Laloma Bus Station

Photo by Lisa E White

Not all public art projects thrive as in the case of the Laloma Transit Station on Marshall Way and 2nd Street.  The angular shade structures and landmark clock tower by Vito Acconci with Doug Sydnor and Angela Dye now seem like a ghost town in the middle of our bustling city.  This bus transfer station served as a place to switch from the Downtown Trolleys to the Valley Metro, but the city shut it down in 2011 for budget reasons, saving about $250,000.  When it was built in 1997, the intention was that it would be a multi-use public space, with families using it for picnics, and other events such as free concerts.  Swamp coolers cooled the area which has additional features such as a bike locker area.  Unfortunately, it didn't receive that much use, so it felt the budget axe.  The bird's eye beauty of this station can be seen from the google map showing the concentric circle design layout which connects with landscaped circles of Palo Brea trees.  Now, it is a nice place to go for shaded solitude.