Making the Old New Again

With so much new development in Orange County, it’s encouraging to see local communities preserving their heritage. In Old Towne Orange and in Brea, efforts to save old buildings led to interesting partnerships between cities and local homeowners. Now Placentia has joined the ranks of cities seeking to revitalize entire downtown areas. These efforts deserve support and encouragement.

A leader in downtown revitalization has been Santa Ana. It has mixed new, affordable housing with stores, restaurants, professional office space, studios and living quarters for artists. Such initiatives can reinvigorate the community and bring in new vitality.

Placentia’s packing house for Valencia oranges closed almost 30 years ago, and its old train depot, once the focal point of downtown life, was leveled. The city later was accused of walking away once the neighborhood became largely Latino.

Now the city seems serious about revitalizing the area known as Placita Santa Fe. Early plans call for a new pedestrian plaza, a new shopping district and new businesses at two main intersecting boulevards. The city wants to convert the old Sunkist packinghouse into shops.

A 15-member advisory group recently approved by the city will work on a master plan for the area. Past failed revitalization efforts have left some local residents in a skeptical frame of mind. But the City Council really does seem committed this time to accomplishing something.

Moreover, a separate plan to lower the railroad tracks to eliminate traffic tie-ups at intersections is a catalyst for doing more. The city has received $28 million in federal funds to create underpasses at two crossings in the Santa Fe area. This is an obvious incentive to improve some of the surroundings as well.

Former Mayor Maria Moreno wisely suggests that the success of the revitalization plan will depend on community participation in the planning. Here is an opportunity to address past concerns that the city has made important decisions without adequate consultation.

A revitalization project done to appropriate scale, that encourages residents to feel good about their community, will be good for the neighborhood and good for the city.