West Hills Welcomes World With 4 New Signs

Twenty West Hills Community neighbors, alders, and city officials gathered for the unveiling of a sign that reads ​“Welcome to West Hills” at the entrance to the neighborhood.

Four signs in all went up in the neighborhood Saturday, a project that cost roughly $5,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

Bill Lynch, owner of Century Sign in Hamden, installed the signs. He stood proudly at Saturday’s event beside Alder Honda Smith and Ward 30 Democratic Co-Chair Iva Johnson, who designed the signs.

The signs were placed on the corner of Whalley Avenue and East Ramsdell Street, on Pond Lily Avenue near Bank Street, on Wintergreen Avenue, and on West Hills Road, where Saturday’s ceremony occured.

“We’re going to take the ball and move it forward,” Johnson said. ​“We’re going to continue to rise as a strong community. This is our neighborhood! This is who we are!”

Smith said she sees the signs as part of a broader effort to bring together the old and the new residents of West Hills, which is nestled between Whalley Avenue and West Rock.

“For over 20 years, this community has been forgotten about. We wanted to revitalize the ward,” Smith said. ​“This is a very thriving community. Just to hear the stories of people and how they’ve grown up, this is historic for all of us.”

City government’s Liveable City Initiative (LCI) worked closely with the team to complete the project.

Mary Wadley, an LCI commissioner, was raised in West Hills. She and her siblings grew up on Rock Creek Road in the ​‘60s and ​‘70s.

“I think the unveiling identifies a place where people may not have known about. There’s a lot of misconceptions that West Hills isn’t safe. Some people might say, ​‘Hey, I’ve heard about West Hills; don’t go there.’ When you haven’t experienced something then assumptions are made,” Wadley said. ​“It’s not where you live, it’s how you’re living. If you give yourself the opportunity to explore areas, it also takes your fear away.”

Former West Hills Alder Carlton Staggers said the neighborhood is an island of its own. ​“These signs are a big deal. A lot of people don’t even know that we’re out here until they come this way,” Staggers said. ​“But we know. From Hilltop Road down to South Genesee Street, this is West Hills.” Another former West Hills alder, current Board of Education member Darnell Goldson, took part in the event as well.

Lisa Granger, like Wadley, grew up in the neighborhood on South Genesee Street with her close-knit family in the ​‘60s. She asked the crowd to continue to support Smith in her efforts to revitalize the community.

“While growing up, the neighbors looked out for us. We looked out for them. One person that was very instrumental in my family and friend’s lives was Ronald Augustine. He had a large family of his own but he took the time to look over the community with providing jobs and activities. He opened up the West Hills School for the boys to play basketball. The girls hung out down there too,” said Granger. ​“A person that reminds me of the work that Mr. Augustine orchestrated is Honda Smith. I ask everyone of the West Hills community to help her and help the place that we call home.”

Smith said a community center developed over 60 years ago by residents, dubbed ​“The Shack,” is currently in the process of being restored as part of a broader effect to revitalize the neighborhood.

“The shack was where the kids had activities before and after school. We have now changed the name to 333 Valley Street Center Intergenerational Inc. to restore a sense of hope and the whole community back again,” said Smith. ​“We’re only waiting on the mayor to sign the release. Once he signs, we’re going to start doing what we need to do to get the shack back open.”

Towards the end of the ceremony, city officials, and residents counted down together before tearing off the orange covering to reveal the new welcome sign that ensures West Hills will never be forgotten.