Part Two
See: “Wasting No Time, Neighbors Organize, Plan and Get Set to Battle the MTA.”
Here is a light rail story that residents along the route of the proposed 9-mile line, from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City, so far, may find echoes with familiar overtones.
Meet intensely upset residents from the aptly named Stewart Park neighborhood in Santa Monica, which is a well-stirred stew of cultures, with widely varying demographics.
When the Metropolitan Transit Authority planned what opponents say is a “hazardous and noisy” train yard for the neighborhood, it may have calculated that neighbors were of so many different kinds that it was unlikely they could organize into a coherent group.
But they believe they are strong and will need to be dealt with.
When the Ranne family of Exposition Boulevard, Santa Monica, and about a dozen of their Stewart Park neighbors confronted the Santa Monica City Council a week ago tonight, they brought one central message:
We need your assistance in opposing the MTA’s intention of building a train maintenance yard in the heart of our neighborhood in anticipation of the arrival of the Expo light rail in several years.
The Rannes and their friends found mostly sympathetic ears.
“We told them,” said Jason Ranne, a whip-smart young professional, “that we don’t have the expertise or the staff to come up with solutions or other locations where the MTA might build.”
Other neighbors are speaking out.
Says Robin Roy, who has lived nearby, on Delaware Street, for six years:
“This is the height of greedy self-interest and lack of planning. We are all outraged. It’s unbelievable they would think of putting (the maintenance yard) here.”
The early returns from last week’s City Council, perhaps as anticipated, were promising. Members are quite familiar with the MTA’s plans.
“Our Council was extremely receptive,” Mr. Ranne said.
“The Council suggested that when the MTA first looked at these properties, property values were different than they are now. They also said some people may be willing to sell their homes now so (the MTA would not) have to resort to eminent domain.”
Opinions on Both Sides
As far as some residents of Stewart Park are concerned, this neighborhood that straddles the Santa Monica Freeway is in the midst of a gentrification movement.
That is, gentrification, Mr. Ranne said, is a matter of opinion. “Depends on which block you live on and who you ask.”
Perhaps the neighborhood looked appealingly vulnerable to the MTA because it is — or some parts are — in transition.
“My wife and I may be considered part of the gentrification process,” the 29-year-old Mr. Ranne said with a grin. “But our neighbors immediately to the east have been there since 1972. A couple generations have gone through there, and the grandmother still lives there.
“This family has seen the gentrification process. Property values have gone up quite a bit since the Water Garden, which is an office complex, was built.
“People of different races have moved into the neighborhood.
“We have learned so much about the history of the neighborhood, just in the last couple of weeks, through this one issue.
“Somebody told me that back when segregation was the thing, the 90404 zip code was kind of partitioned off, when mainly Latin Americans and African Americans lived here. There were racial covenants on the properties, too.
“Considering that is where the neighborhood was, maybe you could say gentrification has occurred. At the same time, a lot of original residents, at least from the past 30 years, are still here.”
(To be continued)
