The Westside Branch of the U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles Chapter (USGBC-LA) is proud to present a guided tour of two Green Street sites as part of the City of Santa Monica Green Street Program. The tour includes two Green Street locations – one under construction and one completed – as well as a presentation by Neal Shapiro from the Office of Sustainability and the Environment at the City of Santa Monica.
Shapiro will also explain the implementation of the City’s Green Streets initiative, which aims for developing community and creating unique and sustainable places for people to live.
The tour will commence at 6:00pm on Thursday, April 19, at Ocean Park Boulevard and 4th Street, where a segment of a complete “Green Street” is under construction (the Ocean Park Blvd. “Complete Green Street,” extends between Nielson Way and Lincoln Boulevard) and will result in a better performing, enhanced streetscape that is pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented, attractive, green, and prevents urban run-off from entering the Santa Monica Bay. This project is the result of many years of planning and collaboration between community members, City staff, and other local stakeholders.
Key Ocean Park Boulevard Green Street project elements include: wider sidewalks; parkway/storm water bio-filter swales and infiltration areas; a drip irrigation system; over 100 new trees; new landscaping and medians; new marked crosswalks with enhanced overhead flashing beacons; more visible, painted bike lanes and traffic striping; new artist-designed bike racks; street furniture; trash and recycling cans; 75 pedestrian-scaled light poles; traffic signal improvements; and Los Amigos Park storm improvements.
The group will continue their walking tour to Bicknell Avenue and First Street to view a completed Green Street.
Completed in May 2009, this installation features such innovative strategies as: permeable concrete in the parking lane; subsurface infiltration basin; climate appropriate landscape plants; and depressed parkway bioswale with drip irrigation.
Please bring warm clothing; this event is outside and will happen rain or shine.
WHEN: Thursday, April 19, 2012, 6:00pm – 7:30pm (Prompt start to take advantage of daylight)
WHERE: Meet at Ocean Park Boulevard and 4th Street to tour a green street under construction and then walk to 100 block of Bicknell Avenue to see a completed project. For those who are interested, the tour will proceed afterward to a nearby restaurant for no host drinks (announced on site).
PARKING: Metered parking along Main Street; walk approximately four blocks to starting point.
COST: $15 USGBC-LA Members/ $25 Non-Members; Registration in advance is encouraged; please sign-up at http://usgbc-la.org.
For additional information please contact Gabrielle Fladd, glfladd@gmail.com.
