Black Gold in Paradise: Reclaiming Signal Hill: A Development History

A profoundly damaged community finds a way forward …A century ago, the discovery of oil transformed Signal Hill from a rustic California farming community into a frenzied center of activity. When the boom ended, it left the city an uninviting industrial wasteland. This is the story of Signal Hill’s second great transformation, to a modern, inviting community. It’s a demonstration of how foresight, cooperation, and patience can overcome a seemingly hopeless challenge.Signal Hill, though a small city, played an outsized role in the history of the region. Ken’s deep sense of history, careful documentation, and grasp of regional and national trends … provides a significant addition to the Los Angeles story.- Marsha V. Rood, FAICP; President, LA Region Planning History GroupI’m so glad Ken has committed this story to paper-his knowledge of urban planning issues is vast.-Larry Forester, former mayor and city council member, City of Signal HillA fascinating book, which does an extraordinary job capturing development through the years in Signal Hill. Full of detail … beautifully illustrated.- Steve Preston, AICP; retired city manager of the City of San Gabriel