A Place Nd'Igbo Conducted Business Becomes Kaiser Permanente

At a time, it was called the Santa Barbara Plaza sitting on the four square Mid-City streets - Santa Barbara Boulevard, Marlton Avenue, Santa Rosalia Drive and Hillcrest Drive. Santa Barbara Blvd. had been renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in honor of the Civil Rights leader.

Now Marlton Square and once the hub of small businesses run by Igbo entrepreneurs and other Los Angeles area local merchants, and going through a lot of changes by way of ownership and management over the last twenty years, coupled with ups and downs in the plaza's business-related affairs and the city's engagements, the plaza, Marlton Square, finally reached its destination.

Before this new development, Victor Ahaiwe ran a discount store in the complex while reaching an encroachment deal, capitalized and relocated. Felicia Okereke ran a church ministry and rented her spot for Igbo-related gatherings and parties - wake-keepings, wedding receptions, graduation parties, baby showers, bachelor night parties, Igbo community conventions, money-making related errands, Friday and Sunday night prayer meetings, and the list goes on and on, and on - before she was also settled and relocated. Charles Anyadike operated a counselling church helping folks to renew their lives. Leo Uzoka once ran a tax and accounting offices in the complex. Justine Ezeanioma owned a book club (African Book Club) which he leased for a series of Igbo-related parties and conventions.

Also, still sitting there are: Jerry's Flying Fox Lounge, a soul food restaurant and blues night club; Joy Gene's Personal Touch Hair Styling Salon; Affordable Black Art; Oran's International Studios, The Oran Z Pan African Black Facts & Wax Museum; Black History Arts & Culture Center, offices and other small businesses that had served the community in the last three decades.

In my interview with Oran Z who owns the Oran Z chains of franchises about four years ago, he wasn't sure when his settlement would be finally reached in order for him to relocate since the encroachment did not meet to his demands. Oran Z is still in the facility while half of the complex has been demolished.

As part of his regular updates to city dwellers, Councilmember Bernard C. Parks, 8th District, whose job development programs leads the city in job creations, has over the months been sending information through his Twitter and Facebook accounts including newspapers within and around the City of Los Angeles on his office' newer projects by way of bringing development to the community. Parks, the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency and Commercial Mortgage Managers and only owner still standing while previous owner Earvin "Magic" Johnson missed the opportunity for redevelopment with the development group Capital Vision Equities, the square has been going through stages of construction starting from the demolition process which was begun in the summer of 2011.

So, as it has happened through consultations and related surveys carried out by the area's university students (UCLA, USC, Loyola Marymount, Charles Drew University, etc.) on the possibilities of a healthcare facility in the community, Parks, last Thursday, announced a new tenant - Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser closing escrow at the 4000 block of Marlton Avenue will be opening outpatient medical office buildings.

"When we talked to Kaiser, the said the reason this site was so important for them is because it is in the heart of their membership pool and it is also in the heart of the community, which needs medical insurance," Parks said signalling a sign of relief. Also, there were remarks by former Congresswoman Diane Watson; Commissioner Valerie Shaw; Jamie Brooks who played a significant role in securing Kaiser as a tenant and other guests.

Finally, with all the speculations of Magic building one of his empires at Marlton Square and after missed opportunities though, Councilmember Bernard Parks Community Projects to create more jobs has kicked off and Kaiser Permanente is the new tenant on the 4000 block of Marlton Avenue.