Wave Staff Report
BELLFLOWER — City officials hope two drab or hidden locations will be brightened by art works.
The council Oct. 12 approved plans for art works on Lakewood Boulevard under the Artesia (91) Freeway overpass and the tower behind Hambone’s Barbecue on Belmont Street and the Stand Up Club in Town Center Plaza, on Belmont east of Bellflower Boulevard.
In a report to the council, Jim DellaLonga, director of economic development, said the artworks will be murals as part of the Public Art Program.
“After the success of the recent murals located at the Bellflower Boulevard/91 Freeway underpass, on the future Nest Tambien building, and also SteelCraft; Mayor Juan Garza has inquired about doing a mural at the Lakewood Boulevard/91 Freeway underpass,” DellaLonga told the council. “Proposed cost for murals at these locations is $35,000 to $40,000.
“There is sufficient funding for this project in the Economic Development Account,” he added.
According to DellaLonga, staff has been in discussions with artist Dave Van Patten for both of these mural locations.
Due to the size, depth, and lack of light in the Lakewood Boulevard underpass, something similar to the Bellflower Boulevard mural would be done, whereas two murals would be painted on either side of Lakewood Boulevard on the north side of the freeway and two murals would be painted on either side of Lakewood Boulevard on the south side of the freeway.
“To change things up, these murals would be illustrative versus signage, and would serve to inspire the community, especially the youth, with a common inspirational theme,” DellaLonga said.
“Similar to Bellflower Boulevard, the murals would be especially visible to people in cars waiting at the traffic signals and exiting the freeway at approximately 16 feet by 24 feet each.
The other mural location staff is recommending is the tower at Town Center Plaza, behind and between Hambone’s Bar and Grill and the Stand Up Club. The tower houses electrical panels for the buildings and is the access point to the balcony for the projector room for movie at the plaza.
“A conceptual design has not been drafted for the tower, but the artist envisions a fun cohesive concept that runs the entire height of the tower and wraps around the east and west sides,” DellaLonga said.
