By Chris Levister

As a euphoric public relished the opening of the George E. Brown Memorial 210 Freeway residents in San Bernardino's Westside paused to remember a similar grand opening.

More than 50 years ago Mount Vernon Avenue was a vibrant ribbon of economic vitality  lined with banks, retail shops, fancy hotels, and plush eateries, a hot destination for locals and motorists driving on Route 66 to and from Las Vegas.

But in 1959, the lights went out when the state of California cut the ribbon opening the 215 Freeway.

"It was like they created two worlds. One was destined to thrive, the other was cast aside to fester and die," says former Westside resident Francis Grice.

"The 215 has literally been a wall blocking the Westside commercial traffic, said Mayor Pat Morris.

The new 215 Freeway essentially cut an unapologetic swath across Mount Vernon Avenue walling off the city's predominately Black and Latino neighborhoods, 16th Street to the west and Muscoy Street to the north. On and off ramps funneled traffic east bypassing the Westside.    

"Consequently it killed the community. We lost our economic base. Mount Vernon Avenue died of economic starvation," says Grice.

"It reminded me of what they did in Germany with the Berlin Wall", says resident Hardy Brown. "The state, the county, the city, they did not want anything to do with Black and Mexican people." For over 50 years Brown says the 215 succeeded in cutting off access not just to local customers but to drivers heading out of Las Vegas passing through the area on Fifth Street.

"They not only killed our economy, they killed out spirit," recalls former resident Randall Ayala. "The residents watched Muscoy collapse into a crime infested jumble of liquor stores, night clubs and abandoned structures.  Banks, supermarkets, gas stations, they all disappeared.

Historians point to a freeway designed with limited space constraints caused by a network of railroads on the Westside. Others cite a desire to funnel consuming drivers into downtown.

San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris and Marta Macias Brown, widow of the late Congressman George E. Brown, celebrate the opening of the 210 Freeway named in Congressman Brown’s honor.

 "It's an opportunity to correct a wrong," said Brown. "Celebrate the opening of the 210 Freeway and renovation of the 215 but we should never forget our community's dark history."

Oblivious to the past Orange County motorists Linda and Berry Pavis waited impatiently behind the last remaining Caltrans barricade at the State Street on ramp in the Westside.

More than an hour after the first drivers sped onto the 210 at Alder Street, the State Street barriers came down.

A euphoric 6th Ward Councilman Rikke Van Johnson breathed deeply calling commercial opportunities with the two freeways immense. "Finally, we've got access. I'm so excited to see this day come. For the first time in over 50 years we're attractive to developers looking for virgin land. Now they'll take a second look at the Westside." 

A few feet away in nearby Muscoy large construction equipment sets idle in the middle of Highland Avenue. Most of the neighborhood arteries are blocked off. Many of the homes and structures are abandoned. Once thriving businesses have fallen pray to vandals and economic strangulation.  

Carter urged taxpayers and leaders not to lose sight of neighbors near the Rialto airport, and those in Muscoy whose businesses and neighborhoods are struggling to survive in the face of continuing freeway construction and renovation. "Sustainability, how do we create jobs and development in those areas?" said Carter. 

Breaking down the freeway barriers opens the door for more stores, more jobs and affordable homes, thus sustainability, added Johnson. "These are historic times in the region. I'm loving it."

Next week the San Bernardino City Council is scheduled to discuss the creation of a specific plan in the area of the 210 corridor, the goal is to allow local elected representatives and residents to have a greater hand in new development.

"We can't undue the past," said Johnson "The habit of hindsight is the habit of never letting this happen again."