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April 07, 2005
Even the Injuns done sold out: Ritter Ranch breaks ground.
On the one hand, you have the Antelope Valley being celebrated for its abundant spring wildflowers:
(Photo: Bill MacKenzie, Antelope Valley Press)
And on the other hand, you have the Valley being bulldozed into oblivion for suburban sprawl development. This, from the Antelope Valley Press, Wednesday April 6, 2005:
“Bulldozers grade dirt at the site of the new Ritter Ranch housing development Tuesday during groundbreaking ceremonies at the Palmdale development. The planned community is envisioned as the site of 7,200 homes, along with parks, schools and recreation in the rolling hills west of Palmdale.”
(Photo: Antelope Valley Press)
Here are some friendly fellows doing the heavy digging:
(Photo: Jeff Goldwater / LA Daily News)
The AV Press story includes this bizarre reportage:
“A Native American tribal leader fanned sprigs of burning sage with his ceremonial eagle feather and blessed the dedication of the Ritter Ranch development…”
Even the Injuns done sold out!
Check out the video of the groundbreaking on SunCal's website. What do the developers have to say about this? “Our goal is to create a premium master-planned community that will offer a superior lifestyle.” Yeah, whatever that means.
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Where in the world -- ok, where in the Antelope Valley of southern California -- is Ritter Ranch? The development is bounded generally by 40th and 60th Streets West, Elizabeth Lake Road and the Pelona Vista foothills. Check out this Google satellite view of the hillside grading.
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April 7, 2005 in Antelope Valley, Urbanism + suburbs | Permalink
Comments
are you sure that was blessing going on?
Posted by: nancy | Apr 7, 2005 3:41:25 PM
Of course the AV Press, the High Desert's Stars and Stripes Daily, never voiced any opposition to any development or construction. I suspect any letters in opposition to the development were squashed.
The Lancaster and Palmdale economies, without hardly any industry, depend on new construction: realtors, contractors, sub-cons, laborers, small-businesses, and various types of whores rely on a steady flow of building bucks.
Posted by: J. | Jul 20, 2005 10:17:39 AM
Doesn't anybody see the trend with the 'typical' sub-divisions? You have masses of houses crammed together where you can literally look out your side window and see right into your neighbors! There is no room left for breathing. I believe that because the Antelope Valley is growing so fast that it is vital to built neighborhoods where there is 'room to breath'. I believe those who choose to live in a community like Ritter Ranch, will actually feel less 'stressed', especially the children who need room to explore. I believe that what the developers have been leaving out of theirs plans (and city-planners too) is community green space. We have acres upon acres of sub-divisions and scarcely any parks, green-belts or trees for that matter. I say that communities like R.R. are vital, and this could be a positive trend. Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer Newman | Jan 18, 2006 11:20:30 PM
Well, I knew it would come. We fought it in the 1980s and won; not this time. I left Leona Valley in 1995 and am glad I will not be there to see it distroyed. There goes the life style of the small town with a great local school and safe streets. But once again, money talks. Pure and simple it's about the money, not what's right or good for the people, but how much money the big guy and his friends can make. It's his vision that counts, not the people. Say goodby to Bouquet Canyon. Just call it "Blood Alley." Say hello to smog, crime, traffic and everything else large populations bring. Farewell, Leona Valley; rest in peace.
Posted by: Jo Pavlina | Feb 20, 2006 7:37:03 PM
Has anyone read the book "California Fault
Posted by: Lorena | Apr 25, 2006 2:51:46 PM
for public safety and awareness bookmark our url. Our greater Antelope Valley need cleaning up or else EVERYONE stand a great chance of losing their homes.
Posted by: Robert Tapia | Mar 13, 2007 5:15:36 AM
Well......you can either snivel and whine about the results of all this, or you can get off your butt and get involved in the legal process- the CEQA proceedings- and use the tools the public has at its disposal to stop or delay this kind of development.
There is plenty of info online about that and how do deal with it. You can see some samples of issues that can be used in the public comment NOP and Draft EIR process at www.cuddyvalley.org/projects .
Step one is to get on LA County Regional Planning's distribution list for any projects in your area so you know about them when they happen, at the front end.
Posted by: Jack | Apr 2, 2007 7:39:43 AM
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