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December 1, 2000 CONTACT: ED SCANNELL/MARC
LITTMAN |
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The MTA and North Hollywood community members announced plans today to address the need for additional parking for patrons of the Metro Red Line North Hollywood Station and the community's desire to preserve a historic train depot. The MTA will begin construction later this month of 218 temporary parking spaces on MTA-owned property located across the street from the Metro Red Line North Hollywood Station. In addition, the MTA and the Community Redevelopment Agency announced their intention to restore a building on the 2.67-acre parcel which once served as a train depot. The temporary parking lot is anticipated to be needed for approximately three to five years, pending the beginning of Bus Rapid Transit service on the Burbank/Chandler Corridor, or when additional parking capacity is generated under joint development plans for the area. The 218 temporary parking spaces and the 919 existing spaces at the North Hollywood Station will provide a total of 1,137 spaces for Metro Red (A) Line patrons. "The demand for parking at the North Hollywood Station has been high since the Metro Red Line began service to the San Fernando Valley earlier this year," said Jim de la Loza, MTA executive officer for countywide planning. "This project will provide additional service to our customers while preserving an historic landmark." Built by Southern Pacific in 1896, the rail depot also served patrons of the Pacific Electric Railway beginning in 1911. Passenger service on the alignment was discontinued in the early 1950s. Hendricks Builders Supply Company leased the building from Southern Pacific beginning in January, 1959. In 1991, the MTA purchased the Burbank/Chandler Right-of-Way which includes the former train depot. Hendricks continued to lease the building until 1993, since which time the building has remained vacant. "The 1896 depot is an important landmark in the historical development of North Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley," said Guy Weddington McCreary, chairman of the Universal City-North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce transportation committee. "This link between our glorious past and a promising future will now be preserved for posterity." # # # MTA-127 |
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