Old Torrance feels brunt of bad economy

In February 2007 Anthony Pintaudi, co-owner of A&J Antiques in Old Torrance, warned that the area was on the verge of economic meltdown.

[promises promises]

Everytime you vote you think the new guy or gal will make a change
Nope ijust more of the same talk and reports.
Del Amo is weak
Old Town is falling apart
Hawthorne Blvd is empty more
Don't worry you know who promises to fix it
Jasper
Living in Corona Now

[Jerry]

The timeless solution to all our immediate and future problems:

Less government. More freedom.

[Wait A Minute]

Hey I voted for them and now What?
Larry in Old Town

[T-RX]

We can't count of Gov't, the people have to do it
themselves.
Jerry in Hawthorne hits the nail right on the head.

[Pol]

Downtown Torrance has the potential to be a vital area in our city. I hope that they plan something similar to Old Pasadena or the Old Town Area of Orange. Though the challenge could be from the residents who will complain of over crowding, etc. But with great plan, I think it can happen. I think its about time to put our city on the map!

[Torrance Same Oh]

Every Election. Trust Me
I will fix it or we will fix it
Leroy makes the decisions
Did they fix traffic yet?
Give it time like the bail out
Jared Sydney should only see this now
Politics and there promises
They blame the old guard
They have the vision
Sign up and join the team
Donate now
And pray yesterday
R.Watt

[I vote for the Chef]

Why don't they make Chef Shafer in charge. He practically is paying all the taxes over there and he seems to draw in crowds with his party ideas.

Plus, the food is great --especially the mooshoosteak. You Kickass Chef, next year run for Mayor of old Torrance, your business sense has earned my vote.

[Bart]

"The timeless solution to all our immediate and future problems:

Less government. More freedom."

See here -> http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Furthermore, what does the govt have to do with people preferring to buy crap from China at big box chain stores? These people are the problem, not "the govt."

[Don Diller]

Torrance needs a shot of the Hermosa solution: The business owners need to stack the city council. That is if there are any that live in the city.

I am not saying that Hermosa is without problems, but when real stakeholders who live and own businesses in their city took over the council, the downtown did get revitalized. Torrance won't get that by electing political bag men and tow yard operators.

Downtown Torrance is a jewel. Unfortunately the impression one gets driving through is that it's the place to go if you need a mobility scooter, diabetic supplies or an oxygen bottle.

[Ummm]

Oh dear God, not the STUPID "Smart Growth" thing raising it's ugly head. Live/work and MANY more condos.
Face it folks, the council will not be happy until the lovely downtown, which should be the pride of Torrance, is razed and 2,000+ ugly condos are put there.

If just a couple of the well-known chains were brought in, max 5, such as Borders, Old Navy, Peets, etc. there would be people to go to the mom and pops. Those big chains already have the marketing force behind them to bring people in. The sort of marketing that the little guys can't afford. Be judicious and only allow a few in. Make sure they will help the situation, not hurt it.

But all this sort of thinking is too hard for city planners who make a nice salary whether they do a good job or not.

And loading the council up with business people is really dumb. Then no one cares about the kids. Load it up with people who really care about saving Torrance for future generations and not money-grubbing thieves or nit wits. Good luck!

[Doug]

Sounds like you had a little run it with TPD. It appears to have made you bitter.

Moron wrote:

<quoted text>
are you an i.d.i.o.t.? you must also think obama is going to save this country. i think torrance is on all maps and that the city council created an agency to attract tourists? jeez, who would make this a destination to visit.
maybe tours of the mobil refinery would be a big draw, or the failing del amo where consumers are non existent and the commercial real estate loan market is almost ready to do the sub-prime.
you must be one of the lovers of the TPD and with their greedy budget how can torrance do anything to improve itself.
go jump off a cliff somewhere. i am sick of the idiots who think their dumb opinion is important.

[Bobbie]

Fire Leroy and bring someone young in to give their vision of the city.

A theater and some other stores to draw would help!

It's not less government but smart government that torrance needs.

Why are we paying Leroy over $350,000 for no vision?

[FosterFreeze]

You can have daily beer fests, concerts, crafts shows, etc. but it will not bring people down there on a regular basis. There is nothing, more than half the area is vacant.

Aggressive parking enforcement, impossible planning/building department, lack of parking and more attractive options are what killed this area YEARS ago.

[Bob]

"lack of parking and more attractive options are what killed this area YEARS ago. "

Did you even read the article? Part of the reason it's floundering is because the city wants the businesses to provide MORE parking. While from the perspective of someone who tools around the South Bay, parking must certainly be cheap to provide since you have it everywhere, right? In fact, parking is extremely costly and prohibitive for businesses -- especially ones that aren't suburban big boxers -- to provide.

[Leroy Rules]

Get Real my Friends as John McCain said
Leroy Rules and the GROUP OF 7 say "Yes Sir"
Time to wake up and smell the roses.
And there not in Torrance anymore
Millard Fillmore JR

[Who Cares]

Why does it matter? Old Torrance was given up as part of LA Strip a long time ago. There's no cleaning it up.

[The Usual Suspects]

Protection District
Oppose construction
The heck with revitalization
Signed
The Usual Suspects

[Bobbie]

You betcha Leroy will ruin Torrance before he retires the man is losing it!

Time to go ya ole coot!

Time for Torrance to revitalize city hall!

[Huh]

It was enjoyable to go down for breakfast, then wander the streets during the flea market/garbage sale weekends. Parking was difficult, but not impossible. Nice wide sidewalks, but, there were no benches on which to sit and rest. Not a lot of trees offering shade. Many of the businesses were not open on Sunday. Lots of the same stuff, not much variety.

Old Torrance has not been very inviting for quite a while.

[Mobil Home Parks]

Remember the rent control floated around
All but disappeared.
The Pope's friend got a sweetheart deal and relocated haha to Orange County
Wonder if the rent is higher haha
Go Jr