Completion of the freeway system in 1966 contributed to the reshaping of the city by ushering in connectivity from Los Angeles to Santa Monica by a 16.2 mile stretch, right through the middle of a historic black neighborhood. (Scott 2004,136 ) The push for the final endpoint of Interstate 10 went to Santa Monica due to a Santa Monica booster, Robert McClure's, advocacy. Los Angeles was now a mere 20 minutes away, and within the first year of completion of the Interstate 10, carried ninety-five thousand cars on average a day. The final straw in the process of gentrification was the ending of the 10 freeway to Santa Monica.
Despite the efforts made towards maintaining their presence within the community, the land on which their historic neighborhood sat was less valuable, and therefore to clear the road for the freeway, many homes were bought out and a community was torn apart. (Scott 2004, 136) Resentment was shared with the Hispanic families that also lived along Pico as these Mexican Americans could no longer afford to pay their rent. Despite this, the population of Hispanics rose in the City due to immigration from 1960 to 1970. (Scott 2004, 136) The Japanese Americans that did return to Santa Monica after WWII were also thrown out as the freeway destroyed a large pocket of affordable housing and reduced economic diversity. The implication was that Santa Monica discouraged minorities. However in the long run the freeway attracted large businesses in the late 60's and 70's.
Despite the efforts made towards maintaining their presence within the community, the land on which their historic neighborhood sat was less valuable, and therefore to clear the road for the freeway, many homes were bought out and a community was torn apart. (Scott 2004, 136) Resentment was shared with the Hispanic families that also lived along Pico as these Mexican Americans could no longer afford to pay their rent. Despite this, the population of Hispanics rose in the City due to immigration from 1960 to 1970. (Scott 2004, 136) The Japanese Americans that did return to Santa Monica after WWII were also thrown out as the freeway destroyed a large pocket of affordable housing and reduced economic diversity. The implication was that Santa Monica discouraged minorities. However in the long run the freeway attracted large businesses in the late 60's and 70's.
References: Scott, Paula. Santa Monica: A History on the Edge. Charleston, SC., Chicago, IL., Portsmouth, NH., San Francisco, CA. : Arcadia Publishing, 2004. (accessed March 13, 2014).