Recently passed on Dec. 21 by Mayor Brossmer and the City Council, the “Tierra Luna” building project is expected to create within 3,000+ jobs in Downey to revitalize the city’s economy. Tierra Luna, in a nutshell, is a brand new shopping center, that will be built on the land currently used by Downey Studios. The studios, the site where the Apollo spacecraft was built, will be torn down to make room for the new complex.
The reviews for the plan, however, have been heavily mixed. On the one hand, Downey could use the commerce and growth in popularity; on the other, the city tarnishes its history. The debate between the two options is heated and both sides hold their respective points.
The marketplace has caused a deep rift between the city council members and citizens who feel as though the project is a hasty and ill-considered addition. During the city hall meeting held on Jan. 10, citizen Carlos Romero vented about the unfairness of the decision:
“Why were we not told about this sooner?” Romero said. “It feels as though Downey is not taking into consideration the thoughts of its citizens.”
People hold strong sentiments for the historical monuments within Downey, a fact that is highly noticeable in the continued antiquity of the town. Certain residents feel that tearing down the studio would relegate the city into yet another lavish strip mall with houses.
“They can’t tear down the studios, because it’s a part of our history; to destroy it would be to tear down our rich history,” junior John Fernandez said.
Yet, there are equally fervent desires for the creation of a streamlined, modern, and multi-useful commerce section. Residents point to the creation of jobs, added revenue, growth as a city with a palatable business aura, and the greater modernization of the city.
“It would benefit the city far greater than the Downey Studios has,” senior Nicole Gallo said. “It offers more to the city. What was the last thing of importance that it [Downey Studios] created?”
While the range of debate is wide, the plan is final. The Tierra Luna marketplace is a reality that is bound to happen, and the spirited discussions surrounding the Downey Studio’s demolition can be written as a sign of how deep and impactful the history of the town is on the average citizen.
REX_PETE • Mar 11, 2013 at 8:15 PM
I know everyone in Downey & South Gate want a Trader Joes Bad…. FYI, Stop going out of Your Way to Cerritos, long beach, Whittier, & El Segundo to Shop @ Traders!!! As long as you do that, they won’t come here… I have spoke to their Marketing directors myself, they Sound Racist! Saying, they have No Plans on Coming to the South East Area Anytime Soon! How Dare they??? During that God Awful Strike of 2003, who do you think Put them on the Map, & Made them what they are Today??? Blue Collar Workers & Latinos who Would NEVER Cross a Picket line!!!! So Stop Shopping @ ‘ Traders ‘ til they Come here!!! We’re Better off w/ a Whole Foods Anyway, all their food is Local & their warehouse is in Vernon, & it’s Not anymore than Albertsons or Ralph’s Anyway!!!
Fabian Cancellara • Sep 8, 2012 at 6:11 PM
I guess a Radio Shack would be ideal at this location. Putting into consideration that technology like the one at Radio Shack is the one used to fly Apollo into space. The most ideal area for this store. *Radio Shack* Maybe we can redo history again. YES!
D Jones • Mar 26, 2012 at 12:04 AM
Actually, the ground upon which this project is to be built has never fully been written off as environmentally safe. In fact, the developers of the studio and Kaiser Hospital are knee-deep in claims from workers experiencing serious health problems which they attribute to employment on or near the old aircraft/space manufacturing sites subject to development of Tierra Luna.
Further development will only serve to complicate the environmental research that must yet be accomplished to assess and protect both past and new workers and residents from the unknown dangers that remain from almost a century of depositing harmful chemicals and many other pollutants into this real estate.