Long Beach Breakwater Controversy

LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL APPROVES BREAKWATER STUDY

RESTORE THE SHORE

The Long Beach California Breakwater Is the largest man made breakwater in the world.  Made of three gigantic walls of rock, it was completed in 1949 and extends about 2 1/2 miles in front of  Long Beach's residential beaches.  It's original objective was to thwart submarines and torpedoes during World War II.  Sitting in about 50 feet of water the breakwater rises between 10 to 13 feet above the surface. 

The breakwater is owned and maintained by the federal government, not by the City of Long Beach.  Any changes to the breakwater will require federal support. The Long Beach City Council voted to ask the federal government to order the study back in 2005.  The request fell on deaf ears in Washington.  Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who represents all the coastal area of Long Beach, told city officials he would not ask for the study.  Neither of California's senators - Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer - would sponser the measure either.  This is an election year - right?

Many residents feel the breakwater no longer serves it's intended purpose and has ruined the natural waves depriving Long Beach of the cleansing action of the tides.  The dirty water and flat surf have reduced beach usage.  Some Long Beach residents believe removing part of the existing breakwater would restore the city's appeal to tourists.  Some claim there is evidence that it has depressed Long Beach homes values as well. 

Long Beach residents have become so used to the lack of surf, many do not realize the benefits of removing a portion of this breakwater and once again allowing the natural surf to roll in.  Clean water and a more eco-friendly environment are the major benefits of removing unnecessary portions of the breakwater.  Can you just imagine being able to surf real waves in Long Beach?

Recently Long Beach residents have begun to organize to make the removal of portions of the breakwater a future reality.  At the Long Beach City Council Meeting on 7/24/07 council members voted 7-1 in favor of allowing $100,000 funding for a breakwater reconnaissance study.  The money comes from funds reserved for coastal projects.  It's a start. 

The study will consider the role the breakwater plays in terms of economic impact (including the Port's), on the environment, national security, water quality, beach erosion, jurisdiction and more.  The study will consider data from other resources, no new studies will be conducted.  The benefits will have to outweigh the cost of the project according to the Army Corp. of Engineers guidelines. 

Concerns have been expressed that the removal of portions of the breakwater may threaten Alamitos Bay Homes. 

The Long Beach Surfrider group is hosting a free public meeting at 7:00 PM Monday 8/6/07 at the Borders bookstore at 101 S. Pine Avenue to discuss its campaign and to open the floor to questions.  Please feel free to stop in and add your two cents. 

Articles related to the Long Beach Breakwater:

• Press-Telegram
• Los Angeles Times
• Grunion Gazette
• LBReport.com
• Long Beach breakwater bringing waves of debate
• Great Article on Breakwater

Posted on August 05, 2007 12:59:04 by Laurie.Manny

Things to do in Long Beach in August 2007

• Long Beach Jazz Festival August 10-12, 2007
• 2007 Free Movies in the Park
• 2007 Free Concerts in the Park
  2007 Long Beach Municipal Band Summer Concert Schedule
• 2007 Long Beach Sea Festival - Come Join The Fun.
• Mayor's Trophy Golf Tournament to Benefit Junior Golf Programs
• Long Beach Golf Festival Going On Now
• Belmont Plaza Pool Fall 2007 Schedule

The Long Beach Sea Festival continues through August with many wonderful events:

• LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL BAND CONCERTS (Marine Stadium, Aug. 2, 9, 16)
  Contact: Cynthia Fogg (562) 570-4780 www.lbparks.org
• THURSDAY NIGHT TWILIGHT CONCERTS IN THE PARK (Houghton Park, Aug. 2; Stearns Park, Aug. 9; Ramona Park, Aug. 16; Chavez Park, Aug. 23; Somerset Park, Aug. 30)
  Contact: Michelle Gingras (562) 570-3117 www.lbparks.org
• USA VOLLEYBALL HIGH PERFORMANCE CAMP (AVP Stadium, August 2-5)
  A beach volleyball instructional camp for elite players aged 8 to 16, operating from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.
  Contact: Christine Jinbo (310) 216-7901 www.usavolleyball.org/juniors/07beachtour
• KIDS FISHING RODEO (Belmont Veteran Memorial Pier, Aug. 3)
  The 54th annual event is brought to you by the SoCal Tuna Club and Alfredos Beach Club. The Rodeo is free to kids 16 and under and includes free bait, snacks and instruction. Visitors must provide own rod and reel and therell be prizes for many categories.
  Contact: Fred Khammar (562) 434-1542 or www.alfredosbeachclub.com
• CRAWFISH FESTIVAL, (Rainbow Lagoon, Aug. 4-5)
  The Crawfish Festival features the worlds best Louisiana musicians, including

Posted on August 05, 2007 10:37:39 by Laurie.Manny

Long Beach Home Bathroom Remodels

Long Beach Homes - Bathroom Remodels

Long Beach Homeowners want more space in their kitchens and bathrooms.  Bathroom remodels are reflecting many of the same design trends and choices as kitchens. 

Long Beach Homeowners want their bathrooms opened up.  They want more space, more light and room for more than one person to be comfortable in the room at the same time.  Adding windows and skylights, or enlarging existing windows brings light into the room, cheering it up and creating the illusion of more space.  Using lots of glass and glass block helps achieve this goal. 

We all know that the choice to live in a beach close Long Beach Home generally means higher prices and less square footage.  How can we create more viable living space when we only have just so much in the way of usable square footage?  

Adjoining closets are being eliminated and used to increase bathroom square footage while closets and storage space are reconfigured in other areas of the home.   At a loss for space but want to open up your bathroom?  Consider opening up the ceiling, utilize that wasted attic space and add cubic square footage.  Sometimes this is enough to remove the oppresive feeling and open up the room.

The Master Bath is the homeowners retreat, they want a little luxury here.  Homeowners are insisting on most of these items:

• Heated floors
• Towel Warmers
• Multiple shower heads
• Mounted Flat Screen TVs
• Recessed Lighting
• Dual sinks
• Soaring ceilings
• Decorative Fixtures

Consumers are leaning toward nickel and antique bronze fixtures, chrome is still popular but is waning.  Brass is so out!

Eco friendly, green remodeling is playing a role in bathroom remodels with an increase in interest in renewable materials and water conservation.  Dual-flush toilets and other technologies have become very popular.  In Japan over 70% of all homes now have Toto heated bidet toilet seats.  These seats come complete with remote control and have a rather hefty price tag. 

Homeowners are paying special attention to ventilation, many installing central exhaust fans or environmentally friendly fans that run constantly on low and adjust automatically to cycle up or down when someone enters or leaves the room.  Whole house fans have become very popular aiding in the ventilation and temperature control of the entire home. 

Baby Boomers considering remodeling are having bathtubs removed and are replacing them with large glassed-in showers with multiple heads.  Boomers like to spend a lot of time at home and are craving more luxury accomodations in their home.  Other features the Boomers are seeking are:

• Raised vanities and toilets
• Lower upper cabinets
• Larger Doorways

Boomers are expanding first floor baths and adding guest rooms on the first floor with the idea that this could eventually become a master suite. 

A well thought out and nicely designed kitchen and bath remodel can make the difference in whether a buyer decides to write an offer on your Long Beach Home or another.  These are upgrades worth considering. 

If you are considering a future sale and are remodeling in anticipation of that sale, it is wise to consult with your Realtor.  We work with and know what Long Beach Homebuyers are looking for in their new homes.  A consultation could make the difference in the amount you net at the closing table. 

Thinking about a remodel of your Long Beach Home?  You may also find this article helpful: 

Long Beach Home Kitchen Remodels

Posted on July 21, 2007 07:32:56 by Laurie.Manny

Long Beach Home Kitchen Remodels

Long Beach Homes - Kitchen Remodels

Nothing increases the appeal or salability of a Long Beach Home more than a great kitchen and bath remodel.  With all of the information and choices out there it can get pretty confusing for a consumer. 

Where do you start?

The key is in the design.  If your kitchen is the center of activity in your home then the design needs to accomodate that.  Consumers are seeking more integration, more space and more high-end features in todays kitchen remodels.  They want a kitchen they can be proud of and show off. 

In most older Long Beach Homes kitchens are very closed off, seperate rooms, removed from the activities of the family, Formal Dining rooms sit largely unused.  Many Long Beach Homeowners are opting to tear out the doors and walls between the kitchen and dining room and are incorporating the square footage into a more useful, functional and attractive space, integrating the kitchen with the rest of the home. 

Allowing more natural light to stream in can create the illusion of more space.  Many are adding additional windows, skylights or are just increasing the size of existing windows. 

While some homeowners are still opting for white cabinetry, the current trend is towards the darker woods, cherry and maple are the most popular with some interest in hickory as well.  Oak is so out! 

Consumers are concentrating on the design and style, choosing more streamlined cabinets with less detail, instead placing more emphasis on pulls and hinges. 

Granite countertops have long been a favorite and still are.  Other popular countertop materials such as glass, wood and concrete are providing options for one of a kind looks.  Many homeowners are combining and incorporating different materials together for a unique look. Use of decorative concrete is very popular in the Downtown Long Beach Lofts, greatly enhancing the appeal of the Manhattan style loft lifestyle. 

Hewn and Hammered, a subsidiary of Rejuvination.com recently did a wonderful article on unique remodeling materials which I thought was outstanding.  While you may or may not be interested in their suggestions, the read really gets the mind working on the endless possiblities that are available in todays market.  Rejuvination.com is a great resource if you are considering a home remodel of an older or historic home. 

Consumers are purchasing Energy Star rated appliances with their kitchen remodel.  The majority are leaning toward the higher-end stainless models which work best with the more streamlined designs.

Green building materials are becoming more available, for instance Richlite countertops, which are made from paper believe it or not.  These countertops blend well with the sleeker look consumers seem to crave. 

Green building choices have not made the impact that many have hoped that they will.  I wonder if it is because we are just not as familiar with what is available or because we just have our minds set on granite or another equally as popular surface?  They certainly are a viable option. 

This Downtown Long Beach Condo Kitchen Remodel reflects some of the above mentioned design styles and materials:

Some of the design elements of this beautiful kitchen include:

• Slate Flooring
• Cherrywood Cabinetry
• Sleek long pulls.
• Top of the line stainless appliances.
• Openness

Posted on July 21, 2007 05:36:44 by Laurie.Manny

Transpac Yachts Bearing Down On Hawaii

LONG BEACH CA REAL ESTATE

The 44 annual Transpac Yacht Race is well under way.  Before the start a tribute was paid to Wendy Siegal, a successful competitor and promoter of recent Transpacs, who was found drowned last Thursday near her ship the Willow Wind in Downtown Long Beach at Rainbow Harbor. 

The July 19th standings can be viewed here. 

Transpac history and archives can be viewed here.

Transpacs official press release is full of information for you Transpac junkies. 

 Thank you Karin

Posted on July 19, 2007 14:37:43 by Laurie.Manny