Edilble Landscape-Pomona

29, 2001
W.O.R.K.S. — 1139 West 6th Street — Los Angeles, CA. 90017 — (213) 202-3930 — www.worksusa.org
Open spaces and designated play areas add to the family friendly
atmosphere at Park William. Putting Down Roots in Pomona
Residents of Park William in Pomona are reapingbenefits of community gardens designed
by students at Cal Poly Pomona.
By L.C. Greene, Staff Writer

The scent of sage filled the air at the opening celebration Saturday at the Park
William apartment complex in Pomona, California's first Tenant Cultivation
Affordable Housing Development.
The 31-unit urban village, interlaced with vegetable and fruit gardens rather
than ornamental plants, provides a place for the tenants to grow their own food.
"It's the best living environment for me and my family socially and economically—especially economically," resident Perry
Frazier told the gathering at the dedication ceremony.
Ten-year-old Betsy Sanchez said Park William is a great improvement over her previous home. We have more freedom. In my
old apartments we didn't have a playground and no place to ride our bikes," she said. In addition to a playground and gardens,
the complex features a computer room with six PCs and computer classes for the children.
The idea behind the garden apartments came as the result of a chance meeting between project developers and Cal Poly
professor Paul Sommers of the John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies. Sommers said he and his students wanted to
create a garden environment meaningful to the residents in terms of food and energy conservation."The residents don't want to
make a choice between heating or cooling their homes and food," Sommers said.
The gardens are watered with low maintenance and economical drip
irrigation. The residents pick the fruits and vegetables to be planted.
A number of the plants chosen are typically cultivated in Mexico
where a high percentage of renters originated, Sommers said. "We
could not generate interest and enthusiasm without their input," he
said.
The $4 million dollar renovation project was funded with county and
private funds. Money to help purchase the property came through
the county from the City of Industry. "The City of Industry sets aside
20 percent of its taxes for affordable housing," said Los Angeles
County Housing Development and Preservation Director Syed
Rushdy. The largely industrial town has no land for its own
affordable housing but has a substantial tax base, Rushdy said.
The two and three bedroom Park William units rent for between
$400 and $600 to residents whose household income ranks between
35 percent and 50 percent of the Los Angeles County median
income, said Los Angeles County Community Development
Commission spokesman Calvin Naito. Los Angeles County
Supervisor Gloria Molina said the Park William development will
serve as an example for future endeavors."This is an amazing model
that needs to be shared throughout the state," she said.
Betsy Sanchez expressed her feelings in the opening lines of a poem
she presented to the gathering dignitaries: "My sweet home is very
Park William families socialize and interact under the grapevine. fun; my sweet home is full of joy; my sweet home is full of fruits.”