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City Wants to Shut Down Center Avenue
Street is an accident waiting to happen, residents say

By Gene C. Johnson Jr.
Bulletin Staff Writer

City officials have recently begun work on a piece of legislation that will shut down Center Avenue, a major ingress and egress to the Richland Farms area.

Center has been deemed a traffic and safety hazard by local residents.

“We’d like to close (Center) off so that you can only have entrance from Wilmington and Oleander and, of course, you’ll be able to enter from Greenleaf,” said Councilwoman Yvonne Arceneaux, whose district includes the Richland Farms area.

She doesn’t foresee the closure presenting problems, since many avoid the problematic street.

“Over the years (the traffic) has become known to people and now (Center) is almost like a major freeway,” said Arceneaux, who added that the resolution is now in the City Attorney’s office to ensure it will not face legal challenges.

“After that, we can move forward,” she continued, adding that the City Attorney’s research into the matter should take about three months. “I’m sure it’s going to have to be a hearing and a number of other things before it can happen.”

According to City Atty. Craig Cornwell, the act of closing the street is called a “street vacation.”

“The legal process is detailed in the California Streets and Highways Code,” he said. “A notice of a vacation hearing is required, so it’s not just done. There’s a hearing that has to occur. At the hearing, there is a finding that is necessary — which is that the street would be unnecessary for present and/or prospective uses.”

A study must assess the impact of the potential closure before the closure may occur, said Chuck Bergson of the City’s Public Works Department.

Whatever steps are needed should be taken as soon as possible, said some longtime Richland Farm residents.

“Cars rip and run through here,” said Marie Hollis, who has lived in the Richland Farms area for 48 years. “People have to pull to the side and wait for other cars to pass them, and children are walking to and from school. (Center) becomes a safety hazard.”

Hollis, who is also president of grassroots organization Concerned Citizens of Compton, said she is in favor of “some sort of cul-de-sac” which would prevent motorists from entering Center from Alondra Boulevard.

“Center [Avenue] was once an alley and, basically, is still an alley,” she said. “It’s just a congested situation.”

School board trustee Majorie Shipp, also a longtime resident, said there was difficulty getting to and from Alondra Boulevard at Center before no-parking signs were placed on Center about a year ago.

“But, lo and behold, some people still park there,” Shipp said. “They break the law. A couple of times I almost got into an accident because I was trying to come onto Center to go south, and this other car was trying to go north. (The street) is a hazard.”