La Casita Verde Child Care Center, operated in the stately Ziegler Estate at 4601 No. Figueroa in the Sycamore Grove/Highland Park area of Los Angeles, has had some much needed maintenance work to keep this historic monument in good shape. The center has had sidings repaired, been totally repainted inside and out, and has had floors refinished. Outside the fences are freshly repainted and the beautiful awnings replaced.

Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC) secured funding for the revitalization of the business corridor through Congressman Xavier Becerra. Both need to be thanked for their attention to the main Figueroa Business Corridor - for recognizing the importance that this landmark facility has in the surrounding community and to families with very young children. Councilmember Ed Reyes also provided funding to assist in the maintenance of the trees and outside facilities. The work was completed by The Blakely Company Inc. on weekends, so that the families using the center had little interruption in the care of their young children.

The L.A. city-owned site won the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Housing and Urban Development Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation in 2003, and has been serving local families needing care for their infants, toddlers and preschoolers since La Casita Verde Child Care Center opened in 2002.

The award at the time cited "an energetic coalition" of city departments, the Community Redevelopment Agency, the Community Development Department and citizens groups for rescuing a gem from decrepitude while bringing a high-quality child-care center to the underserved Highland Park area. The City purchased the 1904 Queen Anne house from the Southwest Museum in 1991 and completed a $3.2-million renovation, including seismic upgrades, earthquake damage repair and new mechanical systems. The La Casita Verde Child Care Center serves a majority of low- to moderate-income families and their children from 6 weeks through pre-Kindergarten, through the CalWorks and AP programs, but serves all families with varying economic levels. Located adjacent to the Southwest Museum Gold Line station and across the street from Sycamore Grove Park - with its newly restored historic bandstand and the Ramona Hall Community Center - and a block from the historic Southwest Museum and the Arroyo Seco Museum Magnet K-8 public school - and with the Lummis Adobe and Heritage Square Museum an easy walk away - La Casita Verde anchors a child and family friendly destination in Northeast Los Angeles.

Congressman Becerra’s district staff can be reached at http://becerra.house.gov/HoR/CA31/Constituent+Services or (213) 483-1425

VEDC’s mission is to revitalize communities and create jobs for deserving residents by being the leading provider of consulting, training, financing, and workforce solutions to local businesses. They can be reached at www.vedc.org or 818-907-9977

La Casita Verde is operated by Mount Washington Preschool and Child Care Centers, Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, that also operates the Harry Pregerson Child Care Center in the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles. Mt. Washington Preschool and Child Care Centers can be reached on the web at www.lacasitaverde.org or call Darlene Cabrera, Executive Director, at (323) 222-7114