Silent suffering the norm in gang-scarred part of North Hills-Panorama City - daily news article 7-23-07

[LALady]

Originally Posted by SoCalMomma

We lived in the neighborhood across the railroad tracks from the old Fedco. I use to walk by there on my way to school (Fulton Jr Hi). We use to go skateboard riding in the parking structure. Didn't it become a Gemco, after Fedco left? I remember something like that, but I'm not sure what.

My brother went to Noble Elementary, and they had gang fights there. Can you believe that - at an elementary school! It was on the north side of Roscoe, in the 'trouble' area, but still.

I cant remember the name of the street, it was right next to the freeway off Roscoe. It had lots of apartments. Well, it was well known, even back then, for drug deals. I think at one point they blocked off the street to traffic.

Another memory I have is walking to Farrells after school for ice cream. It was a pretty long walk, but we didn't care. It probably is not safe to walk in Van Nuys now!

I had a friend who lived near Blythe St (a street that intersected it), we never had any trouble. We didn't bother them & they didn't bother us.

We only lived there a short time, and we escaped unscathed.. Not somewhere I want to visit anytime soon.

Fedco was still open during the Northridge quake in 94. I remember that because Fedco dropped it's membership requirement for a month or so after the earthquake to let everyone shop there. Gemco closed shop long before 94. There was a Gemco on Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama city. The rusty sign remained years after Gemco closed. Kinda of the way the Montgomery Wards/Electric Avenue sign remains so long after Wards shut down.

What amazes me is that those office buildings remain standing after having no tenants for so long. The 7 story office building at Roscoe and Van Nuys has been empty for at least 6 years. The taller office buildings, south of roscoe (somewhere between roscoe and Sherman Way) have been empty for at least 10 years. They should have been torn down.

So many empty buildings now, Angus Restaurant, Montgomery Wards, Office buildings. It's blight!

[James T]

Originally Posted by LALady

Oh my gosh! Was the watch a black plastic Casio watch with a calculator. Remember those things? tee hee hee.

Almost. It was the gold plated version of the Casio Databank. Still have it in a drawer.

[LALady]

Originally Posted by James T

Almost. It was the gold plated version of the Casio Databank. Still have it in a drawer.

That's a classic. Casio ruled the world for a few years. I had a Casio keyboard also.

[cynwldkat]

I believe the reasons those tall. empty buildings remain standing today is because many of the wireless towers are on top of them. The $$ they get for use of their buildings more then covers their costs of remaining on that ground!!