Editorial:
For the past 22 years the residents of Barrio Logan have been waiting for the empty lot along Cesar Chavez Parkway to be developed. Finally, after many starts and stops, unfulfilled promises and political wrangling, the Mercado Del Barrio Project is set to begin construction next week.
For the residents of this community there is a sigh of relief because the seven acre lot has been nothing more than an eye sore for the past two decades.
The Mercado Project was first developed in 1989. Phase One included the development of the Mercado apartments. Richard Juarez secured an $875,000 federal grant and developed the 144 unit apartment complex with the MAAC project. After Phase One, the community sat and waited as the dream of a shopping center languished.
At first it was a question of finding an anchor tenant for the project. The major markets didn’t believe the area was economically viable in order to support a store. Because a major store wasn’t willing to commit to the project, the idea of Art/Culture Center took root. Many in the Chicano community supported this idea. The only problem with this idea was that the politicians did not see this as a benefit nor was it much of tax generating model. So the culture center died a quiet death. Then there was the Little Italy type idea that floated around, but it, also, languished.
The Mercado Del Barrio Project has suffered from a lack of political leadership, a lack of political power, a lack of community unity, issues of developer rights, a bad economy, and other factors which continued to derail the project.
That is until now.
The major emphasis behind the Mercado Del Barrio Project, project moving forward has been the need to land a major store to anchor the project. This is where Northgate Markets stood up and agreed to be that anchor. Northgate Markets caters to the Hispanic community and saw this as an opportunity. After Northgate stepped up the rest was easy. Apartment complexes, along with smaller stores and restaurants, have followed along.
The Mercado Del Barrio Project is expected to be completed in 2012. The only question left is whether it has arrived too late.
Barrio Logan has been slowly gentrifying over the past decade. The development of Petco Park just north of Barrio Logan and the possibility of a nearby Charger football stadium on 10th Avenue could push property values in Barrio Logan skyward, sidelining original residents with increased costs of living and housing.
One thing for sure is that the wait was too long for Luis Garcia and Chuey’s Restaurant. Garcia believed in the dream that the Mercado presented and moved his famous restaurant across the street, building a bigger and better restaurant in anticipation of the Mercado getting done. Year after year Garcia waited until he could wait no longer as his business went under.
The Mercado Del Barrio Project represents the future for the Chicano community in South San Diego. Let’s hope it is not too late for the community that is there now.