"To Know Barrio Logan is to Love Her"
by
Rachel Ortiz
Executive Director

Logan Heights was a charming Mexican American community where families looked out for one another, telling on kids of neighbors, much like a village raising all its children. No one stayed mad at neighbors for telling on us for experimenting with cigarette butts, playing hooky, or for engaging in stomp down, drag out fights behind Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (followed by confession), or for wearing face make up behind our folks' backs. Those were the days when neighbors sat on porches until they could no longer stay awake talking or wiping down their trendy Chevies, Mercuries and customized cars.

Logan Heights used to extend all the way to downtown San Diego as far as San Diego High School on the north, and Seventh Avenue on the West. Sections of Logan Heights area were referred to as "Tango" (the northern downtown section), "El Valle" "The Valley," 33rd and Oceanview Avenue to Imperial Avenue and "Logan" the heart of the greater Logan Heights area.

During the World War II days, our waterfront began being used for war ship repairs, slowly shrinking our water front access. We so enjoyed "Caquita Beach," our very own swimming paradise, just a hop, skip and a jump away from our homes, at the foot of Crosby Street. Throughout the 1940's and 1950's and 1960's, no one paid serious attention to the shrinking of our bay front access until the day that signs went up warning the community to stay out forever.

Ever since then the community has spoken of the sentimental times, and the despair over having lost such a happy place for our children. The birth of the Chicano Movement helped residents direct their despair towards a solution oriented effort that later became the Barrio Logan Land Use Planning Effort.

In the late 1960's, Barrio Logan became alienated from the greater Logan Heights area as a result of the construction of the I-5 Freeway and Coronado Bridge. Our side of the freeway became the step child of the City of San Diego allowing obnoxious businesses to operate adjacent to residential structures, violating all kinds of laws while spray painting, sand blasting, boat building, iron forming, chrome plating, auto dismantling and recycling was carried out.

The First Meaningful Victory that Would Reverse the Odds

The beautiful Barrio Logan became a cemetery for its residents, while becoming a thriving free for all M-2 zone for obnoxious businesses, and then youth violence followed. The biggest offender became the junk yard operator who piled up mashed cars on sidewalks, and stacked up car parts so high that they were seen above fence lines offending residents and clean businesses.

In 1970 our adolescents began going very wrong, and having bad feelings about themselves from growing up in the midst of deterioration. Alleys were not paved, and sidewalk were broken, allowing unsightly weeds to grow throughout the planning area causing on big eye sore. 53 junk yards, plus 130 other unsightly sites plagued the area. Our kids went through a horrific growing experience in the neighborhood, one of severe social alienation.

In the early 1970's our community discovered that the California Local Coastal Plan (LCP) review was in effect, and that this would be our only opportunity to make changes to our deteriorating planning area through a new land use plan.

We thank god for the birth of Cesar E. Chavez, one of the greatest humanitarians of our time, who led farm workers, the most oppressed work force, to self empowerment, and inadvertently prompted the birth of the Chicano movement through his non-violent teachings. He selflessly gave countless audiences to those seeking social justice in various areas of need throughout the country. The Barrio Station was only on such group.

From the stand point of the Barrio Station involvement, Cesar E. Chavez, met with our leadership to help prepare us for a long bureaucratical and dehumanizing fight that would eventually lead to a more beautiful and healthier environment for our kids. "Perseverance, consistency, and the will to give of ones self for others in need," were among his words of wisdom.

A labor of love ensued, that lasted from early 1970 to December 12, 1979 because the Barrio Logan planning area lied within the coastal zone involving five jurisdictions. Residents organized assuming community leadership, despite the lack of English speaking skill. Families filled the seats at public hearings of the City Council, California Coastal Commission, Planning Commission, San Diego Unified Port District, and the Regional Coastal Commission. We seized the moment to win justice for Barrio Logan and won an improved land use plan.

The Demise of another Mexican American coastal community was stopped.

Another Tool Was the Attainment of a Planned District Ordinance

Following the approval of a hard defended community oriented land use plan, zoning ordinances were developed by community members, through the expertise of a true friend of our community, Architect, Richard Bundy. Together, in yet another long, fought battle, the community obtained a Planned District Ordinance on August 5, 1983 that would prompt the exodus of junk yards thought screening (fencing) standards else they would suffer property line set backs within specific grace periods. Junk yards were being replaced with senior housing, and clean commercial facilities. Our kids finally saw change.

Redevelopment Designation: Another Means to Solve Neighborhood Blight

Meanwhile the community effort forged forward attaining Redevelopment Designation on May 20, 1991, as one more tool to remove a concentration of deteriorated commercial structures, some in business, while others were vacant, and serving as havens for homeless people drawn to our area by the Department of Social Services, and programs that serve that population, and are located adjacent to Barrio Logan. Our kids got an eye full daily while walking through Center City East, to San Diego High School and City College, or when trying to get to the downtown area. There was no escape from their exposure to public lewdness, intimidation by the mentally ill, and other violence, open drug use or the danger of contact with used I.V. needles and condoms.

Today in March of the year 2000, we are working with this slow, but meaningful, process to support helpful development in order that it may bring sorely needed replacement for ugly land parcels. An effort is in effect to develop a Mercado commercial center where the dilapidated, harmful, structures once stood. We are hopeful that additional redevelopment interest will help enhance the beauty of the already charming Barrio Logan.

On Going Implementation of the Land Use Plan

Resident and businesses agreed on one major need so in December of 1999, a Parking Solutions Committee, was formed, comprised of business and residential representatives, who together with the community, will identify solutions that may involve parking permits, diagonal parking, off street parking structures, meters, and limited parking signs, in order that the community may have parking opportunities in front of their homes and businesses. Competition for parking between the community and larger employers' workers has existed for too long. A plan of action is in effect.

Community is aiming at closure to both the parking and mercado issues by 2002.

Concerted Efforts Bring Empowerment

Throughout the land use struggles various groups and individuals made contributions to the LCP process bringing their concerns and perspectives on improvements and needs. One element in particular contributed over and beyond the call of duty of the average community resident. This group called itself the Barrio Caucus, and later became Padres Unidos Del Barrio. These elders remained involved in the process throughout a 20 year period. Several have been called home by our great creator but not without experiencing the joy for justice, and seeing actual change. The memory of their passion for justice, and their tears of victory, fuels us to defend their wishers of quality of life for their families, and for the future beneficiaries of Barrio Logan.

Community elders enjoyed a solemn moment at the Crosby Street Park that they helped make a reality. Left to right: Refugio Velasco and son Teodoro "Lolo" Velasco, Ysidro tapia, Jesus Alvarex, *Natalia Oson, Mercedes Hernandez, *Dolores Pena, *Marciano Alvarez, Susana Castellanos, Her nephew and her grandmother *Maria Guadalupe Guzman.

*In posthumous and fond remembrance of special community members.

These individuals have been the essence of true community advocacy during a three generational neighborhood struggle for an improved quality of life in Barrio Logan. We honor their initiative to lead so that others may join in.

Mobilization and Empowerment

Community Celebrates Closure of Department of Social Services Logan Branch

Junk Yard Replaced with Senior Housing