[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6319]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF BELL GARDENS ON THE OCCASION OF THE CITY'S 
                   50TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the City of 
Bell Gardens and ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating its 
42,000 residents on the city's 50th Anniversary. I am proud to 
represent this growing city--aptly characterized by its motto ``A City 
that Works''--as part of my 34th Congressional District of California.
  While we honor the city's 50 years of official incorporation, its 
intriguing history dates back to the late 18th century when a Spanish 
soldier, Antonio Lugo, received a land grant that included the present-
day Bell Gardens. Today's residents need only stroll down to 7000 Gage 
Avenue to admire one of Lugo's homes. Built about 1810, Casa de San 
Antonio, also known as the Gage Mansion, is California Historical 
Landmark number 984 and holds claim to being the oldest standing 
building in Los Angeles County.
  The ``Gage'' Mansion is named after another notable Bell Gardens 
resident. A lawyer who married one of Lugo's great, great 
granddaughters, Henry T. Gage served as California's 29th Governor from 
1898-1903. After Gage acquired and occupied the mansion, he worked 
extensively to restore the Los Angeles farmhouse and its magnificent 
early architectural designs.
  Boasting some of the richest agricultural land in the country, Bell 
Gardens remained a farming community until the 1930s. During the 
Depression era, when farming became less profitable, the character of 
the community began to change as developers bought up the land to build 
affordable housing for struggling families.
  During World War I and World War II, area defense plants spurred 
local growth and economic prosperity throughout the community. 
Attracted by the defense jobs, families moved to Bell Gardens, leading 
to the construction of new homes, more schools, and a prosperous 
business climate.
  Today, Bell Gardens continues to be a dynamic and hardworking 
community. The city prides itself on its beautiful parks, emerald green 
soccer fields, childcare centers, a sparkling lake stocked with fish 
and waterfowl, and a community golf course.
  The state-of-the-art renovation of John Anson Ford Park to include 
the Bell Gardens Sports Center is one of the city's crowning 
achievements. The multi-million-dollar facility is open to the 
community for soccer, baseball, tennis, golf and other sports. The city 
also entered into an agreement with the professional soccer 
organization Chivas Regal USA, which uses the complex as a practice 
facility.
  The city's successful efforts to revitalize Downtown Bell Gardens is 
also a great source of pride for the community. Families now have many 
more retail and entertainment options. Completed in April 2004, Los 
Jardines Shopping Center replaced a blighted, underused commercial 
block with a vibrant, village-like, attractively landscaped shopping 
center that provides a pedestrian-friendly environment for the 
community. In addition, the shopping center houses nationally 
recognized merchants to serve the city's growing but largely 
underserved Latino community. Los Jardines is located within the city's 
bustling Central City Redevelopment Project Area, adjacent to the 
popular Bicycle Casino, one of the most successful card clubs in Los 
Angeles County, the Marketplace shopping center, and the Village Square 
Shopping Center.
  Affordable housing for the city's residents is also a priority. 
Housing communities ushered in by the city such as Las Casas de Bell 
Gardens, Clara Vista Housing Development, and the City of Bell Gardens 
Senior Housing and Community Center offer families and seniors 
affordable, comfortable and attractive units to call home. Addressing 
the need for additional affordable housing for seniors, the city 
developed Park View Terrace which provides 75 affordable units to 
seniors. The city is currently undertaking another affordable housing 
development project, Terra Bella Senior Housing Center, which is 
planned to start construction in the fall of 2011. It will provide 65 
affordable units for seniors. These developments clearly represent the 
city's strong commitment to providing quality programs and services to 
the residents of the Bell Gardens community.
  Mr. Speaker, as the city commemorates its 50th Anniversary with a 
free weekend celebration April 22-24 that includes carnival rides, food 
vendors, business booths, live entertainment and the Miss Bell Gardens 
Pageant, I ask my colleagues to please join me in commending this 
``city that works'' on its historic milestone, and in extending our 
best wishes for many more years of progress ahead.

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