BY NICK DIAMANTIDES
Staff Writer
Hyett Palma, the consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia, that spent the last approximately four months studying the Bixby Knolls business district, presented its findings and recommendations to a packed meeting hall at the Long Beach Petroleum Club last Thursday. Although many people in the audience seemed pleased with the report, some said it included unrealistic expectations and others said it left out some elements that were essential to the revitalization of the area.
Doyle Hyett, one of the company’s principals, complimented the residents and business owners for the progress they had made in the past 16 years. He noted that his company had undertaken a similar study of the area in 1993, and many of its recommendations had been followed. “Sometimes it’s hard to see (all the progress made) when you live in an area,” he said. “But looking back, you can see what a tremendous job you have done and one of the most remarkable things is you have brought this community together.”
Hyett noted that he is very pleased with the way the 8th District Council office, the city manager’s office, the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA), the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association (BIA), the businesses and the local residents are all working together to make Bixby Knolls a better place to live, work and shop.
Hyett spent about 20 minutes going over the vision that developed from comments made at the meeting Hyett Palma conducted in February. He noted that in the next five years residents want Bixby Knolls to be more pedestrian friendly and aesthetically pleasing. They also want more quality restaurants and shops that offer a wide mix of goods so that people in the area do not have to travel far to get the things they want.
Next, the consultant spent about half an hour recommending ways to make the vision a reality. Many of the things he recommended are things that the RDA and BIA are already doing. One thing not being done extensively that Hyett said was vital to the area’s prosperity was new business recruitment. He noted that while city officials are good at recruiting large retailers, there is not much room for many more such businesses in Bixby Knolls. Hyett urged the BIA’s executive director, Blair Cohn, to devote most of his time to business recruitment and to hire other staff to do the things he is doing now.
Hyett also urged residents and business people to stop wasting their energy on trying to bring changes to the Bixby Knolls Shopping Center. He said that effort was best left in the hands of city and RDA officials and more could be accomplished if more time and energy were spent on improving the area south of the shopping center.
“I don’t think they told us anything that we don’t already know,” said 8th District Councilwoman Rae Gabelich. I am hoping to see their complete report.” She explained that while Hyett’s presentation did not provide enough information, she expected the yet-to-be-completed full report to fill in the gaps. “I am encouraged by the fact that they are working on the executive summary,” she said. “They are going to sit down with Blair (Cohn), redevelopment staff and staff from my office, and we are going to pick out five or six things that we can work on.”
Cohn said he was pleased with many of Hyett’s recommendations because they confirmed that the BIA was on the right path. “We are already doing most of those things,” he said. “The only thing that was not completely conveyed was that we are already marching forward at warp speed on many of the things Mr. Hyett recommended. We are partnering with the city in all respects. We are knocking on every door of every homeowner association and community group to see what we can do together and find every way to pull together our resources— not just financial— to benefit the businesses and the residents.”
Cohn noted however that, because of the weak economy, the BIA is facing a decrease in its assessment revenues. “We don’t have the money to start doing all this tomorrow,” he said. “I cannot leave the office every day and recruit for new business and make that the sole path, because I have a part-time staff and there are so many other obligations.”
He said the BIA, the city and the RDA will continue to work together to come up with strategies that are feasible. “I just don’t know that it was made clear that the BIA is already moving in the direction presented in the Hyett Palma report,” he added. “We are not just treading water by any means.”
Audience members had a variety of opinions on Hyett’s presentation. “I thought it made sense,” said Dan Sanders.
Monica Leff disagreed. “I am extremely disappointed that they didn’t present any information on what can be done in the Bixby Knolls Shopping Center,” she said. “It is really the key to what will happen in the whole area.”
Jacqueline Mitchell had another perspective. “I am looking forward to some of the changes that will be taking place in this part of Long Beach,” she said.
Another resident, Darlene Burtsfield, wondered how those changes could happen. “I am disappointed that more progress has not been made since 1993,” she said. “We all have a vision, but how are we going to make it happen?”
Hyett may have answered that question in his closing remarks. “It’s for your benefit to stay involved in the process,” he said. “Whether you realize it or not, your city officials are listening to you.”
