A city whose roots run deep in the Valley

Residents of San Fernando believe the Franciscan fathers got it right in 1797 when, with the entire valley before them, they selected the site of the San Fernando Mission. Once home to orange and olive groves, the community that sprang up nearby still has enough trees to be named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

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Drawing card

Incorporated in 1911, the 2.4-square-mile enclave tucked up against the San Gabriel Mountains in the northeast San Fernando Valley is a trove of California history. The 1882 Lopez Adobe in San Fernando and the Andres Pico Adobe in nearby Mission Hills are recognized as important historical sites by the state of California.

Old-timers on both sides of the railroad tracks along Truman Boulevard have watched as the once-segregated city of ranchers and power-brokers to the east and mostly Latino workers to the west has grown to a population of more than 24,000 that is now about 90% Latino.

The strong sense of community here has been forged over generations. “Those roots go deeper than the rubber trees,” said real estate broker Ana Maria Colon of the westside neighborhood surrounding Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church on Workman Avenue.

The fierce independent spirit, a legacy of the founders who fought in the last century to keep San Fernando’s well water from the clutches of a thirsty Los Angeles, is still evident in city leadership today.

Planned growth

While Los Angeles struggles to speed the flow of traffic, San Fernando officials are trying to slow it down. Armed with grants from California’s Downtown Rebound, Los Angeles County and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, San Fernando is planning radical changes to the commercial and industrial corridors of the city.

One goal is to create an environment attractive to businesses and families alike. “When I was a kid we could play one quarter of a football game in the street before a car went by,” said City Administrator Jose Pulido.

Brownstone-style mixed-use developments that will include residential and work space are proposed for 1st Street. Plazas with shops and restaurants are envisioned on Maclay Avenue.

The 2-year-old Library Plaza on Maclay is a “microcosm” of the proposed changes, Pulido said. Once the site of a gas station, the plaza has a Mission-style courtyard centered on a gurgling fountain and surrounded by restaurants, a public library branch, a kickboxing studio, a barbershop and a florist.

Good news, bad news

The city has its own police force and an average response time of 2.5 minutes. There were no homicides in 2002, down from three in 2001. Overall, crimes decreased in 2002 with the exception of robberies, which increased 3%. What’s lacking, city leaders say, is a cultural center.

Insider’s view

San Fernando closed escrow in late June on 16 acres slated for two high school academies requested from the school district, a performing arts-media academy, and a premed-science academy. And it has secured a grant for $2.7 million to help fund a state-of-the-art aquatic center. It is not a wealthy city, but “we have experience going after money,” Pulido explained.

Hot spots

Once the realm of the political elite when judges and politicians were required to live within city limits, the east side of San Fernando includes some grand older homes.

On the market

Two new four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath homes at the corner of Brand Boulevard and 4th Street sold recently for $395,000 and $420,000. In early July, 27 homes were on the market, priced from $189,000 to $400,000.

Report card

The three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school within the city limits are part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Scores on the 2002 Academic Performance Index ranged from 525 to 617.

San Fernando High School was the first high school in the greater L.A. area to graduate seniors in project GRAD, a program that encourages college preparedness and grants $6,000 toward college expenses for students who maintain at least a C average. All schools in the city, except San Fernando Elementary, implemented the program three years ago.

Historical values

Single-family detached resales for the 91304 ZIP Code:

Year...Median Price

1990...$152,750

1995...$118,000

2000...$150,000

2002...$200,000

2003*...$230,000

*year to date

Sources: The City of San Fernando, San Fernando Police Department, San Fernando Realty, Rocking Horse Realty, DataQuick Information Services, 2000 U.S. census, Champions Only barbershop.