Preserved home

Dear Editor:As I stood and watered my front lawn this evening, I admired once again the beautiful street on which I live. I looked up and down at each home, standing unchanged, preserved in their original mold. Eleven homes. All built in 1962, on a piece of property that previously raised ostriches. Eleven homes on a cul-de-sac in the former College Settlement of Downey, between Paramount Boulevard and Downey Avenue. As I stood there transfixed in time, I started to wonder how many residents of Downey could stand in front of their home and say the same for their street. With all of the "remodeling" that has occurred in our city in the past few years, I wonder how many neighborhoods are still intact, preserved in their original mold. So, I came up with the idea of a contest! Where in the city of Downey will we find the longest stretch of homes that exist in their original form with no changes to their outside architecture? Should this "historic area" be awarded a designation? I would love to have such a designation for my street. Yes, it would let the world know that our city and our homes are "classics" and we take pride in the uniqueness of our neighborhood! Maybe if more people took pride in what makes our neighborhoods and our city so special, we wouldn't want to keep trying to be like everyone else! So, is there anyone out there who can beat my 11 homes that are an original set from 1962? - Kathy Perez, Downey

********** Published: May 21, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 5