FAMILY STORIES

I deeply believe that our apartment complex should be preserved for the families who have called it home for generations. My own family is part of that legacy—my daughter is just six months old, and I dream of her growing up in Santa Monica, just like her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents did before her. This isn’t just an apartment complex to us, it’s our community. It’s where we have built lasting relationships, celebrated milestones, and created a sense of belonging that can’t be replaced. My family, like many others here, has a deep connection to this place, and the thought of being displaced would not only disrupt our lives but also take away the uniqueness of our pico neighborhood. I ask the city council to consider the generations of families who have called this area home, the children who are growing up here, and the undeniable sense of community that would be lost if this building is not recognized for what it truly is. My daughter deserves the opportunity to grow up surrounded by the same love and stability that her family has cherished here for so long. Please help us protect this place, and let future generations continue to thrive in the heart of Santa Monica. 

-Alex, 3rd generation

Living here at Virginia Ave. has been a blessing to our family. I have a special needs son who is able to get the additional assistance he needs at school and through therapy in our neighborhood. The support I receive from my neighbors and having superior medical services just blocks from our home has been life saving. Staying in our home is imperative to our family. Please support our efforts to keep the beautiful community we have built standing.

-Diana

My name is Kiana. I work in clinical research at Cedars-Sinai, specializing in advanced heart disease and heart transplants. I am also currently completing my prerequisites with the hope of becoming a Physician Assistant and attending USC. Healthcare has always been my calling, and I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of others, not just through my career but also through my community involvement.

In my free time, I have partnered with The Labelle Foundation, a non-profit animal rescue organization focused on saving the most vulnerable animals in the shelter system. I’ve taken it upon myself to capture and save stray cats around Virginia Avenue, providing them with the opportunity to live the rest of their lives surrounded by love and care. This effort is deeply personal to me, as I believe all living beings deserve compassion and a second chance.

I am a proud product of Santa Monica, having attended schools within the SMMUSD from elementary through college. Growing up, I was part of the Santa Monica Girls Fast Pitch softball league, participated in YWCA after-school daycare, and joined youth programs at Virginia Park. These programs not only shaped who I am but also gave me a sense of belonging and pride in my community.

Our apartment complex on Virginia Avenue is more than just a place to live; it is a tight-knit, supportive community where everyone looks out for one another. This sense of togetherness has been my foundation. Whether it was walking home from school and stopping by Eddie’s Liquor Store to chat with Henry, walking back to the apartments with Juan after high school football games, or taking the bus with Emmanuel and Carlos, these small moments have created bonds that still exist today.

Some of my fondest memories include summer days spent filling water balloons with the garden hose for impromptu water fights, playing tag, and relaxing on a shared hammock we set up in the courtyard. These moments weren’t just about fun; they instilled a deep sense of belonging and joy that I hope to pass on to my future children.

As someone born and raised in Santa Monica, Virginia Avenue is more than a neighborhood to me- it’s a part of my identity. Growing up with a single mother, I leaned heavily on my neighbors, who became my extended family. The Murillo family next door took me in after my grandmother passed away when I was just six years old. Doña Elizabeth became a second grandmother to me, baking me chocoflan on my birthdays, helping me with my Spanish homework, and always including my mother and I for celebrations such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

This community has been my lifeline, my foundation, and my family. To be displaced from this neighborhood would mean losing a vital part of who I am. It would mean disrupting a support system that has nurtured not just me but generations of families who have grown up together, shared meals, celebrated milestones, and helped each other through difficult times.

I urge you to consider the profound impact displacement would have on our community. This is not just about buildings or property- it’s about preserving a way of life, a sense of belonging, and the memories and connections that make a neighborhood truly special. I want my future children to experience the same joy, safety, and community that shaped me.

-Kiana, 3rd generation

My mom, siblings and I moved to Santa Monica in the in the early 1970's. We grew up alongside our neighbors and have remained close with many who unfortunately, were pushed out of the city due to gentrification. I feel increadibly blessed to still live in my childhood apartment with my wife.  The thought of being forced to leave the city I've always called home is overwhelming. I don't know how we would manage if that day ever came. 

-Joe

My name is Isabel, and I have lived at the Virginia Avenue Apartments since I was eight years old. My father migrated to the United States when he was 38 years old, and after establishing a small shoe repair business in Venice, he brought my mother and I to live with him here at the Virginia Ave apts. This community has been the backdrop for all of my life’s experiences- from the loss of my father when I was 24 to the birth of my daughter, Kiana, at 26, and the passing of my beloved mother at 34. As a single mother, I relied heavily on community programs to support Kiana while I worked. I enrolled her in the YWCA after-school daycare, where she received homework help and enjoyed summer activities that I wasn’t always able to provide. When she outgrew that program, she joined Virginia Park’s Teen Center, where she learned interview etiquette, attended work-related seminars, and built strong relationships with adult mentors. I also leaned heavily on my neighbor, Dona Liz, who graciously helped whenever Kiana was sick and home alone. Losing this community and the programs that supported me as a single mother would be detrimental to those in a similar position as I was. These resources provided stability, guidance, and opportunities not only for my daughter but for countless other families like mine. The Virginia Avenue community is more than just a place to live- it is a lifeline, a foundation, and a source of hope for those who need it most.

-Isabel, 2nd generation

I grew up in these apartment building, my father still lives there. To this day I still call it home. This isn’t just an apartment building, it’s our community. It has always been the center of the neighborhood for all the children who grew up there. It saddens me to hear what they are trying to do. To think my father would need to find a new home at the close age of 80 is heartbreaking. There are families still there that only know this building as their only home. Let’s do our part to help our families, our neighbors, our community save their home.

-Ali and Ari, 2nd generation

We are deeply rooted in Santa Monica as third-generation locals. We attended Edison, JAMS, and now SAMOHI, growing up surrounded by lifelong friends who feel like family. Our love for baseball was nurtured in the Santa Monica Pony League, where our dad coached us for 15 years, and our mom played a key role in fundraising. Some of our favorite childhood memories include playing at Virginia Park and celebrating our birthdays there. The thought of leaving our hometown, filled with cherished memories and strong community ties, is a challenging and emotional prospect.” 

-Tony and Joaquin, 3rd generation

I was born and raised in the apartments and baptized at Saint Anne’s Church. Growing up, I spent a lot of time at Virginia Park and was part of PAL, taking advantage of community resources available there. I went to Grant Elementary, John Adams Middle School, Samohi, and later Santa Monica College. I’ve worked for both the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica School District. I’m a second-generation resident of these apartments, growing up alongside my sister, Jazmin, and my brother, Abel. Now, I get to watch my nephew follow a similar path, making his own memories in the city I proudly call my hometown.” 

-Joel, 2nd generation

I was born and raised in these apartment buildings. My father worked as a maintenance worker here, and my siblings and I grew up right alongside him, learning the value of hard work and community. This building, this neighborhood—these apartments—mean everything to me. My mother lives here, as does much of my family, even our extended relatives. 39 years in one place does something to you—it turns neighbors into family. It’s hard to imagine not being Santa Monicans anymore. This place is home, and always will be. Born and raised.

-David, 2nd generation

The Virginia Avenue apartments are my original home. I have so many fond memories of growing up there and the community there always makes me feel welcomed and at home! This community has given so many underprivileged and underserved families better opportunities from where they work to where they go to school to the benefits they receive, including me and my family! It breaks my heart to think that these apartments will be demolished and my original home will no longer be there! Future generations should get the same opportunity to call this amazing place home, and to think any organization would destroy these apartments and the community that has been there for generations is awful! This community is one of last original communities of the Pico Neighborhood and we cannot let developers continue to destroy and displace the original communities and residents of Santa Monica! These apartments and the community there have created generations of bright and hardworking individuals that have contributed to making the city of Santa Monica what it is today, and to take their original home away from them is terrible and must be stoped!

-William, 2nd generation

Born and raised in Santa Monica, this city is more than just where I live but my life. I had my first birthday at Virginia Park, went to Will Rogers, John Adams and now Santa Monica High School. As a 3rd-generation Santa Monican, I grew up alongside neighbors who share the same deep roots, creating friendships that will last a lifetime. The connections I’ve built here are more than just memories but they’re a community that has supported me every step of the way. To be displaced would mean losing the very foundation that has shaped who I am today.” 

-G, 3rd generation.

Born and raised in Santa Monica, I grew up in a multi-generational household where family, tradition, and community shaped the foundation of my life. As a second-generation resident, I’ve had the unique opportunity to not only carry forward the values instilled in me but also to build a strong, supportive structure for my child as part of the third generation. My journey began at Grant Elementary, continued through John Adams and Samohi, and led me to trade school, where I specialized in cosmetology. Now, I have the privilege of showcasing my expertise in the very community that watched both me and my son grow. The same friends I made in these apartments as a child are still part of my life today, witnessing the full-circle moment of my own child growing up in the same familiar spaces. For me, home isn’t just about where we live—it’s about the people, the shared history, and the memories that connect us across generations. The sense of belonging I felt as a child is the same one I strive to pass down, ensuring that my son experiences the same love, support, and deep-rooted community that made me who I am today.” 

-Jazmin, 2nd generation

I have lived here for 43 years and I am a senior citizen living in a fixed income. Living in Santa Monica on rent control gave me the opportunity to go back to school to get my degree. It also allowed me to raise my son in a safe environment and go to good SMMSD schools. I am a Retired special ed assistant from LAUSD. Due to inflation I have been looking to go back to work just to survive. My life depends on staying in this community on rent control. 

-Hugo, 1st generation