August 29, 2009
USC School of Social Work
Irvine, California
Logan street
Early Logan residents
Logan schools then and now
1886 Map of Logan Neighborhood before zoning of commerical buisness
Current Logan Layout
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Still fighting for 'sacred ground' of Logan Barrio
New book, new plans put spotlight on Santa Ana neighborhood with long history of defending what it has.
The Orange County Register
SANTA ANA – The fighting queen of the Logan Barrio was close to death when she pulled her son to her side and issued one final order.
"Keep the fight going," Josephine Andrade told her son Joe just before she succumbed to a bad heart two years ago. "It's our neighborhood. Don't let anybody take it away."
If the tight cluster of weathered homes known as La Logan had a motto, Andrade's dying words would be it. The neighborhood has kept the fight going for longer than most of its residents can remember; that it even exists today is a testament to the power of a few people to fight City Hall and win.
A new book celebrates the history of Logan, one of the earliest Mexican barrios in Orange County. And a new move by the city to transform its downtown has once again put the old neighborhood front and center in a debate over change.
"It reminds me of John Wayne, fighting the Indians, circling the wagons," said Sam Romero, another veteran of the neighborhood's many battles. "It's been one struggle after another. There always seems to be something coming up, and we've got to go to war."
The Logan Barrio grew up in a corner of Santa Ana cut through by railroads and somewhat isolated from the rest of the city. It was one place in town where real-estate agents would sell land to Mexican families coming for work.
The barrio had its own school, its own grocery stores, its own pool hall, church and gas station. Its residents grew their own avocados and apricots, raised their own chickens and made their own tortillas every night.
But as Santa Ana grew from a town into a city, its planners and politicians began to turn an eye toward the little barrio, and dream big about what else could go there. They talked about turning it into an industrial park, about using the land for more train tracks, about punching a major road straight through its center.
The Logan neighbors did what nobody really expected them to do. They mobilized. And then they took on City Hall.
“If you're going to kick us out, it ain't gonna be like Chavez Ravine,” Romero said, referring to the barrio that was wiped out to make way for Dodger Stadium.
Logan residents began showing up in force at city meetings to make sure their voices were heard. They called city council members, city officials, anyone who needed to know that Logan wasn't going without a fight.
Today, the houses are still there, along with some families who can trace their roots in Logan back generations. The paint is peeling in places, but some of the old-timers have taken to calling the neighborhood sacred ground.
There are still plenty of battles to fight. Neighborhood leaders are once again pushing back against the industrial companies that operate among the homes in Logan – in particular, a waste company that has piled garbage containers on its property.
City attorneys are investigating whether that company, Ware Disposal, has violated the city code with its operations in Logan.
And the city itself is pushing a new plan for Logan and the surrounding downtown area. The so-called Renaissance Plan would clear the way for hundreds of new homes around Logan, as well as high-rise towers and heavy development at the nearby rail station.
Neighborhood leaders have their concerns about the plan. But they also see the plan as a way to finally protect the neighborhood's residential character.
Mary Garcia grew up there, but moved to Orange when she got married. The Santa Ana Historical Society recently published her book, “Santa Ana's Logan Barrio: Its History, Stories and Families.”
“There has to be something here,” she said. “Maybe it started as a survivor's spirit. A lot of the first families that came here, they were very proud to live here, to be able to work here.”
“Would I move back now?” she asked. “Yes. Yes, I would. There's a lot of ghosts here, and I think they're friendly.”
Contact the writer: 
714-704-3777
or dirving@ocregister.com
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 
3 Santa Ana homes being sold through lottery
Those interested in buying must attend workshops this week.
The Orange County Register
SANTA ANA – Three low-income families will become homeowners this summer as part of an effort to bring new three- and four-bedroom homes to the historic Logan neighborhood. The abodes will be sold to first-time homebuyers at below-market prices through a partnership between the city's Redevelopment Agency and two nonprofit groups: the Orange County Community Housing Corporation and Taller San Jose.
The winners will be selected from a list of qualified buyers by a lottery.
A mandatory workshop for those interested in buying the homes is at 6 p.m. Thursday and will be repeated at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The home sites – at 1006 N. Logan St., 1012 N. Logan St. and 1015 N. Logan St. – will range in price from $170,000 to $175,000.
The properties have not had an appraisal on them. But down the street, a four-bedroom home built in 1936 is selling for $330,000. And on the next block, a two-bedroom home built in 2001 is going for $350,000.
Taller San Jose – a Santa Ana-based charity that provides young adults with education and job training – is the project's general contractor. Eight construction-training-program graduates are building the structures under the supervision of contractors and teachers.
Project organizer Sam Romero, born and raised in Logan, says the homes are part of a construction wave that's brought at least 15 new homes in recent years to the triangular-shaped enclave, which is among the county's oldest Mexican barrios.
The neighborhood – between the I-5 freeway and Santa Ana Boulevard – was settled in the 1880s. Over the years, numerous businesses (including a waste company) sprang up, Romero said, causing some long-term problems with crowding and blight.
He hopes the new homes will restore the residential balance and, in turn, help Logan regain the suburban feel he said it had when he was a boy.
"I hope the city keeps doing these projects, so that it brings Logan back to full residential sometime in the future," said Romero, 74.
Those interested in buying the retro-style homes should note that restrictions apply.
Among them: Applicants must be first-time home buyers, live in the home as a primary residence and earn less than 80 percent of the Orange County median income. For example, the annual household income for a family of four can't be more than $74,400.
Additional rules can be found at www.arkbuild.org.
Workshops are at 810 N. Poinsettia St. The lottery will be on Saturday, July 11, with priority going to those who live or work in Santa Ana.
Escrows are scheduled to close on Sept. 11, with the new owners moving in on Sept. 12.
Lottery info
Participants must visit www.keystomyhome.org, where they'll need to take quizzes on financial fitness, credit, financing and more. They'll also need to download a self-certification form from www.arkbuild.org and turn it in at one of the workshops.
Information: 714-558-8161.
Contact the writer: Tcisneros@ocregister.com or 714-704-3707
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Santa Ana residents raise funds for new park
Festival proceeds to go toward downtown recreation complex.
The Orange County Register
SANTA ANA About 500 are expected to gather Saturday to raise funds for the construction of a park and community center designed to help thousands of downtown residents live healthier lifestyles. A kermes (Spanish for community festival) is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the project site. The day includes food sales, games and entertainment by five local acts.
Money raised during the event will go toward the construction of the Latino Health Access Community Center and Park, which are slated to be built on a half-acre at 450 E. Fourth St. in an area surrounded by aging homes, an industrial zone and a condominium complex that's home to about 1,000.
The area is sorely lacking in recreation space and organizers say the project will give the estimated 5,000 to 7,000 residents who live within one square mile of the site room to exercise and unwind.
The community center will span about 2,500 square feet. It will house a multipurpose room, an industrial kitchen, office space and restrooms. A range of family-centered programs will be held there, including aerobic, parenting and English as a Second Language classes.
The park will contain a half-basketball court, a kids' playground, jungle gym and walking pathway.
The land is comprised of two plots. The first was donated by Gonzales Northgate Market. The second is city-owned and will be leased to Latino Health Access for 40 years for $2 per year.
The project is expected to break ground by November.
So far, organizers have raised about $600,000 and have received some in-kind donations, said Gabriela Gonzalez, a communications and development coordinator for Latino Health Access.
They're working toward the $1 million mark, but need to collect $3.7 million total.
The idea for the complex first surfaced 10 years ago when residents approached Latino Health Access about getting more open space in their community. Since then, residents – under the guidance of the Santa Ana-based nonprofit – have been working to make that dream a reality.
"We encourage the community to take action," said Gonzalez. "With their participation and support, they'll care for and appreciate the park if they are involved with it at a grass-roots level."
Information: http://www.latinohealthaccess.org/
Contact the writer: tcisneros@ocregister.com or 714-704-3707
Santa Ana Minnie Street
