Karen Forbes writes:
I wanted to pass on our block's ongoing frustration with the vacant lot at
3424 Columbus Av, which I discussed on this list last fall. As a brief
reminder, our block's wish was to have this MCDA owned property to be
purchased by PRG and have an affordable house built there. The MCDA at the
last minute decided to sell the lot to a private party. The MCDA and the
City Council both ignored our petition with over 20 signatures, our
numerous phone calls and personally addressing whatever committee was
deemed the responsibility of deciding this property's fate.
---------------------------
This sounds familiar....kind of like the way Brian Heron ignored the vast
majority of the blocks wishes on the Park Ave Methodist Church alley turn.
There was a petition, phone calls, and neighbors testifying at the Planning
commission meeting then. Brian's staff person came to that meeting, and
said that Brian wanted the approval for this partly because a minority
contractor was going to be doing the work. Brian has denied this in an
email to me, but I know what I heard at the Planning Commission meeting.
So I wonder where that staff member heard that. The staff person was a
young woman. I do not recall her name.
--------------------------------------
I would like to give an update on this property on our block. It is now
February 2001, six months since I appeared at the City Council committee
and the lot remains vacant and is still owned by the MCDA. In that six
months as we all know, more than a couple feet of snow has fallen and the
MCDA has not shoveled their sidewalk even once this past winter. A couple
of weeks ago I called MCDA staff member, Daryl Hall to inform him of the
neglect on their part of not shoveling the sidewalk. I asked the question
of why did someone have to call them to ask them to shovel the snow from
their sidewalk. Mr. Hall became a bit defensive and did assure me that he
would take care of the situation, even though it was it was not in his job
description. To Mr. Hall's credit, the very next day I saw the MCDA truck
with the six foot plow on the front and a person with an ice pick on the
property ready to take care of the job. After a few minutes the truck
became stuck on the sidewalk and needed to be towed.
-----------------------------------------------
This is rather odd. Now I would think dispatching a kid with a shovel
might be simpler. Has Council Member Heron been of any assistance with
this? Or maybe the CNIA with the current leadership might want to take
this one on?
-------------------------------------------
Needless to say the sidewalk has yet to be shoveled. The same day I called
MCDA to report the neglect I also called public works about the sidewalk.
What they said was that they have had a problem with MCDA owned properties
and getting the snow removed.
------------------------------
Why did MCDA buy a lot that the neighborhood wanted to have an affordable
house built on? Now I thought affordable housing was a big priority for
our Mayor. Wasn't that what her letter said?....
---------------------------------
This situation brings many questions to my mind. First, is using a truck
with a six-foot plow to shovel a sidewalk reasonable and legal? The six-
foot plow is much wider than the sidewalk so if they had not gotten stuck
as they did, they ran the risk of damaging property. Another question I
have is why do neighbors have to call the MCDA and tel them to abide by a
city ordinance of removing snow form their property? Why is the MCDA not
held to the same standard as any other property owner? Frankly, I am
infuriated that this inept organization is allowed to squander our tax
dollars. I suppose if the MCDA was a private company we would be bailing
them out.
------------------------------
Well the MCDA isn't the first inept organization to squander our tax
dollars, and won't be the last. I think this is a good clear story that
illustrates a few problems. It would be nice if candidates for Mayor could
comment on this story. Is this typical MCDA or is this a totally untypical
situation?
Anyway, I'm interested. Are there others on this list who have similar
stories about the MCDA. This sounds like a good story for the I team, or
dimension.
Eva Young
Central
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