Photos by FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — A large than life statue of the founder of our “Media City,” Dr. David Burbank, was unveiled Tuesday, January 12, as the center piece of a new park-like enclave at 1075 West Burbank Blvd, or at the Five Points as it’s known.
A lot going on this week on Burbank Boulevard in Burbank. Once a street with a shabby or rundown look and reputation, this boulevard is starting to shine. Earlier on Tuesday, at Five Points, that busy intersection of Burbank and Victory Boulevards, unveiling of the statue of Dr. David Burbank, which is anchored to a 50-foot pole that has an American flag flapping in the breeze at its tip.
By the time I arrived, the speeches and the ribbon cutting were over, but many in the crowd still lingered to spend some time viewing the statue and enjoying the inviting scene of walkways, green lawns, pretty trees, and the free food from the Coral Café located on Burbank Boulevard.
As usual here in “Media City,” there is debate and controversy about the site. There’s grumbling about the statue, whether Dr. Burbank deserves the honor and complaints that the sculpture, by Andre Favilli, does not look enough like Dr. Burbank. Well, the city is named for Dr. Burbank so a statue of him in the city doesn’t seem outrageous.
Also, city officials have explained that the sculpture is an artist’s rendition of Dr. Burbank and is not intended to be a perfect likeness. There are concerns about parking at the busy spot as well. Oh, and some have wondered why city officials opted for green lawns instead of the drought resistant landscape it keeps pushing residents to adopt. All good points. The site is not perfect, but it has a good feel to it. I would visit again.
“The Boulevard Is Open!”
Photos by FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove –Burbank Boulevard in Burbank
Some Burbank Boulevard merchants are continuing the celebration with an open house tomorrow, Saturday January 16, noon to 3 p.m. The city is providing buses. The main pick up location for visitors is at the Dr. David Burbank statue site at Burbank and Victory Boulevards. The special open house tour to various shops, stores, and businesses will include prizes, giveaways, discounts, and a “History of Burbank” scavenger hunt.
John Pedersen, owner of Pedersen’s Band & Orchestra, and treasurer of the Burbank Boulevard Merchants Association, told me in an e-mail:”This open house will be a sort of “piggy back” continuation of the statue unveiling on Tuesday, January 12th. This unveiling completes the entire Burbank Boulevard streetscape project and we are all very proud of our new street.”
The Burbank Boulevard streetscape project spruced up the street with light pole banners, new trees and other landscaping and improvements.
As usual, there are always something wrong. If this was done privately there would not be any argument but because it has something to do with the city, people are going to criticize.
Keep up the crying all of you. Pretty soon there won’t be much to talk about anymore.
Manny,
You know, you just might be right about that. And it is so easy to criticize once something is done.
I agree that there are a ton of things wrong with the City. I think the criticism is because there is such a hatred for the people at City Hall. I dont have to tell you I dont care for a bunch of people who work there. Even though I could careless if there was a statue or not, the criticism is not really warranted.
Another good thing is we may have agreed on something!!!!
Not so fast,
After the People of Burbank were threatened with fines and penalties, ordered to limit watering to 3 days, and harped at even last week with a mailing to ‘Shrink the lawn you don’t use”–maybe it’s still OK to question the wisdom of trucking in “store bought grass” by the City at such a prominent intersection.
This was the opportunity to show off the various ways to use drought resistant plants–the City chose NOT to practice what they preach.
Dixie,
Yes, That bothers me. I kept getting mailers from the city of Burbank preaching about the advantages of drought resistant landscaping, but everywhere you go in Burbank it seems city facilities and buildings are surrounded by thirsty lawns, shrubs, flowers, and trees.
The Dr. Burbank site would have been a great site to showcase what city officials have been preaching. It’s pretty good size site, so they could still carve out a section for drought resistant vegetation.
I like the old Burbank Blvd. better. I liked all the supply houses and the radiator shops with their lead being kept hot in the doorways over a flame, and the rest. It was much better than phony signs all over the place, like we have now.
Burbank’s making a a big mistake by chasing their light industrial and hobby businesses out of town. Those are the things that made it a once-great place to be.
When Lockheed closed down it was the end of Burbank, I think. All of those businesses dried up. They were attractions. Now it’s Big Box land, and whatever old ones are left (like David’s Vending Machines, or the Hobby Shop on Victory- two perfect examples) are being harassed by the city. They’d rather have monuments than muffler shops.
You know when I first realized that Burbank was crazy? When Wanamaker’s Rents sold out and they took down their huge neon sign. People in the city actually CHEERED. They called it unsightly.
But David Burbank gets praise? Go figure….
You know what I think was a true monument to Burbank? Haggerty Plumbing on San Fernando. Now that was greatness.
Jim,
I hear what you’re saying, but I think the old and the new can co-exist. Yeah, I would like to see some quaint little speciality shops and new style eateries on Burbank Blvd.
And I don’t think anything is wrong with the established businesses fixing up their storefronts —some could use a fresh coat of paint and other improvement.
I don’t mind the banners, and love the new trees and landscaping and other boulevard rehab.
Also, I occasionally attend the Burbank Church of Christ on Burbank Blvd. That’s a lovely building and I would not want to see it changed.
So a nice blending of the old and new would work for me.
Not all change is good or for the better. Yes there has been lots of change but hold up a minute as the change happened our economy tanked. I repeat not all change is good.