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LifeTime Lumber case study brief: City of LA Fencing Project
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LifeTime Lumber case study brief:
City of LA Fencing Project
Project name: Ventura Boulevard Median Improvements, from Van Noord to Fulton
Location: Ventura Blvd, from Van Noord to Fulton, section of LA
Owner: City of Los Angeles, CA
Project Manager: Audrey Netsawang
Contractor: City of Los Angeles, Dept of Public Works, Bureau of Street Services (BSS)
Installer: City of Los Angeles, Dept of Public Works, Bureau of Street Services (BSS)
Landscape Architect:
Audrey Netsawang, (213) 847-0901
Audrey.netsawang@lacity.org
LifeTime Contact:
Nisha Vyas, vice president
LifeTime Lumber
2131 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 320
Carlsbad, Ca. 92011
760-603-9100 p, 760-815-7296 c, 760-603-9110 f
mahlern@ltlumber.com
Community Contact:
Jeffrey Berk
Studio Oaks Neighborhood Parks Steering Committee
info@studiooaks.com
Project Start: June 2009
Complete: The project is still under Construction, but fence installation was completed in July 2009.
Product used: 2X6 BOARDS FOR ESTATE FENCE
Amount: 1700 LINEAR FEET 2 RAIL FENCE
Product color: Sage
Project description:
In the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, at Studio City’s and Sherman Oaks’ border, straddling Ventura Blvd, is a narrow strip of land, almost a halfmile long and 35 feet wide. Along the entire length sit century old oak trees, creating an urban oasis cherished by the area’s residents, and providing a rare space to stroll and relax among the bustling city. On the north side of the median runs “little Ventura,” a narrow road with access to residences. South of the median is Ventura Blvd proper, accessing Coldwater Canyon, an area comprised of high-end stores and other commercial properties.
Years ago residents created Studio Oaks Steering Committee, an organization aiming to preserve the neighborhood haven and ensure that the oaks were not only kept standing, but maximized and enjoyed by those living in an otherwise commercially developed neighborhood. Studio Oaks works with the City of LA to develop and maintain the Ventura Blvd median, and respond to issues such as flooding and misuse.
In early 2009 funding became available to beautify the median. Studio Oaks identified the need for a path running through the median for pedestrians to feel safe walking down the stretch of road, and meanwhile enjoy the beauty of the oak trees. Prior to the construction, cars, utility truck, and occasional film crew trucks were parking on the side of the median, creating a safety hazard for pedestrians and causing damage to the trees’ roots and irrigation equipment on the median island. Several solutions were considered including a concrete curb to discourage parking. Ultimately they decided a low-maintenance fence would be the cost-effective and attractive solution. Audrey Netsawang, project manager and landscape architect with the City of Los Angeles, Dept of Public Works, Bureau of Street Services, was told by a colleague that LifeTime Lumber of Carlsbad, CA made a fencing product that would fit her needs.
Audrey chose LifeTime Lumber primarily because it is low maintenance. City projects often lack the funding in general, and maintenance costs are even harder to acquire once projects are complete. She knew that finding a material that could withstand long-term weathering was key. The Studio Oaks committee also chose a fence because of its aesthetics compared to a curb or other concrete structure, and LifeTime Lumber’s look of real wood without it’s problems of rot or degradation proved to be ideal for the project. A third priority expressed by the committee was that the material would be “green.” LifeTime Lumber is made from over 65 percent recycled material and is made via an energy efficient manufacturing process, providing Audrey with a product that fit virtually all of her needs, and the requests of the community.
The City of LA purchased 1700 linear feet of rail fence, using 2”x 6” boards in Sage green. Also purchased were 4” x 4” fence posts with caps, also in sage green. The median is separated into three stretches along Ventura Blvd, and the fence spans from the beginning to the end of each, on the north side of the space.
On September 5, a 64-inch water main built in 1915 along Coldwater Canyon fractured, allowing water to flow into the street for more than four hours at a rate of 15,000 gallons per minute. This created a river of mud and water along Coldwater south and Dickens west. The flooding heavily damaged homes between Valley Vista and Coldwater, homes on Little Ventura and businesses the entire distance from Valley Vista to Coldwater. The Ventura Blvd median was also severely damaged, uplifting the sidewalk and detracting from the recent development of the median. Fortunately, the LifeTime Lumber fence was not damaged by the water flowing through, and the posts stayed nchored in the ground regardless of erosion that occurred during the flood.
“Low maintenance and good looks were the primary qualities we needed in a fencing product, as city projects often lack funding for upkeep,” said Robert Gutierrez, landscape architect for the City of Los Angeles and project supervisor. “In addition, LifeTime Lumber’s ability to withstand weathering long term combined with environmentally friendly attributes made it a good choice for our project.”
“It’s becoming more and more common for city planners in municipalities to discover the multiple benefits of our product via word of mouth from satisfied customers in other departments,” said Nisha Vyas, vice president of LifeTime Lumber. “The continued recommendations are a testament to the wide range of our product’s benefits and great customer service that goes the extra mile in supporting them.”
Authored by: LifeTime Lumber
Photo credits: City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Public Works |
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