Saving a Future
Tossing out the old and buying something new may be as American as microwaved apple pie but it’s not always the best approach.
Two current projects show that breathing new life into old buildings can be smarter, cheaper and altogether better for the community than tearing them down and starting over.
No matter what steps Ventura County’s cities take to restrict future expansion into farmland or open space, they will certainly increase pressures to make the most of every location within urban boundaries. Creative strategies such as those in store for the Island Village apartments in Thousand Oaks and the Mayfair Theater in Ventura demonstrate the vast possibilities of urban recycling.
In Thousand Oaks, the nonprofit low-income housing agency Many Mansions finalized its purchase of the gone-to-seed Island Village apartments. The 80-unit building was built in the early 1960s but because of overcrowding and poor management has deteriorated into one of the city’s worst eyesores.
Many Mansions has an outstanding record of turning problem properties into pleasant, attractive homes for families near the bottom of the economic scale. As the Thousand Oaks City Council unanimously approved a short-term loan to help the agency close the deal, Council Member Judy Lazar noted that the city was using redevelopment money for exactly the purpose it was intended, something many cities don’t do.
“When you help build strong families and strong neighborhoods, you’re building a strong community,” she said.
Acting Mayor Linda Parks agreed, saying, “To me this is the ideal way to use affordable-housing funds--to reclaim decaying properties rather than taking on the enormous cost of building new facilities.”
We commend Many Mansions for its vision and proven results; the residents of the agency’s existing properties for the pride and vigilance they put into maintaining their homes and managing their communities; and the City Council for putting its faith--and money--into this worthy effort.
Across the grade in Ventura, a group of citizens and investors last week announced plans to refurbish another rundown property, the Art Deco landmark Mayfair Theater.
Built in 1941, the once-grand movie house at the corner of Ash and Santa Clara now sits empty. A group of local and out-of-town investors led by community activist Doug Halter hopes to buy it and turn it into a performing arts center. Although plans are preliminary, it seems like a fitting piece of the arts and entertainment district that is beginning to take shape in downtown Ventura.
Ventura County has a good tradition of finding inspired uses for its architectural landmarks. The county courthouse built in 1912 at a cost of $225,000 could have been razed when the new county Hall of Justice was built in the 1970s. Instead, it was re-christened Ventura City Hall and has become the city’s signature landmark.
Similarly, the morphing of Camarillo State Hospital into Cal State University, Channel Islands, promises a bright and productive future for a complex with a long and proud history.
Finding new uses for old buildings takes more creativity than simply building on a vacant lot. But the benefits can be many when that extra effort is made.
