[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1181-E1182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF THE LOS FELIZ IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION'S 100TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 6, 2016

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Los Feliz 
Improvement Association (LFIA) upon its one-hundredth anniversary.
   In 1916, the Vermont Canyon Improvement Club was founded by William 
Mead, a prominent Los Angeles businessman and one of the original 
landowners in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. His initial order of 
business at the first meeting was to define the club's land boundaries. 
In 1922, the club's name changed to the Los Feliz Improvement 
Association, and beautification of the Los Feliz area was named as one 
of the association's foremost goals.
   Over the past century, LFIA advocacy has taken many forms. Between 
the years of 1922 and 1930, the association was instrumental in 
realizing many precedent setting goals, including its support for the 
City of Los Angeles to accept a substantial bequest from Colonel 
Griffith J. Griffith for the construction of the Greek Theatre and 
Griffith Observatory. LFIA also was instrumental in the relocation of 
businesses on Los Feliz Boulevard to other areas throughout the city 
thus turning the boulevard into a residential street. Persistent in its 
advocacy for new schools, the association's efforts were reflected with 
the opening of two new schools, Franklin Avenue Elementary School and 
Thomas Starr King Junior High School, both of which serve Los Feliz 
residents to this day. The Los Feliz Improvement Association is heavily 
involved in cultural preservation, and many local historic landmarks 
were preserved and designated thanks to the successful advocacy of the 
LFIA, including the restoration of the Mulholland Memorial Fountain, 
Hollyhock House, and the Shakespeare Bridge.
   Today, the LFIA continues to support historic preservation efforts 
in Los Feliz by maintaining a historic photo archive and property

[[Page E1182]]

survey of every residence in the area, including over 3,000 documented 
architecturally significant homes. The association is deeply committed 
to community beautification, and coordinates local clean-up efforts and 
cares for the celebrated Deodar Cedars that were originally planted in 
1922 lining Los Feliz Boulevard. In addition, the LFIA steadfastly 
advocates for strict enforcement of zoning and community development 
ordinances that limit noise pollution and traffic congestion in the Los 
Feliz Area.
   With the straightforward goal of making the Los Feliz area in the 
City of Los Angeles a better place to live, this remarkable 
organization has made extraordinary contributions to the Los Angeles 
community for over 100 years.
   I ask all members to join me in commending the Los Feliz Improvement 
Association for their unparalleled dedication to service.

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