Walking to the Farmers Market (part 4)

This part of the path is the sketchiest section of our walk. It's odd that the path isn't on the other side of the concrete barrier. If a car were to swerve at us here, we would be trapped and crushed to death.

Approaching an odd part of the infrastructure. Note the people walking on the east side of Vulcan hugging the side of the road. Their destination was also the farmers market. You see a lot of people walking and riding bikes along busy roads in Leucadia.

This does not look up to code.

View from Vulcan Ave of the iconic Pannikin coffee shop in our historic train station. Just think, if you are one of the thousands who live in the neighborhood east of Vulcan, you cannot legally cross the tracks and walk to get your cup of coffee (not to mention that crossing 4 lanes of busy Hwy101 is very chancy). Instead of walking a few 100 feet, you have to get into your car and deal with traffic and the high drama of finding parking around the Pannikin. It's all kinda silly. It sure would be nice if you could cross the tracks on foot. If there was pedestrian crosswalks on the 101 I bet the local businesses would make more money.

Arriving at our destination. There is a pedestrian crosswalk up ahead but traffic was clear so we crossed at the street. You would think that there would be a stop sign or something right here at the school on Union Street, but there isn't. Weekday mornings here get pretty hectic as parents drop off their kids and commuter traffic tries to evade I-5 and Hwy101.

Looking north on Vulcan Ave from Paul Ecke Central elementary school. Here we have the feeling of a nice rural town.

Entering the school. It was Earth week and they were teaching the gremmies not to be wasteful.

We bumped into city council person Teresa Barth.

The Leucadia Farmers Market now has it's own grocery bags with Fred Caldwell art.

Lots of certified organic booths.

Four square.

Flower stand.

Vegetable stands.

Local farmers keeping it real.

Conclusion:
It really wasn't a bad walk, it was pretty fun all in all. It was nicer than driving. This was a fairly quiet morning, except for a few motorist who were driving way too fast. Most of the cars were cruising at a reasonable speed. No trains went by during our walk. You don't really feel all that safe, especially along the concrete barrier, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We were tempted to walk along the dirt closer to the tracks instead of the goat path. I'm interested to know where the property line of the NCTD and Leucadia is. Why isn't the goat path wider? Does an extra 2 feet of asphalt cost a lot?

Stay tuned for the sequel, Walking Back from the Farmers Market.
Leucadia Blog: Walking to the Farmers Market (part 3)

Walking to the Farmers Market (part 3)

Leucadia Blog: Walking to the Farmers Market (part 2)


Continuing south on Vulcan Ave towards the farmers market and the massive Torrey Pine tree ahead. I wonder how old it is?

Looking back north. Our goat path is bleak but functional. In the distance the coast highway corridor looks nice, especially the old growth eucalyptus trees.
The majority of the traffic passing by on Vulcan seemed to be speeding. The big dip in front of the trailer park took non-locals by surprise and there cars would clank loudly when they hit it at full speed.

Another of the many Malboro reds cigarette packs that line the path (see part 2)

Heading in the right direction. Believe it or not, some people objected to the installation of these signs.

If you walk the entire Leucadia rail line you encounter many of these makeshift memorials marking where people have lost their lives by being struck by the train. Some are suicides and some are accidents. All are sad.

I've always wondered what lurks below Leucadia. C.H.U.D.s?

A small amount of beauty amidst the NCTD scorched earth zone.
to be continued...

Walking to the Farmers Market (part 2)

Leucadia Blog: Walking to the Farmers Market (part 1)

click photos for large view

So now we are cruising south down the Vulcan Ave goat path towards Paul Ecke Central elementary school and the farmers market. The path is narrow and listing to the right in many places so it's actually not easy to push the stroller.

The little dude checking it all out.

This chair is random. Notice the scorched earth of the NCTD rail zone. Everytime a train comes roaring through here at 80 mph it kicks up giant clouds of dirt that covers the downtown Leucadia in a layer of filth.

Biking to Sunday brunch.

Lovely bus stop.

There is a discarded empty carton of Malboro reds every 20 feet on Vulcan Ave. Most likely from the same person. This is a fresh one.

Walking to the Farmers Market (part 1)

How walkable is Leucadia? A couple of Sundays ago I took the family on a walk to the farmers market at Paul Ecke Central elementary school and decided to photograph our adventure.
click images for large view


Our starting point, the Leucadia Roadside Park north crosswalk, heading east across the historic coast highway 101, then across the train tracks to Vulcan Ave.

Crossing over. Note the horrible condition of this heavily used intersection. See, Leucadia Blog: The Lonely Pedestrian

The refurbished path across the tracks. See: Leucadia Blog: Slightly Less Dangerous Pedestrian Path added to Leucadia Blvd

Across the tracks!

Push zee button. Who or what is TLK? I see this tag everywhere around town.

Waiting to cross south on Vulcan Ave and Leucadia Blvd.

The Vulcan Ave/Leucadia Blvd intersection received this nice new pavement. Too bad the Hwy101 portion is in such poor shape, I wonder if that repaving and repainting of the lanes that was promised last summer will happen this year?
*Note the new sidewalks and landscaping heading east up Leucadia Blvd. There has been a drastic increase in pedestrians here from the surrounding neighborhoods.

Halfway across the red hand started flashing, hurry!

Follow the sign.

Looking back, you can see the orange sandbags which are now thankfully gone. The rumor is that stack of railroad ties are going in place of the sandbags. The coast highway corridor of Leucadia looks nice from this view but the immediate area is awful. This intersection not only has a total lack of landscaping, but there is barely even any plant life. Just a few small scraggly weeds trying to survive here and there. Very bleak, dusty and sad. This area is controlled by the North County Transit District or NCTD. The mayor of Encinitas, Jerome Stocks sits on the board of directors for the NCTD.

Let's head down this path towards the farmers market...(to be continued).

ORANGE SANDBAGS GONE! ORANGE SANDBAGS GONE! ORANGE SANDBAGS GONE!

click photos for large views

Nothing says Welcome to Leucadia like piles of orange sandbags placed at our central intersection.

These orange sandbags have been protecting Leucadia (and America) from erosion for some time now, but they wore out their welcome pretty quick because they are...uh, really ugly.

Check it out amigos, no more orange sandbags! Finally, they are gone, oh happy day.

I wonder if this area will ever get any decent landscaping?

What the Leucadia Blvd/Hwy101 intersection might look like with a native cactus garden.

The orange sandbags terrorized and blighted Leucadia, but are they gone for good?

Lowering the Train Tracks is the ONLY Solution for Leucadia

Leucadia rail corridor. Crossing these tracks on foot can result in a $1000 ticket.


Solana Beach underground rail corridor.

The Sunday UT features an Adam Kaye article about the frustration Leucadians feel not being able to take the shortest most logical route to school and businesses by crossing the train tracks (illegally), and instead having to get into our cars and driving 2 miles.

If you don't have a hard copy read the article online: Additional railroad crossings in limbo

The article gives you the impression that the city's desire to build tunnel crossings is the only solution.

Sooner than later we will have double tracking in Leucadia, that will mean 100 trains or more in a 24 period. Obviously pedestrian tunnels will do nothing to help the gridlock and frustration at the Leucadia Blvd/Hwy 101 intersection.



Train collides with vehicle at Leucadia Blvd.

Double tracking will mean more blaring horns and lots and lots of dust. The dust from the trains now is already unacceptable (the NCTD's scorched earth landscaping policies aggravate this problem).

Imagine, Leucadia's 101 coast highway business district finally gets it's streetscape program, pedestrians come out to shop and eat at our sidewalk cafes and what will their experience be? Hearing dozens of loud, obnoxious blaring train horns all day that drown out conversations and make babies cry.

The only real solution for Leucadia is lowering the tracks.

When one speaks of lowering the tracks in Leucadia the Thought Police are quick to chastise you, calling it impossible. But, with strong leadership, determined political and community will we could lobby the Feds and get it done.

It's something to think about this summer as we approach the November elections.

Stimulate Leucadia

The guvment is printing money and sending out checks! Spread the wealth around Leucadia's coast highway small businesses and get yourself something nice, you deserve it.

Urgent, Date Change: Hall Park Conflict Assessment Presentation

Due to some technical difficulties, we have had to change the presentation date for the Hall Park Conflict Assessment Presentation from this Friday, May 2nd to Monday, June 2nd. It will still be at 7pm at the Encinitas Community Center. We apologize for any inconvenience, and we hope to see you there in June.

Best regards,

Christina Simokat
La Jolla Center for Dispute Resolution

Meeting details: Leucadia Blog: Got an Opinion on the Hall Park in Cardiff?

Boathouses Preserved Forever

May 1st 2008

Press Release

For immediate release and distribution

From: Tom Cozens

President, Encinitas Preservation Association.


Encinitas Boathouses Preserved Forever

The Encinitas Preservation Association (DBA) is proud to announce that we have closed escrow and are now the owners of the Encinitas Boathouses. We hold the Boathouses for the benefit of all citizens in the public trust of preservation forever.

This acquisition of the $1.55 million Encinitas Boathouses was a year long journey, as unique as the Boathouses themselves. Each of the founding board members of the Encinitas Preservation Association has brought immeasurable skill as well as personal and professional contributions to this effort. The partnering of two great organizations, Downtown Encinitas Main Street Association (DEMA) and the Encinitas Historical Society, as well as dedicated members of the Encinitas community at large has culminated in one of the most imaginative, creative and important preservation accomplishments in the State of California.

I want to acknowledge the indomitable spirit over the past 18 months of Peder Norby who brought us all together in this great endeavor. I truly believe that each and every citizen, today and in the future, will benefit by the retention and preservation of this irreplaceable, Nationally important landmark. Their creative design and resourceful construction are constant reminders of the unique spirit of the five communities that proudly share the name Encinitas.

The Director of the National Trust Main Street Center, Doug Loescher offered this comment on the effort: "As a Main Street revitalization leader of both the State of California as well as the nation, Encinitas has once again demonstrated that by embracing preservation as a tool for economic development, a coalition of community stakeholders can overcome great obstacles to build sustainable community resources, such as the Encinitas Boathouses. In partnership with local government and a developer, the Main Street organization is helping to do more than preserve a nationally important landmark; they are demonstrating how complex projects such as this can achieve affordable housing and other goals as well. This project can serve as a model for future development, both in Encinitas and around the country."

“The DEMA board of directors is very proud to be part of this preservation effort to keep the whimsical creations of builder Miles Kellogg moored in their original location for generations to come,” said Dody Tucker, Executive Director of DEMA.

Several key community partners played critical roles in purchasing the Encinitas Boathouses.

The prior owners of the Boathouses, John Deters and Mark Whitley approached DEMA with a desire to offer the sale of the Boathouses to a preservation effort, instead of putting them on the open market. We thank them for that gift of an opportunity.

The Lofts at Moonlight Beach provided over $650,000 in funding to help purchase the Boathouses including affordable housing fees and a $25,000 charitable donation. Richard Lee Sax, the President of Distinctive Projects Company, Inc. manager of The Lofts at Moonlight Beach LLC said : “The Lofts is thrilled that its development of its critical gateway property at the entry of Moonlight Beach and the entry to downtown Encinitas is coupled with the historical preservation of another essential element of the unique nature of our City. We’ve taken seriously our obligations to our community as we develop our property, and we are so pleased that we’ve had the additional benefit of saving the past for future generations.”

The City of Encinitas provided over $200,000 in affordable housing funding to help purchase and preserve the Encinitas Boathouses. Mayor Jerome Stocks said: "The Encinitas Boathouses are an iconic Encinitas landmark., and the entire City Council are thrilled to have helped in their preservation."

California Community Bank, the official bank of the Encinitas Boathouses, newly located in the heart of downtown Encinitas, provided a community loan to assist in the purchase of the boathouses. California Community Bank CEO Larry Hartwig commented, “We are delighted to be able to assist with this high profile community project, and particularly at the time Don Taylor is about to open our new Encinitas Branch.”

The Encinitas Preservation Association now embarks on a fundraising voyage that will culminate in the opening of the Boathouses to the public, in a manor compatible with the surrounding residential neighborhood. “The Boathouses represent the history and eclectic charm of the City of Encinitas ,” Supervisor Pam Slater-Price said. “They really are an icon of a simpler time. Every effort has been made by the city to save them for posterity, and rightfully so. To me, a small on site museum is the logical next step. I’d like to see the boathouses made a part of a coastal beaches walking tour of Encinitas.”

We invite the citizens of Encinitas and North County to join us in a special once in a lifetime “Boathouse Christening” on May 19th at 5:30pm. The location is the 1883 Encinitas Schoolhouse (1/3rd of a block north of the Boathouses) where we will gather and celebrate. We will then walk to the Boathouse for a community picture.

Please join us to celebrate our unique heritage, a National Treasure, and your Encinitas Boathouses,

Tom Cozens

Boathouses on Roadside America.com

*It is my opinion that if developers built Boathouses instead of McMansions then they wouldn't be in financial trouble.