New cell safety bill: a good start

Work-Study comes up short

Code of Ethics

Nicole Knight
Editor in Chief

Twisting grape vines blanketing wide patches of land, creeping greenery at the San Bernardino Mountains feet, vibrant wildflowers peeping through long strands of golden yellow field grass; throw in a few houses and buildings and this is my memory of Rancho Cucamonga growing up.

Twenty-one years ago, living several streets above Base Line Road in the community of Alta Loma, my family was considered “close” to the mountains. Looking out from my backyard, I could see the dipping Inland Valley with squares of color sprinkled in between houses and businesses. Friends and family referred to our home as “out there,” “away from it all,” and “up the mountain.”

Now looking from my front yard, I still see the mountains, but also housing construction nipping at her feet. And if I turn around, the once-sparse valley lays divided with buzzing freeways and compacted buildings. Our once-“out there” home is now considered conveniently located to the hot spots of the Inland Valley.

Twenty-one years is relatively not that long, and I feel like I’ve seen lifetimes of change in the city of Rancho Cucamonga.

Over the past five years, Rancho Cucamonga has been named one of the fastest growing cities in the nation or state. And these rankings are evident through businesses and homes rapidly sprouting up on what seems like a daily basis.

New developments in surrounding areas of Rancho Cucamonga are sprouting up just as fast. The Colonies in Upland developed so fast, I swore I blinked and they appeared.

What's amazing about these new developments is the identical business chains housed in each one. If a new site is being built, anyone can predict what stores will fill the space. Starbucks, Chipotle and Target are just some of the chains that come to mind. Not only are these chains constantly repeated, but they can be found within miles of each other.

One site that has been growing ever since it's 1996 opening is Ontario Mills. I remember as a pre-teen thinking this circular mall was the Mecca of shopping. Developers have squeezed businesses into every last inch of this area. And to my recent surprise this week, it was reported a Target will be joining the mix.

The Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga seems to be following the same path. They already have two Starbucks, so you know they are following the clique.

As these massive construction projects are built, they plow over that city's original character. I will probably be one of the last generations of Rancho Cucamonga natives who will remember the grape vines fields. Or, when the 210 Freeway stopped at Foothill Boulevard. Or, when 19th Street ran in a straight line instead of curving around The Colonies in Upland.

Some dignity in masking a city's history with new developments is paying respects through public art. The Victoria Gardens is dripping with tributes to the old vineyards and packing houses. The city of La Verne has followed the same trend with murals dedicated to its historic orange groves. What's disheartening about these tributes is that a 7-year-old today would have no idea these beautiful pictures are representations of real life long gone.

Growth and development is essential to a city's economic success. But, it comes at a price. In place of history and space, we build convenience and congestion. I'll admit city development pros outweigh its cons – more jobs, housing and revenue is always a good thing.

It's just amazing to me how fast cities are growing these days and the similar characteristics they possess. Change always seems to be moving faster; and with overpopulated California, we’re forced to move a notch above the rest.

Nicole Knight, a senior journalism major, is editor in chief of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at nknight@ulv.edu.