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THE VIEW FROM

Volume 36 No. 1 www.valencia.com Winter 2002

Town Center
Bella Via Turns Street Into Masterpiece Drive Receives

Event draws thousands to Valencia a d raises $20,000 for schools National Acclaim
What Michelangelo did to a ceiling, Street painting, using chalk as the
Bella Via has done for Valencia. The medium, dates back to 16th century Italy Town Center Drive received national
popular Italian Street Painting Festival when artists known as Madonnari would attention recently when it was given the
held in October captivated audiences with transform public squares into vibrant prestigious Award of Excellence by the
the visual splendor of magnificent artwork galleries. Bella Via is the only event of its Urban Land Institute.
created in the 400 year old Italian kind in North Los Angeles County. ULI, a non-profit research organiza-
tradition of chalk pastels on asphalt. This Bella Via is hosted by Newhall Land tion specializing in land use issues,
year's record attendance of over 110,000 and Valencia Town Center. Some 400 recognizes the full development process
spectators from throughout Southern professional and amateur artists, including for projects of all types and sizes that
California and artist participation firmly 150 local students, participated in the meet both the current and future needs
established Bella Via as one of creation of 149 dramatic large-scale of a community. The awards are the
Los Angeles' premier fine arts and chalk-painted squares that transformed development industry's highest honor.
entertainment ex eriences. (Continued on page 2) Town Center Drive, a half-mile long
"Main Street" for the community of
Valencia, was entered in the Mixed-Use
Large Scale category. What impressed
the jurors were the area's magnetism
and its diverse activities. "This pioneer-
ing Main Street project provides a .. .
sense of place and a soul for the master-
planned community of Valencia. Town
Center Drive links an existing regional
mall with the community and its
residents through a full mix of uses -
retail, office, housing, entertainment,
hotel, and conference center - creating
an 'interactive' community ... "
While Town Center Drive is
anchored on the east by Valencia Town
(Continued on page 7)

Over 110,000 spectators from Southern California viewed chalked masterpieces on Town Center Drive. The Drive offers a mix of shops and dining.