Family upset over plans to demolish street named after war hero

GUADALUPE, Calif. - A plan to demolish a Guadalupe street named for a war hero is moving forward. The site is set to be developed for new housing.

The plans for Escalante Street have the Escalante family very upset.

It's named after Augustin Escalante who was a veteran of World War II.

The war hero was Trinidad Escalante's uncle.

“This is something my uncle fought for and it was given to him. You know, he didn't really fight for this street but he fought for this country,” said Trinidad Escalante.

Plans are to tear down the old public housing and build a new 80-unit complex.

“The street that's their now is not conducive to do all the things we proposed. One of the things is to create a community center and a daycare center that would serve not only our product but for the community at large,” said Larry Deese of the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara.

One of the key concerns for the family is that the the street would no longer be owned by the city.

“My hope is that the street remains with his name on it and that his sacrifice is not in vein you know. this is in remembrance so our family will remember as well as the citizens of Guadalupe,” Trinidad said.

The housing authority met with the Escalante family this week to talk through their concerns.

“I had a conversation with the mayor of Guadalupe and he's agreed to meet with us along with the postmaster and the family to see if we can work out a solution to the street's name as well as who owns the street,” said Bob Havlicek of the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara.

The community cherishes the history of Escalante Street. Augustin Escalante was one of our first who was killed in the war,” said mayor Ariston Julian of the City of Guadalupe.

The housing developers plan to name the new complex Escalante Meadows.