San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
CLEANING UPLIFTS IN BARRIO LOGAN
Business owners initiate Logan Avenue beautification to boost shops, restaurants
Two small business owners along Barrio Logan’s business thoroughfare are leading a beautification effort to address growing sidewalk maintenance concerns. They also have organized weekly Saturday shopping events called “Walk The Block” to draw visitors back to the neighborhood.
Claudia Biezunski and Alexandra Perez Demma recently created a Gofundme campaign to fund yearlong cleaning services along three blocks of Logan Avenue, where there are dozens of small boutiques and restaurants.
“There was a lot of outgrown weeds ... and the trash cans were getting graffiti,” said Biezunski, who owns the sewing studio Sew Loka. There often is trash on the sidewalks and overflowing from trash cans along Logan Avenue, she added.
Biezunski and Perez Demma, who owns the Simón Limón boutique, launched their “Clean The Block” effort last month.
They started by cleaning the block themselves and organizing community cleanups. Now, they have hired a professional maintenance company.
The women plan to raise $10,000 for a year’s worth of cleaning services along three blocks of Logan Avenue and South 26th Street between National and Logan avenues.
The services would include: tree trimming, weed whacking, street sweeping, repainting light poles, removing graffiti, picking up trash, landscaping and power washing. The effort also includes beautification projects such as public art installations along Logan Avenue.
They have raised nearly $1,950 as of Tuesday.
Biezunski said the goal is to take care of the community and give back to the neighborhood through maintenance services, events and beautification efforts. “This fund is going to be able to take care of all these things . ... We want it to cycle back into the com
munity,” Biezunski said.
They recently collaborated with community artists to paint colorful designs on seven trash cans along the block.
Barrio Logan has a maintenance assessment district, which provides cleaning services and sidewalk maintenance, but Logan Avenue between Evans and 26th streets does not fall within the district’s boundaries.
Maintenance assessment districts are created by property owners who vote to pay an assessment to receive additional cleaning services on top of what the city provides.
Perez Demma said it would be great to be a part of the district, but that could be a long process.
“We need to solve our problems now, and the only way to do that is by working together,” Perez Demma said.
Perez Demma and Biezunski also organize the Saturday “Walk The Block” events.
The once vibrant Logan Avenue has been empty for several months because of canceled arts shows and events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many businesses closed and have
offered online shopping or drive-thru pickup to stay in business.
“It was a ghost town,” Perez Demma said.
She said watching other small boutiques on the block struggle or go out of business was scary.
The women helped businesses on the block apply for permits for outdoor operations for the Saturday shopping event, which hosts food and clothing vendors. Visitors are asked to wear face masks while shopping, unless they are eating.
Biezunski said other business owners have responded positively to the weekly event and are getting more business.
Perez Demma said that because of foot traffic from “Walk The Block” she has made enough revenue to pay her back rent and a loan.
“It’s brought me back to were I can breathe,” Perez Demma said.