A ‘Hero’ in Amboy October 27, 2007
Posted by Ron in Attractions, Music, Towns.add a comment
I heard a few days ago that the video for Enrique Iglesias‘ hit song “Hero” was shot in the Route 66 settlement of Amboy, Calif.
Sure enough, it is. Check it out:
Roy’s is featured prominently, as is a church in town.
And I was thinking the stone ruins were at Cadiz Summit, on Route 66 a few miles away, but it doesn’t look quite right. Any ideas?
Bringing back Broadway October 27, 2007
Posted by Ron in Businesses, Preservation, Towns.1 comment so far
Los Angeles Downtown News Online has posted a long story about the city’s attempts to revitalize the historic Broadway district, part of which is old Route 66.
Many similar efforts have failed. But because the downtown area is gaining more residents, there’s some urgency and hope that a Broadway revival will be for real.
For the first time, many of the area’s key stakeholders are at the table, including theater owners, landlords, business leaders and community groups. The shared vision, initial plans for which could be completed by year’s end, would turn Broadway between Third Street and Olympic Boulevard into an entertainment destination. It would diversify the largely Latino shopping hub with new retail, nightclubs, creative offices and live shows in renovated theaters.
One of the big issues Broadway will have to tackle is a lack of parking. Officials are looking at using a nearby garage, encouraging pedestrian use and perhaps establishing a trolley line. And planners are agonizing on how to let the downtown district evolve naturally, yet still use zoning and ordinances keep it desirable.
There’s more in the article, including a lot of interesting ideas, for other urban planners to chew on.
