Article: Poised for progress: national chains eye Pacoima as path to hispanic market.(San Fernando Valley)

POOR Pacoima.

For decades, the birthplace of the legendary Richie Valens, has been the butt of late-night comics or at the center of gang-related violence--a gritty urban enclave that remains one of the poorest communities in the San Fernando Valley.

Yet amid the pawnshops and check-cashing stores spread along much of Van Nuys Boulevard, there are scattered signs of revival. Some of them are cosmetic, such as a $3 million, city-funded facelift for new medians, sidewalks and facades at Pacoima Town Center. And some of them are subtle, such as steadily higher real estate values (the median price reached $295,000 last December). Taken together, they have ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!