New Highland Ave. Medians

With gold-tipped shovels in hand, Councilmember Tom LaBonge joined community members and agency personnel in breaking ground on new, landscaped medians along Highland Avenue in Hollywood. The two new medians fill in a gap between the Highland medians in Hancock Park south of Melrose and those in Hollywood north of Santa Monica Blvd. The Funding was provided through the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Call for Projects and the Hollywood Media District, a Business Improvement District (BID).
“These medians will create a river of green down Highland Avenue,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “We’ve been installing them as public money becomes available and they are transforming Highland from a strictly industrial area to a pleasant mix of industry and outdoor cafes and shops. This is the future of Hollywood.”
This particular median project was one of the first improvements that Councilmember LaBonge promoted when he was elected in 2001. Three new landscaped median islands will be installed on Highland Avenue from Melrose Avenue to Santa Monica Blvd., as part of this project. Decorative crosswalks at Melrose and Highland, already have been installed, and 53 pedestrian lights on Highland, from Melrose to Fountain Avenue, are scheduled. The $810,000 project was funded through the MTA, with matching funds from the BID. Construction started last week.
Others who attended the ground-breaking event were Bureau of Street Services Asst. General Mgr. Ron Olive and Hollywood Media District BID President Carol Cassella.