Area's rehabilitation begins
RIALTO: A $37 million effort to upgrade a blighted neighborhood gets under way.
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, October 9, 2006
A bulldozer punched through the wall of an apartment in Rialto's Willow-Winchester area Monday to mark the beginning of the neighborhood's rehabilitation.
It was a moment four years in the making, said John Dutrey, Rialto's housing specialist.
The area had been a problem for several years because of crime, blight, homicides and gangs, but in 18 months it will be a beautiful community where families will be safe and can enjoy a community center, Dutrey said.
Rialto and nonprofit Southern California Housing Development Corp. invested $37 million to purchase the 160 apartment units in the area to rehabilitate them, place onsite management and build a community center.
The center will offer such after-school activities as arts and crafts and computer classes, and English as a second language classes will be offered at no cost to adults, Dutrey said.
A coin-operated laundry and basketball courts also will be available to residents of the apartment units, said Julie Mungai, senior project manager for the nonprofit group.
The goal is to help low-income families live in a safe neighborhood, Mungai said. Rent will range between $350 and $850 for the two- and three-bedroom units.
Bridget Boyd, who has lived in the Willow-Winchester area on and off since 1976, said the project is the answer to her prayers for the community.
"We will be able to be proud to live here again," she said.
Several residents expressed a desire to volunteer at the community center when it opens to ensure children have somewhere fun and safe to spend time.
Margiteen Rawls, who lives across the street from the Willow-Winchester project area, said she would love to volunteer at the center.
"So many little kids are getting killed out on the streets that it'd be wonderful for them to have a place to be safe from the outside craziness," Rawls said.
Mayor Grace Vargas said although it will be an expensive project, the investment is well worth it.
"Residents are going to be able to be safe, children will be able to play outside and it will eliminate calls to police officers so they can be somewhere else patrolling the city," she said.
Reach Massiel Ladrón De Guevara at 909-806-3054 or mdeguevara@PE.com
BS Ranch Perspective:
History is going to repeat itself with these apartments or Condo's what ever they are being past as these days! They are right North of the Eisenhower High School, which is a breeding ground for the Drugs to start and get going, that area was once swept through in 1994 and we spent a whole week preparing for the one night of raids. That was back when welfare was supporting many of the apartments that were there and they were cleaned out when the raids were done. No Rent then there was no apartment. The Police Department went in with SWAT, County Welfare, Probation, Parole Officers, and there was drug warrants served, the area was called drug free went we finished, but the whole thing took a month to complete. Now the city wants to invest and take the property over as imminent domain, and rejuvenate the property and then allow a private firm, Non Profit Organization Operates the Management, and Oversees the Renting of each place.
I am a skeptic, I feel that the gangs will work their way in slowly and the management will get shot any time that they move against the gang that is in control of the neighborhood. IT is going to still be a fight.
BS Ranch
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