LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas proudly stood alongside NBA hall of fame basketball star to announce the reopening of the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park in Willowbrook, the unincorporated area of LA County. The park is synonymous with the closing of the Ujima Village housing development that sat on the property. Many residents were forced to relocate due to the oil contamination on the site.
ABC 7 reported the $70 million in renovations includes upgrades to facilities and the refurbishing of a lake that is used to monitor the toxicity in the soil.
All of these things are surrounded by a new man made lake. Thank you Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and all of the agencies responsible for this $200 million dollar project! pic.twitter.com/ofG26blHcg
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 3, 2020
Johnson joined community members, including “Sweet Alice” Harris for a celebration and ribbon cutting at the park on Saturday and reported to his social media followers the costs of the renovations were expected to reach $200 million.
The first phase of the 120-acre redevelopment has been postponed several times since the project was first announced in 2018, the board allocated $3.74 million in Measure A and Measure U funds.
“They can come and be safe and play and have a good time,” Johnson said.
“What you see represents the dreams, the aspirations, the hope of many members of this community,” said L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
At one time that dream included living in affordable housing on the site which used to store oil.
Ujima Village sat atop of the old Athens Tank Farm, and due to leakage from the oil, it seeped into the soil over a 40 year period. After developing the land, the De Lay family, who spearheaded the project, defaulted on a HUD backed loan and HUD took control of the property. HUD would then sell the land to LA County for $1 with conditions they would not be held liable for environmental concerns.
The developers built the livable space on the portion of the land they thought was the least contaminated. The residents got sick while Golden State Water said the water was safe.
By 2004, Ujima Village needed extensive work and LA County tried to unload the property to developers. After running tests on the soil, they found out it was contaminated and the deal was off. Residents moved out of the 300-unit complex in August 2010, after an environmental investigation found asbestos and other hazardous materials on the property. Since that time, the empty complex has become a source of decay and community blight.
Ten years later the site is headed on the road to recovery.
The other phases of the project, which have a total estimated cost of $135 million, will take place over the course of 18 years to avoid withholding amenities to the public.
The park will divert and filter water from the nearby Compton Creek to irrigate 30-acres of wetlands and a man-made lake defining its center. Developer’s AHBE|MIG have proposed future additions that could include an aquatic center, a skate park, and a sculpture garden.
12 Comments
Does anyone know who I can contact (lawyer) regarding this matter? My sister in law lived there for 20 yrs and has continuous acute bronchitis.
Thank you
Contact Holly Mitchell’s office.
They took our home from us and lied about the lawsuit magic Johnson is wrong
They invested 200 million into a park but refused to compensate the residents of Ujima village who lived in contaminated unbearable conditions. I myself lived there over 20 years, I remember the brown water that smelled like someone passed gas, the mushrooms growing through the carpet inside some apartments. I remember kids hair falling out from playing in the grass or the numerous residents hospitalized for respiratory problems. I can go on for days about the HORRIBLE conditions we lived in and the fact that NOBODY cared. Mr. Ridley Scott was on our side when our lawsuit first began but as soon as they said they’d invest 200 million he immediately switched up on us and fed us to the wolves. The whole transfer of the residents was wrong, many residents were wrongly evicted to bring the cost of relocations down, many residents ended homeless because of the relocation tactics that were used on us. And to add insult to injury, once the residents were all relocated, Exxon paid inspectors to say the land wasn’t contaminated enough to cause harm to our health. So ultimately the Giant corporation tossed us away with the trash and will not be held liable for killing us slowly for over 40 years. And city officials who “should “ have our best interests in consideration allowed them to do so.
Correct
I William Martin also lived in Ujima Village, I moved in doujima 1974 now I’m 49 years old.. I do recall Brown water and everything you have said. Can’t believe how they just ignored us and put us aside as if we didn’t matter.
Absolutely correct! These acts are criminal 😪
Whoop
i think you misunderstood when i said site. i meant when people visit this website they talk about change needing to happen, and quick to talk negatively but never giving positive feedback when good things are being done in the community. and yes, I’m fully aware of all that. 18 years is a long time, but i think we should embrace and utilize whatever amenities become available to show the developers that we deserve these types of recreation areas too. it may put a sense of urgency with them to get things done quicker. reminds of that field of dreams quote “if you build it, they will come!”
why should we be at the beck and call of developers? so our elected officials can fleece them jose huizar style? the city of inglewood is landbanking former land owned by the redevelopment agency that has sat fallow for DECADES! no, i’m not talking about Century Blvd/102nd Street. I am talking about Crenshaw and 82nd (around the corner from one of the mayor’s houses) that was a gas station but is now an empty field. the majority of the vacant storefronts/land along Market Street in Downtown Inglewood are owned by: you guessed it, Inglewood. not sure exactly who the mayor’s preferred developer is but how long are we supposed to wait for him to decide and actually, why is the decision solely up to him? he knows there is a need for housing but is moving at a snails pace to get it done.
Looks good so far!! Its good to see something positive like this for the community to have access to other activities instead of another high priced, decreasing value, gated community. At the same time it hurts that when people see these positive things happen on your site there is little to no positive feedback. Like the people only want to talk about the messy ish going on in Compton City Hall and the school district. Granted the park aint in Compton, (right on the border of the 1st district in the unincorporated willowbrook community) it will have a significant community impact on those 1st district residents (like myself and my family). Also those willowbrook residents’ children (like mine) are assigned to Compton school district schools so essentially they’re Compton residents too.
Everybody comes to this site and and talk about the change that needs to happen, but i think we also need to change the way we think and not be so messy and quick to condemn folks. Lets really embrace and appreciate the positive things thats happening in our community.
the site had to be cleaned due to the contamination. if not, those homes would still be there and no upgrades would’ve been performed. you see how the bulk of the work won’t be completed for 18 years?