But some 10 years after city leaders hatched a plan to revitalize the neighborhood, and two years after a development company and a local nonprofit bought most of the apartments, things have changed. It's a community again, and it wasn't before. The grass is neatly trimmed along Gable Avenue these days. The street is quiet except for kids playing in front of the neighborhood center. Later this summer, they'll be jumping into the rehabilitated swimming pool.
Conversations flow easily in English and Spanish among the neighbors.
Police no longer make so many stops in the area. All of the units at the Vacaville Gables Apartments have been fixed up, and hammers are still echoing at the nearby Rocky Hill Village as workers complete remodeling. Workers finished the rehabilitation of the Gables Apartments in June 2000. They combined some of the units to make spacious three-bedroom apartments and tore out some apartments to make room for grassy areas. Vacaville Community Housing and Bay Development bought the apartments from more than 20 owners and have committed to stick with the project for at least 15 years.