It’s time to head back to the Midwest. During my three months in Chiques, I spent the time walking, reading, and writing. But, the most important thing was hanging out with my familia.
And believe or not, I did get some writing done!!
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Oxnard
There are 45 posts filed in Oxnard (this is page 5 of 23).
Remembering Colonia Village, Part II
Part II – Series On The History Of Colonia Village:
My mother, Colonia Village (2014). Courtesy of the author’s family collection.
Since 2007, the City of Oxnard and the Oxnard Housing Authority have worked on finalizing a new redevelopment plan for Colonia Village. In 2012, the housing authority finally approved an agreement with Las Cortes, Inc. to develop and operate, Terraza de Las Cortes, a 64 unit multi-family affordable housing project, which is phase 1 of the redevelopment plan. The new housing units are set to open in 2015.
Colonia Village’s Redevelopment Plan (2013).
By 2014, the housing authority started the process of relocating the residents of Colonia Village. Like, previous redevelopment projects in La Colonia, the community responded to the poor handling of the process.
Colonia Village’s Residents (2014). (Photo Credit: Todo Poder Al Pueblo)
Residents with the assistance of the Todo Poder al Pueblo Collective, “spoke[ed] out against the apathy and carelessness of the Oxnard Housing Authority and City Council, which could lead to their displacement and homelessness in a matter of months.” Furthermore, they “demand[ed] that the authorities respond to the real needs of these residents – without shifting responsibility to the middlemen and paid contractors who are being used in a vile scheme to erase the poverty-stricken residents of Oxnard’s public housing projects from our community.”
••••
Last summer (2014), I informed my mother that they were beginning the demolition of Colonia Village, and we should stop by to see the house on Bernmarda Court, where she was born.
We stopped by, and I took photos of the house and other units that were being demolished. But, the most important photo taken that day was of my mother in front of the same tree where they took a photo of her mother and her in 1952.
We returned this summer, and I took photos of the boarded-up house on Bernmarda Court, as it waits to be demolished as part of phase 2 of the redevelopment of Colonia Village in the near future.
Colonia Village (2014). Courtesy of the author’s family collection.
Colonia Village (2014). Courtesy of the author’s family collection.
Colonia Village (2014). Courtesy of the author’s family collection.
Colonia Village (2014). Courtesy of the author’s family collection.
Colonia Village (2015). Courtesy of the author’s family collection.
Colonia Village (2015). Courtesy of the author’s family collection.
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