P a r a m o u n t
pulse Beat
February 2017
Serving the Community Since 1990
www.paramountchamber.com
A Look Back at 2016 As we enter 2017, it’s nice to pause and glance back on the year just completed. Here are some of the things that happened in Paramount in 2016.
Downtown Reinvented
The City’s premier project for 2016 was the Downtown Urban Renovation. The redesign featured new landscaping, enhanced lighting, expanded sidewalks, vibrant and distinctive signage, and more. It has helped to entice national and regional businesses such as Jamba Juice, Yogurtland, AutoZone, and IHOP to locate there. Construction began on the Clearwater Crossing restaurant development at the northern end of downtown. The first phase of those dining options – The Habit, Waba Grill, and Chipotle – are scheduled to open this month. Pizza Hut moved from its small take-out storefront to a full-scale restaurant at Downey and Alondra, and will be joined soon by Ono Hawaiian Grill.
Unemployment Drops, Property Values Rise
The unemployment rate dipped last year for Paramount residents, going from 6.8% in 2015 to 5.7%. This is a mighty improvement over the depths of the recession, when the local figure was above 18%. Quality housing continued to be built and residential property values increased. The median home price in 2015 was $345,000 and it jumped last year to $400,000. On the west side of town near The Home Depot, a new 30-house development began construction and in late January some blighted buildings were demolished in preparation of an 8-unit housing project at the corner of Indiana and Somerset.
Public Outreach
A quarterly Mobile City Council meeting was started with Councilmembers and City staff touring a specific area of town and then holding a question-and-answer meet-and-greet with residents. The word goes out to nearby neighborhoods a week in advance. To gain important input from the young people of the com-
Downtown Paramount, refreshed and remodeled. munity, a Youth Commission was formed comprised of 15 high school students. This was a joint effort between the City and the five service clubs in town. The Commission meets monthly.
Social Media
The City’s social media following on Instagram and Facebook grew dramatically in 2016 and a page on SmugMug was developed to let individuals who were photographed at City events download the images for free.
Infrastructure and Facility Improvements
City facilities used frequently by residents received renovations last year. Public Wi-Fi was installed at three locations. Progress Park Plaza got a new roof and air conditioning units and the Community Center at Paramount Park had a new roof, lobby flooring, and restrooms installed. The City also lowered the rental fees for public use of its facilities while opening up two additional locations
Paramount Chamber of Commerce
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15357 Paramount Boulevard, Paramount, CA 90723
The Paramount City Council cuts the ribbon to officially complete the downtown renovation on January 26. (Progress Park Plaza West and the Clearwater Building). Use of the Community Center for private functions dramatically increased as a result of the lower fees. Other installations at facilities included ADA-approved auto-
matic doors at Spane Park and new field lights at All American Park. On top of that, the traditional infrastructure improvements like fixing sidewalks and paving and slurry sealing streets went on, and included a pilot program
with the City’s insurer, JPIA, that provided funding for the sidewalk projects. A street-bystreet program to replace dead turf due to the drought with
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What’s inside Business Card Directory.............12 Business Corner.........................11 Cityscape..................................15
Mayors Corner.......................... 3 Members Only...........................10
On Patrol...................................... 4 PEP.................................................6 Service Clubs..................................13