Map

Sun Valley, located in the San Fernando Valley just northwest of Burbank Airport, became a "LANI neighborhood" in 1994. It is a close-knit community containing residential areas and small businesses, as well as light industry fueled by the freight train route in the project area. The community retains some vestiges of its past as a rural ranching area in the early 1900s, with sporadic unpaved streets, and streets without sidewalks or lighting. The neighborhood is anchored by a large park, which houses a gym and community center, and by the Sun Valley Park Plaza, completed by LANI and the Sun Valley Neighborhood Improvement Organization in October 2000.

 
LANI Improvements
 
 

Projects Completed ($506,900)

  • Comprehensive Community Work Plan
  • Sun Vally Community Plaza (adjascent to Sun Valley Park)
  • Decorative river rock walls at bus stops adjacent to Metrolink right-of-way
  • Metrolink right-of-way landscaping in conjunction with the MTA
  • Facade painting project with local businesses
  • Bus shelters (6) with matching benches (6), trash receptacles and information kiosk (1)
  • Trees (76) and Tree well plantings
  • Banners (24)
  • Transit corridor lights (34)

LANI Sustainable Organization

In accordance with LANI's program design, the Sun Valley Recognized Community Organization (RCO) created a new nonprofit - the Sun Valley Neighborhood Improvement Organization (SVNIO.) LANI continues to provide some support services to Sun Valley, but most of their activities are independent from LANI.

Additional Benefits of LANI Program

  • The NIO secured $46,154 in in-kind goods and services for its Community Plaza Park project
  • Sun Valley leveraged LANI funds with a $10,000 donation from a local businessman.
  • Sun Valley secured special permission from the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works to plant greenery in lieu of tree well grates - the first such approval in the Los Angeles.
  • The NIO secured a $1,680 grant from Venture Council of Los Angeles, a local nonprofit, for tree maintenance.
  • Sun Valley received a $12,115 grant from the Urban Resources Partnership for community greening
  • Sun Valley secured $3,700 in in-kind materials and labor from Home Depot, Polytechnic High School, People-in-Progress, and various businesses and contractors for the Metrolink R-O-W Project.
  • Sun Valley received $2,030 in trees and trees planting from Los Angeles Conservation Corps
 
Contacts      

Sun Valley Neighborhood Improvement Organization (SVNIO):
Jon Eshbach
President
(818) 767-2024

Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI):
Monica Carlos, Program Manager
(213) 627-1822 Ext. 15
monica@lani.org

Councilmember Greig Smith's Office

Updated Spring 2003