Neighborhood Center Dedication Is Today

The Buena Clinton neighborhood, once known as one of Orange County’s most blighted areas, will celebrate a remarkable turnaround today with the grand opening of the Buena Clinton Neighborhood Center.

The center sits on land that formerly held rundown, crime-plagued apartment complexes.

City Manager George Tindall said at least $10 million from federal, state and local funds has been spent to give the neighborhood a face-lift.

“It is very different today than it was 10 to 12 years ago,” Tindall said. “Then you could drive on the streets and see 300 to 400 people at any one time. There was trash, debris, abandoned cars, deteriorated buildings, sewage in the streets. It was getting to be a true slum.”

In the early 1980s, city officials set out on a campaign to clean up the area. They opened a police substation, filed lawsuits against landlords who were violating ordinances, beefed up enforcement of city codes, and bought and razed several dilapidated buildings.

By putting restrictions on the number of people allowed to live in one-, two- and three-bedroom units, city officials reduced the neighborhood’s population from as many as 7,000 people to less than 2,000 today.

Police Capt. Scott Jordan said that Buena Clinton, which once had the city’s highest crime rate, now ranks 23rd among 92 districts.

The neighborhood center to be dedicated is at 12661 Sunswept Ave. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m., followed by games and music until 2 p.m.