[img]1860|left|Endangered garden apartments, at a glance.||no_popup[/img]Hundreds of marchers are expected to pour into the streets of Boyle Heights at 12 noon tomorrow and carry their protest to the steps of City Hall by 2:30 in an attempt to keep a 69-unit apartment complex from being redeveloped in the cause of gentrification.
Four weeks from tomorrow, Wednesday, May 30, the Los Angeles City Council will hold a public hearing on whether to proceed with the demolition wishes of the Miami-based developer or preserve the 69-acre Wyvernwood Gardent Apts.
The non-profit East L.A. Community Corp., sponsor of the uprising, says the 69-acre historic property is home to 6,000 persons, working-class families. One-fourth of the apartments are rent-controlled.
“Many of the people at risk of being displaced are low-income monolingual Spanish speaking immigrant families whose right to fair and affordable housing must be protected,” says Sharis Delgadillo of the Community Corporation.
“In honor of International Workers Day, this May Day march will serve to protect the rights of low-income tenants, working-class families, immigrants, and basic human rights for all.
“The Fifteen Group, the developer and owner of Wyvernwood, has proposed a 15-year redevelopment plan for Wyvernwood. It would transform the site by nearly quadrupling the current density to include 4,400 housing units, the majority of which would be for market rate ownership for people earning $90,000 or more. Yet, the median income for Boyle Heights is $41,821.”
Tomorrow’s march schedule:
- 12 noon – Starting point is Wyvernwood Garden Apts.,
2802 Camulos Pl.. Los Angeles 90023.
1:30 – Mariachi Plaza, 1st Street and Boyle Avenue - 2 pm. – Japanese American Museum,1st Street and North Central Avenue
- 2:30 – Speakers at City Hall, 1st and North Main streets
Ms. Delgadillo may be contacted at sdelgadillo@elacc.org
