Saved!

MONTEREY PARK - A 50-year-old drive-thru dairy was saved from destruction last night after the owner gathered about 1,000 signatures in opposition to a city plan to build a fire station in the convenience store's place.

The City Council voted unanimously last night after two hours of discussion to abandon the proposed station site, moving instead to study possible construction of a new fire station at nearby George Elder Park.

"The residents have spoken," Councilman Mitchell Ing said before making a motion to "leave the dairy alone."

The Alta Dena Dairy, at 2200 S. Garfield Ave., was purchased by the city in 2006 with the intent of building a replacement structure for the aging, obsolete fire station a few blocks north.

The park site was previously studied as a potential location, but the dairy site was deemed preferable, officials said.

Residents and the family of Kimberly Yu, owner of the Alta Dena Dairy business and a tenant on the property, rallied against the city's plan. Many of them spoke last night and at the previous council meeting Feb. 20, saying they depend on the dairy and that it fosters a sense of community.