for Pennsylvania, we were downtown at the Save the Trees protest and I have a picture with me & my beloved under the pergola. That was seven years ago. If the wood has already rotted, it's obvious someone skimped on the construction. Idiots.

On the way to Bocalli's on the left side of the road somebody painted their house ORANGE...What were they thinking??

I drove by someone's yard in Meiner's Oaks for months and there were piles and piles of clothes all around the yard. I do believe that it has since been cleaned up. I was on the verge of taking photos due to its severe surreal impact.

My favorite eysore is the water tank at the top of fooyhill rd at the second part of the pratt trail ther is a perpetual leak that is taped up with duct tape genius!