Today we attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for Moon Gate Plaza, developed by MidPen Housing. This project was a long time coming, and ACE members are very happy that this day has finally arrived. As most of the speakers explained, along with MidPen, it took a community and the City of Salinas to make this all happen — a network of cooperation between individuals, organizations, and the City. We look forward to a development that will feature 90 units of affordable and transitional housing, with space for retail and services, as well as an art and events gallery and work spaces for artists.
One thing that many people may not know is that long-time resident and historian Wellington Lee came up with the name “Moon Gate Plaza.” As I sat next to Wellington in the audience, he remarked that it was both “a happy day, and a sad day.” He was very happy to see the area finally undergo development. But he was also a little sad, because the corner lot that he considers “sacred ground” will be covered over; a corner of the site was once occupied by the old joss house, mentioned by John Steinbeck in East of Eden. Nevertheless, Wellington also felt that the ancestor gods would be pleased to see what is being done with the area.
Below are some photos from the event:
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