Latest news with #communitytransformation
CBS News
18-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Oakland neighbors set to transform vacant Caltrans lot into vibrant garden
When Vincent Kitirattragarn looks at the dilapidated, overgrown, vacant lot at 54th and Shattuck in Oakland, he calls a spade a spade. "I moved into this neighborhood in 2016. This corner has always been neglected, it attracts illegal dumping, there's always graffiti here," he said. But, he also sees possibility, and thinks of the famous Louis Armstrong song, "What a Wonderful World." "It goes, I see trees of green, red roses too, I see them bloom for me and you. That's really what I want here," Kitirattragarn said. "We need more beautiful public spaces in Oakland. This should be one of those spaces." So, he and neighbors are working to turn that idea into reality by transforming the lot, which is owned by Caltrans, into a community pollinator garden. "We're going to keep those redwood trees because there a great part of the space right now," Kitirattragarn told CBS News Bay Area. "We're going to create a bunch of pollinator plants around it, with a walking path, as well as areas for seating. So, you're going to see this completely transform." The hope is that it will help alleviate problems with blight and illegal dumping, an issue that many people in The Town want to see fixed. "The quality of life has declined in Oakland, it feels like, significantly, in the last five years or so," said Rob Selna, whose family roots run deep in Oakland. "It feels as though it's a time where more than ever, members of the public need to step up and fill in some of the gaps that the city has left." Selna is helping bring the pollinator garden concept to life, and he has experience on this front. He's the president of the group Sidewalk Trees and Gardens. Ten years ago, he and neighbors created the Temescal Community Garden. "What you see here now represents a transformation of a street that was really secluded, blighted, and a target for criminal and bad activities," he said. "My neighbors and I realized we needed to replace the space with something positive." Selna said studies have shown that planting trees in areas that are lacking them can be good for the environment and community itself. "They're proven to have significant environmental benefits as well as community benefits," he said. When community-led efforts like this arise, there sometimes are people who will say it is the city's job to fix issues like this and not the responsibility of the residents. Selna's response? "People are concerned about their communities. At the moment, the City of Oakland – for a variety of reasons – doesn't have the money to take care of them. So you can decide, well I'm just going to abandon the city and move on because they don't have the money to take care of it or, I'm going to help to bring the city back," he said. Selna said his group is in the process of trying to identify more spaces in Oakland that can be beautified. "In the face of the budget problems that the City of Oakland has – it really hasn't been able to pay for basic services like tree planting and maintenance, parks and rec maintenance, and public safety services," he said. Kitirattragarn said they've acquired the necessary Caltrans permits to proceed with the project. They're fundraising now, with a goal of reaching $30,000. The hope is to begin construction in October.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Church transforms site of violence into ‘Corner of Life' on Chicago's South Side
CHICAGO (WGN) — There are new beginnings on the corner of 79th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. What used to be a corner associated with violence now houses a building called Corner of Life. Members of New Life Covenant Church Southeast spent Saturday morning ringing bells on Chicago's South Side. They welcome over 1,000 people to the church's annual 'Prayer on the 9' rally. 'Pastor Hannah teaches us about the sound that is released in the atmosphere and how it can shift things and change things,' Emiko Pope said. 'The bells symbolize victory, and it symbolizes a promise.' This year's march shifted from its traditional path down 79th Street to recognize transformation in the neighborhood. 'Pastor Hannah and New Life, thank you for believing in our community and standing shoulder to shoulder with our alders,' Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said. The church celebrated its recent purchase of Happy's Liquor Store. 'We've been walking past this for 15 years, and today we stand in front of it and say we own it,' Pastor John Hannah said. The building has been long associated with violence, including a deadly shooting one year ago. 'Back in May, three young men were gunned down in front of this building. One of them lost his life,' Hannah said. 'His mother is here with us today. We're going to dedicate a part of the building in memory of her son.' Hannah says a part of the building will turn into a grocery store. It will also house medical offices and essential community services he feels are lacking on the South Side. The church says this is just the beginning of the change. They hope to transform more buildings on the street. Officials say renovations have already begun at Corner of Life. 'We will pay cash for each of these buildings. Everyone says we got a cash anointing. After we buy it, we just need your help to help us build it,' Hannah said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
