South Pasadena has idea for sore eyes

A solution for a sewer lift station involves a partial move - for perhaps $75,000 - and some camouflage.

By AMY WIMMER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 15, 2002

SOUTH PASADENA -- The spaceship-looking fixture that landed at the entrance to Shore Drive soon may be shielded from view by trees and shrubs.

The city tentatively plans to create a traffic island, complete with lush landscaping, out of a barren median that contained nothing but an industrial sewer lift station that some residents compared to a prison tower.

Dozens of people showed up at meetings earlier this year to complain about the eyesore, but only a couple came to a meeting last week where city commissioners considered remedies. Now, City Attorney Linda Hallas said, South Pasadena is trying to spread the word about the proposed solution.

City officials hope this plan is palatable to the residents. Key points of the beautification plan include:

Relocating much of the above-ground features of the lift station to nearby South Pasadena Habitat Extension. Moving costs are estimated at $75,000, plus $25,000 for the extra landscaping and new traffic island on Shore Drive.

Several parts of the lift station will go in the park, including an attached ladder that drew the ire of many residents, but some parts must be left behind on the median.

Hallas said the system will be less efficient after the changes. Two people, instead of one, will be required for repairs if something goes wrong with the lift station.

Creating a traffic island out of the existing grassy area surrounding a commercial billboard at the neighborhood's entrance and the small island surrounding the lift station.

In addition, the city will block one traffic lane. The entrance to Shore Drive currently has two incoming lanes and two outgoing lanes. The north incoming lane will become part of the median.

Extending the eastern tip of the traffic island about 30 feet down the center of Shore Drive. The city considered extending the median even farther, but commissioners refused because it would have prevented cars from making U-turns to get out of the neighborhood.

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