Chavez Ravine is a hilly area near downtown Los Angeles that is now famous as the home of Dodger Stadium. But before the stadium was built, it was a neighborhood where Mexican-American families lived, and the history of Chavez Ravine is a story of a close community that was forced out to make way for the stadium.

The Early Community of Chavez Ravine

In the early 1900s, Chavez Ravine was made up of three small neighborhoods: La Loma, Palo Verde, and Bishop. Many Mexican-American families lived there because the land was affordable. These families built their homes themselves, often without electricity or running water, but they created a strong community. Neighbors helped each other, children went to local schools, and families grew food in their yards. It was a place where everyone knew each other, and the residents were proud of their neighborhood.

The City’s Plan for Public Housing

In the late 1940s, after World War II, city leaders in Los Angeles wanted to clear what they called "slums" and build modern public housing. Chavez Ravine was chosen for one of these projects, called Elysian Park Heights. The plan was to build large apartment buildings to house low-income families and war veterans.

The city began buying up land in Chavez Ravine, offering the homeowners money and renters help to move. Many families didn’t want to leave, but over time, most were forced to sell their homes. A few held on, hoping the project wouldn’t happen.

Elysian Park and farmland below, Los Angeles, ca.1898-1900

The Housing Project Is Canceled

In the early 1950s, however, the political climate changed. Public housing projects were seen as too close to socialism, and many people were against them. In 1953, a new mayor, Norris Poulson, was elected in Los Angeles. He opposed the Elysian Park Heights project, and it was canceled.

For several years, the land in Chavez Ravine sat empty, with no houses and no public housing project. Families had already been forced out, and the future of the land was unclear.

The Dodgers Come to Los Angeles

In 1957, the city found a new plan for Chavez Ravine: the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team wanted to move to Los Angeles. Team owner Walter O'Malley made a deal with the city to build a stadium in Chavez Ravine. This meant the last few remaining families had to leave, whether they wanted to or not.

One family, the Arechiga family, became famous for refusing to leave their home. In 1959, the police forcibly removed them, and this event was broadcast on TV. The image of the family being taken from their home became a symbol of the pain and struggle of the people who had lived in Chavez Ravine.

The Opening of Dodger Stadium

In 1962, Dodger Stadium opened and became one of the most famous baseball stadiums in the world. While it brought excitement and business to Los Angeles, it also meant that the original Chavez Ravine community was gone. The families that once lived there had been scattered across the city, and their homes were lost.

Remembering Chavez Ravine

For many years, people forgot about the history of Chavez Ravine and only thought of it as the home of the Dodgers. But in recent years, more attention has been paid to the story of the families who lived there. Books, documentaries, and museum exhibits have shared the history of Chavez Ravine, reminding people that this land was once home to a thriving community.

Conclusion

Chavez Ravine’s story is about more than just baseball; it’s about a community that was forced out in the name of progress. While Dodger Stadium brought something new to Los Angeles, it also came at a cost to the people who lived there before. The history of Chavez Ravine serves as a reminder of the human side of city development and the struggles that many communities face when powerful forces reshape the places they call home.