CLIPBOARD

Buffered by sound walls and split by the San Diego Freeway, southwest Westminster appears to be a typical Orange County neighborhood. But within the rows of tract housing is a community in the throes of being born again.

Founded in 1872 by Presbyterian minister L.F. Webber, Westminster was established as a temperance community. The town was named for the Westminster Assembly of 1643, which prescribed the basic doctrines of the Presbyterian Church. As the colony grew, dairy farmers expanded into what is now this neighborhood.

Where the old Murdy Dairy Farm once stood, 73 homes now sit atop a huge oil-refinery waste dump that in July was declared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a Superfund cleanup site. What this means to homeowners is that the carcinogenic tar containing benzene and sulfur dioxide, which has been burbling up in their back yards and into their swimming pools for more than 25 years, will be dug up and hauled away.

State officials have cautioned residents not to eat vegetables or fruits grown in these yards. But few take the warnings seriously. “I figure I’ve lived here so many years,” said longtime resident Rosa Garcia, “something would have happened to me by now.”

While the toxic waste covers no more than few blocks, the cleanup is expected to rejuvenate the stucco home neighborhood. In some cases, only yards will be dug up; in others, entire houses may be razed.

Environmental problems aside, the neighborhood has striven for a new look, renewed life and new money.

The recent $10-million renovation of Westminster Mall physically demonstrates the neighborhood’s need to change and grow. While its largest anchor store is Sears, mall management has placed hopes in luring upwardly mobile middle-income shoppers to new glitzy-sounding shops like Imaginarium and Charlotte Russe.

Area resident Bill Reese says, the changes have had a positive influence on the neighborhood. “I was here when the mall was built,” Reese said. “The new variety of stores seems to attract shoppers from all over the county.”

Besides luring new shoppers to the mall, the renovations have created a comfortable and safe place for seniors and youngsters to idle away the hours. Reese, who recently retired from the aerospace industry, has spent many summer afternoons at the mall with his two grandchildren.

“Now that I’m retired, I’m the baby-sitter,” Reese said. “We’ll walk over to the movies from my house, then wander around the mall people-watching and eating ice cream cones. I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon.”

Apparently, Reese is not alone in his thinking. Westminster Mall is ranked among the top five malls in the county in taxable sales. With the changes and growth within the shopping center has come the payoff--prosperity for the merchants and the city’s residents.

Near the neighborhood’s northern edge, a small park with an old playground built in the center of a grassy field teems with children. The blend of their voices laughing over a raucous game of tag drifts across the quiet streets. Today, the park is a haven for families and friends.

But Sigler Park was not always safe. Set in the middle of a gang-infested barrio, the park was once considered so dangerous that, in 1986, the city stopped offering on-site organized recreation activities. Parents forbade their children from going near the area; families never used the park.

Gangs cluttered Sigler Park with broken beer bottles and garbage, gunfire riddled the nights and graffiti appeared on anything that did not move.

Then tragedy brought change.

While the cause of Frankie Anthony Martinez’ fatal shooting by a Westminster police officer may never be fully resolved, the effects of his death forever changed the lives of Vera and Jay Palomino.

Soon after the shooting, the couple formed a group called Manos Unidas--Spanish for United Hands. Focusing their efforts on monitoring local police interaction within the community and organizing a support group for the Martinez family, the Palominos became the voice of a distressed community.

“The police chief will listen to us,” Vera Palomino said. “He respects Manos Unidas as a legitimate political force.”

In fact, the group has helped voters to register and get involved in the election process. The police force began to encourage minorities to become active in their police cadets program, providing both role models within the community and law enforcement experience for participating youths.

“Sigler Park is cleaned up, the gangs are gone and evening recreational programming has started again,” Vera Palomino said. “Our main goal is the education of Hispanic youths. We want to keep all the children off drugs and in school.”

The Palominos are responsible for organizing several fund-raisers that netted enough money to award five scholarships to Hispanic seniors graduating from Westminster High School. And, in 1989, the couple were honored by the Orange County Human Relations Commission for “fostering mutual understanding and respect among people.”

It is this show of strength and family ties that propels southwest Westminster into renewed growth and change. The shared pride in a neighborhood and heritage is the keystone to providing their children with a safe and decent place to live.

Population Total: (1990 est.) 6,893 1980-90 change: +12.7% Median Age: 30.2

Racial/ethnic mix: White (non-Latino): 39% Latino: 41% Other: 19%

Black: 1%

By sex and age: MALES Median age: 29.3 years FEMALES Median age: 31.0 years

Income Per capita: $12,617 Median household: $38,750 Average household: $48,144

Income Distribution: Less than $25,000: 34% $25,000-49,999: 29% $50,000-74,999: 19% $75,000-$99,999: 8% $100,000 and more: 10%