Thinking Good Thoughts for Pomona

I call the intersection of Garey and Alvarado "The-Little-Intersection-That-Could" after the children's story of a similar name. In the story of The Little Engine That Could, a struggling train takes the load other trains reject and literally wills itself to the top of a hill using the mantra, “I think I can.” The intersection of Garey and Alvarado, like much of Pomona, has heart and character, but has been left behind in terms of potential and possibilities. According to real estate statistics, 44,000 people pass through that intersection every day, including me. That's almost one third the population of Pomona. Passing through, I usually visualize how the intersection could be improved.

But for the first time in maybe decades, 2015 has seen visible progress at that intersection.

One corner now hosts a Starbucks which was built from the ground up where the abandoned gas station used to be. It opened in April to waiting lines of customers and has had non-stop business ever since.

Another corner is home to the Pomona Auto Lodge, whose current owners took down the iconic sign and reinvnted themselves as the Garey Motel. The good news is there is an interior and exterior makeover going on at the motel. Additionally, the troublesome pay phone at that corner has been removed.

On the third corner still sits Stater Bros., a dependable classic, whose vintage storefront fits right into the historic neighborhood that surrounds it on every side. This is the last Stater Bros. standing of the three that were once in Pomona.

The final corner of the puzzle is the Old Firehouse Restaurant building, whose weeds have been cut and spray painted green by the City to look like grass. The building itself, unoccupied forever, makes great street art as it patiently waits for it's next tenant.

As the improvements at that intersection pick up steam, so does my confidence in Pomona. So many of us have been hoping and visualizing good things for all of Pomona. It sure seems like our collective will power is finally creating change. Let's all keep thinking good thoughts.

You can now read the Goddess of Pomona at Pomona's new online newspaper PomonaProud.com.