BY JUAN VASALLO

West Covina is about to get new apartment buildings and two new condominium communities that are sure to bring in a huge number of people. There are even two being built right next to each other. One is being built where there used to be a school and a playground.

The Colony at the Lakes is the one getting the most attention; it’s conveniently located right across the street from the movies and just a few blocks from the mall. These apartments are the most luxurious of the three being built. It will have several room options that range from $1,719 to $2,593, making them one of the most expensive apartments in West Covina.

“I think it’s good that the apartments are being built because they look nice and it will make the area better by adding in nice apartments,” senior Nick Solorio said. “Although they are expensive, they look really good.”

These improvements in West Covina are beneficial to the community as a whole. With an increased population and revenue, it can lead to increased police patrols. This can be bad do to police harassment, but let’s just assume that it would be a good thing.

Usually gentrification is seen as a bad thing but here it does more good than bad. It could raise property values in surrounding areas, making it harder to afford, but it provides many more benefits as well.

The townhomes built on Valinda Ave. and Service Ave. were built where homeless people would live, so when the projects were to begin, they kicked them out. This has led to more homeless people out in the streets of West Covina.

However, this is just another consequence of urban development. These new homes will house more families and strengthen to community at the cost of gentrifying lower class neighborhoods.