San Gabriel’s historic Mission District is alive with large development projects and remodels reflecting the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to the American-dream realized by generations of San Gabrielinos.

Leading the way is the Gardens at Mission San Gabriel project at 400-412 W. Mission Road. The first major project completed under the Mission District Specific Plan, the Gardens had its grand opening in November 2008, with over 50 people in attendance to preview the stylish courtyard town homes.

Elegantly designed in the traditional Spanish Colonial Revivalist style, these 22 residential units surround gracious courtyards on a 1.37-acre site. Inflatable Water Slide Gardens at Mission San Gabriel is located in the beautiful and historic San Gabriel Mission District, only moments away from a wide selection of fine restaurants, shopping, schools, a public golf course, live theatre, city hall, parks and churches.

Like many of the opportunities available in San Gabriel today, the story begins with a pioneering spirit. The property is owned by Jim Poulos and Ann and Terry Cedar, and it was their grandparents, French immigrants, Leoncie and Pierre Nouguier, who originally settled in San Gabriel in the late 1800s and farmed the land. They also sold fruit and vegetables by horse-drawn cart throughout the area. With their profits and Leoncie’s interest in establishing the family’s economic future, they began buying land and building homes. Their grandson, Jim Poulos, grew up in San Gabriel in the 1930s and 1940s, and stayed to raise a family of his own where Mission Gardens now stands.

Now over 100 years later, the Poulos and Cedar families have been instrumental in the
development project and great-grandson, Bill Poulos, recalled many fond memories of growing up in San Gabriel and family stories of his great grandmother “arranging the furniture so they could clearly see the mission from their living room”.

To honor the family matriarch, many units have a full view of the beautiful San Gabriel Mission in addition to three bedrooms and two and one-half bathrooms, luxurious master suites, two car direct access garages and beautiful roof top terraces. “Every detail has been carefully chosen to compliment the architecture of the Mission District and the landmark that has played such an important role in their lives and the history of California”, stated Bill Poulos.

For the Poulos/Cedar families, pride of ownership has been a family legacy and the Gardens at Mission San Gabriel has been a labor of love. With families in mind, units are roomier ranging from 2,005 to 2,615 square feet of dwelling space, with prices starting at a modest $498,800. For information and tours of Mission Gardens, contact Ellen Fu Crosby, Coldwell Banker George Realty, at 626.822.0833 or ellenfu@coldwellbanker.com or visit www.missiongardenssg.com.

Other development projects in the Mission District include “Mission Village” a boutique
hotel with retail and restaurant space, “Lunas”, a family-style Mexican restaurant which opened in late-January, and “Mission Villa”, a three-story mixed-use development project. For more information about these and other development opportunities in the Mission District, contact economic development manager Jennifer Davis at 626.308.2806 ext. 4630, or jdavis@csgch.org or associate planner Grace Song at 626.308.2806 ext. 4626, or gsong@sgh.org.