Asked to list the qualities that contribute to the “livability” of cities and communities, most of us would be quick to cite the obvious: good schools; efficient municipal services; low crime rates; the availability of parks and green space; a vibrant local economy. There is, however, a growing awareness of yet another factor, no less important: a sense of continuity; a clear linkage between a com
munity’s living past and present. Like so many others today, Alhambra is a city struggling for that balance between the need of any thriving community to grow and develop and the equally strong need to honor and preserve its past. Alhambra’s history is, in so many ways, the story of the settlement of our region, the growth of Los Angeles as a commercial and population center, and the development of Southern California’s suburban lifestyle. While all of those who populated and shaped the early development of Alhambra are gone, a good deal of what they built remains. The rich heritage of our city is made visible through the historic architecture that defines the unique character of our community, offering a sense of continuity, integrating past and present. Over the past several years, and amid a climate of rampant, anything-goes over-building and high density development, a groundswell of concern has been building among Alhambra residents and property owners that, in its rush to embrace the new, our city has sacrificed an alarmingly high percentage of its character-defining historic architectural resources. This is the realm of historic preservation – and this is the work of Alhambra Preservation Group.
