About San Pedro's Downtown

On the morning of August 6, 1846, Juan and Jose Sepulveda were at the Port of San Pedro and spotted an American Warship and sent word to the local Mexican army. This ship, commanded by Commodore Robert Stockton, had been sent to San Pedro by President Polk, to seize California in the name of the United States, after hostilities had begun with Mexico on April 25, 1846. On August 11th, Stockton began to march his troops from San Pedro to the pueblo Los Angeles. The local Mexican soldiers, unprepared to defend the city, fled to Mexico, and on August 13th, Stockton rode into Los Angeles without firing a shot.

Stockton, returning to Monterey, left Lt. Gillespie in charge of Los Angeles. Lt. Gillespie proved to be particularly unsuited to command the city, and after issuing a number of very draconian measures, including limiting the right of more than 2 people meeting together and arresting several important citizens for questioning, the people of Los Angeles rose up in rebellion.

On October 6th. the frigate "Savannah" arrived with reinforcements. Juan Sepulveda, in charge of a 45 man patrol, saw the arrival of the American war ship, and sent word to other Californians. The Californians repeatedly attacked the advancing American column, and after a particularly devastating cannon attack, the Americans again retreated to the "Savannah" in San Pedro harbor. The Americans buried their dead on Deadman's Island in the harbor, and waited for reinforcements.


Bones discovered on Deadman's Island during the removal of the Island for the construction of the San Pedro breakwater. Photo dated 1928, courtesy of California University Dominquez Hills archives


On October 23rd, the "Congress" sailed into San Pedro harbor with Commodore Stockton and reinforcements. The Californian forces created an illusion of having many more men than they actually had by riding in a circle single file through a gap in the trees in a hill overlooking the harbor, and by dragging brush to kick up dust. Stockton, thinking that he was facing a force of at least 800 men, panicked and immediately set sail for San Diego. The war was far from over, however, as a land force led by Colonel Stephen Kearney was moving across the continent towards California. Kearney succeeded in reaching Stockton in San Diego, and on December 29th, their combined force of approx. 600 men marched up the coast towards Los Angeles.

On the morning of January 9th, 1847, a bloody battle took place overlooking the San Gabriel River, near present day Montebello, between the Californian's and the Americans, and during the battle, young Ygnacio Sepulveda, the brother of Juan and Jose Sepulveda was killed. The next morning, the triumphant American forces marched into downtown Los Angeles.

On January 11th, Fremont's men reached the San Fernando Valley and when Andres Pico, leader of the Californian forces surrendered his sword in a Cahuenga rancho house, California's participation in the Mexican-American war had ended. On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo was signed annexing California to the United States.

The State Lands Agency of California, which administers Port Lands within the State of California, has recently ruled that the proposed plans for a park on the top of Knoll Hill in San Pedro are not consistent with the State Tidelands Trust which regulates the permissable land uses on State Tidelands and Port Property.

A citizens committee had proposed that the land be improved with backstops that would be used part of the year by the Eastview Little League, and as general park use for the rest of the year, and would also have a children's playground. The Agency ruled that land uses must be of a Regional nature and not just serve a local use, and determined that the proposed uses were only local in nature. They have also indicated that a dog park, which is currently at the base of the hill, also would not meet this land use criteria.

Unfortunately, long term plans for the site calls for the property to be used to accommodate reworking the onramps and offramps for the Vincent Thomas Bridge and the harbor Freeway. Port authorities have indicated that any use of the site would be temporary and probably limited to 3 years. Therefor, a permanent location for the Little League fields and the off-leash dog park still need to be resolved.

So basically, the only permitted use of the 6 acres of land as a park would include only trails. The Eastview Little League currently uses the land under a lease that will expire January 31, 2011

For more information about San Pedro, visit my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com

By 1835, San Pedro had become the most important port on the Pacific Coast. Because of shallow water and mud flats, ships had to drop anchor about a mile off shore, and small boats would then transfer passengers and cargo ashore. These would often capsize, spilling both passengers and cargo into the muddy water. During this time, the Sepulvedas built a crude dock and landing at the base of cliffs near present day Fourteenth and Beacon Streets in San Pedro, which became known as Sepulveda Landing.

San Pedro in 1850, Dead Man's Island in the background

In 1851, 21 year old Phineas Banning arrived in San Pedro from Philadelphia. Banning, and his partner, George Alexander, soon began operating a stagecoach service from San Pedro. When August Timms bought the Sepulveda Landing, early in 1852, Banning was concerned (Sepulveda Landing then became known as "Timms Landing").



Monument for Timms' Point and Landing

When word came from Washington that San Pedro would soon be declared an official port of entry with its own customhouse, Banning negotiated to buy a tract of land from the Sepulvedas, located near Timm's Landing, and promptly built his own wharf. In November 1854, Banning and a group of investors (J.G Downey, Don Benito Wilson, and William Sanford) purchased 2,400 acres adjacent to San Pedro, for port expansion. This land later became the city of Wilmington, after Banning's Delaware birthplace.


Bannings Landing, Wilmington, 1870

For more about the HISTORY OF SAN PEDRO visit my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com

The Vue is now leasing at least 4 units which showed up on the MLS today. They are 2 bedrooms listed for lease for between $2200 and $4500 a month.

They also listed one unit for sale on the MLS for $554,204. This one is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath 1045 sf unit.

The MLS can be viewed through my website at www.RebeccaChambliss.com

I also spoke to another attorney who explained how they organize the purchase contracts to be "iron clad." That developments now use these contracts that are virtually impossible for the buyer to regain their deposit if they default.

The issue is always being sure to READ the contract and understand it so you know what you are getting into. The other issue is making sure in any real estate purchase that you have excellent single sided representation, whether that be your own Realtor, or attorney or both.

As the calls and emails continue to come in asking for information about what is going on with the condos downtown, I am well overdue for an update.

The Vue has been renegotiating contracts with buyers apparently. Price and terms are both up for negotiation, I also hear they are working with a new lender who might be a little more flexible with buyers.

There are a number of people who have said they are walking away. There is an attorney negotiating with the Vue attorneys to settle with a group of buyers who are unable or unwilling to close. There are other buyers who are closing and planning to move in. I haven't seen anyone there yet but I do know they are leaving lots of lights on at night to make it appear well lived in.

I haven't seen the offering plan, but I might suggest those of you who are still somewhere between a signed contract and closing to seek it out. It should spell out the requirements of The Vue to enforce the contract, including a mminimum number of units that must be sold in order to enforce the remaining contracts. It should be on file with the state and is a public document.

Interest rates are WAY down and if you are thinking of closing, it would be a good time to get locked in. I suppose the units will need an appraisal and hopefully that will be reflected in the purchase price if they will renegotiate.

The Center Street lofts just down the way has reduced the sales price of all available units (they say there are 20 left.) They start now in the low $200s and they are offering a 4% fixed rate to new buyers. Not a bad deal at all.

The Bank Street lofts have gone to leasing them out after selling only 6 units apparently. The plan to finish the second project is to NOT finish it from what I understand.