Atwater Avenue, located right on the border of Juniper Hill and Paradiso County, once showcased a rich culture and history dating back to the early 1950's. What was originally the birthplace for the African American middle class in San Fierro, Atwater Avenue had produced what many would call, the back bone of the under developed city. A reported 85% of all residents who used to reside on Atwater Avenue took up blue collar jobs in an effort to build San Fierro into a culturally thriving city which would rival Los Santos. Stretching from Saint France Boulevard to Whig Street West, the five mile strip of Atwater Avenue played host to a booming cultural renaissance and a powerhouse of a work force. At the turn of the 1980's, Atwater Avenue fell into a rapid decline. The gentrification of nearby neighborhoods funneled a majority of lower class San Fierro residents to the infamous high-rise apartment complex on the avenue's Eastern border.
Along with the population increase, came limited housing opportunities for forthcoming residents. Homelessness rose 5% on a yearly basis until stagnating in 1983, with a reported 17% of the residents in Atwater Avenue homeless. Families often fit five or six residents into homes designed for a single family. With the decline in quality of life, residents of Atwater Avenue advocated for the reconstruction of the McNeil apartment complex to grant them affordable housing for lower-income residents and more space for existing residents. Their voices were heard, in the late months of 1986, construction began on the McNeil apartments to add another 60 one bedroom apartments and give the building a much needed face lift. However, Atwater Avenue only continued to decline at the surprise of city officials. As the affordable apartments became available, Atwater Avenue saw another population boost which offset the effects of the construction. Ultimately having none of their issues solved, the residents called for a complete face lift of the street. City Council dismissed any motions of further development, citing the progress made with the apartment reconstruction at a relatively low cost compared to neighboring residential districts, leaving Atwater Avenue to decay.
With the escalation of population, came the birth of illegal activity and the rise of crime. In 1992, Atwater Avenue was regarded as a central hub for the majority of the drug trade in San Fierro, police having made 36% of their drug arrests on the avenue or surrounding neighborhoods. What good image Atwater Avenue once held was diminished by gentrification and the population spike in the McNeil apartment complex, which was severely overlooked by the city development committee. Residents quickly became disgruntled and held resentment towards the city for showing severe neglect towards the community who sacrificed loved ones and years of their life to construct San Fierro.
Atwater Avenue now plays host to a congregation of youth in San Fierro, carrying inter-generational anger towards the city for abandoning them and leaving their strip of life desolate, focusing on the upper-scale residential projects around the city instead. Gang activity has begun to see a growth spurt in recent years, graffiti covering a majority of the housing and garages which promotes local youth and cliques. The residents of Atwater Avenue had began to come together when the rest of San Fierro left them to fend for themselves, creating a strong, unique bond, enriched with the pride of past accolades.
Two Crips Held in Shooting of Five Bloods in Juniper Hill
July 03, 2016 | FRANK HOOVER | SFGate Staff Writer
Two gang members from West Side San Fierro were arrested Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder in a daylight shooting at a Atwater Avenue housing project that injured five members of another gang, Detective Cliff Baker of the Gangs & Narcotics Division had this to say;
"The men were arrested at a Juniper Hill residential motel that was being watched by officers acting on information provided by witnesses of the Thursday shooting. They arrived at the motel in a car that matched a description of the vehicle used in the shooting".
Arrested were Christopher Booker, 20, of West Side San Fierro, and George Fowler, 21, who Baker said had recently moved to Juniper Hill. They were being held without bail pending arraignment Wednesday.
"We're satisfied that these are the only two involved" in the shooting, Ruff said.
A search of Fowler's apartment turned up two handguns that police believe were used in the shooting. Although no drugs were found in the apartment, Baker said police believe the violence was prompted by a turf battle over drug sales.
