On Echo Park Avenue is a mural Aaron Donovan painted in homage to a man across the street who has bunnies, chickens and a pony—and at one time, a cow—in his sprawling yard just steps from Sunset Boulevard. Entitled “Chicken Corner,” the huge, colorful mural announces a new presence in the neighborhood: a triple-threat response to the often snobby West Side art world. The opening of three new galleries this year, all dedicated to providing a venue to emerging artist who have been shunned by the more conservative art machine, promise to transform this vibrant working-class community with artistic energy. (more…)

Here’s some background on the 9A site from the Right Site Coalition:

Margarita Reyes came to the U.S. in 1949, from Managua, Nicaragua and saved to buy her home in Echo Park 5 years later. She was 23 years old.

Gilbert Joves’ Grandmother came from the Philippines in 1976 and bought 2 tiny cottages in Echo Park that now house 2 generations of her family.

The Villanueva’s have 12 family members, 3 generations, living in their 4 unit house on Mohawk St., a cherished family home that was purchased with sacrifice and patience. (more…)

Matt Welch continues his queries regarding the 9A Site, this time he asks the LA Times why the paper hasn’t been reporting on LAUSD land grabs throughout LA. (more…)

More great press for the Echo Park Film Center, The Price of Cred: The Echo Park Film Center’s just too cool for its own good.

Echo Park Push-Back On Eminent Domain, the Los Angeles Garment & Citizen on LAUSD’s 9A school site.

The Los Angeles Times reports on declining enrollment in neighborhoods where rents and property values have been soaring. Unfortunately this news is a little late for those who owned homes on the proposed Los Angeles Unified School District’s 9A Site. Even though LAUSD was well aware of this downward population trend long ago the school district used fear and intimidation to cajole these longtime residents from a total of 50 housing units. Now Echo Park has boarded up homes where a vibrant community once existed. Previously.

Today Curbed LA picked up Matt Welch’s blog on the eviction plight facing the residents of LAUSD’s next unnecessary school site. Check back tomorrow for additional information on why this is a poor school site and how you can help the neighbors fight the taking of their homes.

Side by Side and Yet Poles Apart shows that yes Republicans do live in Echo Park (15% picked Bush over Gore in 2000). Also of note, this is week we’re quirky, check back next week for the return of hip.

(more…)