Paul Lambie wrote: >Dave Polaschek wrote: > > >If a developer knocks on your front door and says, >"Good evening sir or ma'am. I'm going to redevelop >the parcel of land right across the street. Would you >prefer that I build "affordable" apartments that will >be occupied by low-income residents or expensive >condominium units that will be occupied by >upper-income residents?" Honestly, which would you >choose? > Actually, I'm within a very few years of being asked exactly that question, since my house is the only house which abuts Lake Street between Lake Calhoun and 37th Av. So. The answer to your question, when I'm asked, with be "neither." On Lake St. I'd be happy to have more housing. I'd like to see store fronts with living quarters above. People around me are learning, both natives and immigrants, how to be shop keepers in America. The housing could be affordable, and the shops as well. Lake Street's petty criminals would find that merchants had eyes on the streets and alleys 24-7. There would be more intentional foot traffic using the storefronts, coming home from school, having visitors--and having a real interest in keeping the area tidy, doing the 911 on some folks, etc. I actually don't want to live next door or surrounded by wealthy people despite the fact that my home's value would skyrocket, but probably only if I sold it to someone who would knock it down. It's not about who they might be or whatever, but about liking the rythm of a working class neighborhohood in a city. For 40 years my uncle was dropped off by another railroad employee at 3:30 pm weekdays three blocks from his house at the end of a lane. When he turned the corner onto his block, we could hear him begin to sing, in a baratone voice so rich and clear, "Oh Genevieve, Sweet Genevieve..." to my Aunt Genevieve, who would, on that cue, begin cooking supper. Somehow I cannot fit that scenario, or any of a dozen others, into Apple Valley, or Maple Grove. WizardMarks, Central > > >Is it really any surprise that we don't see a huge >supply of "affordable" housing being developed? > >Paul Lambie >Lowry Hill > > > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax >http://taxes.yahoo.com/ >_______________________________________ >Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy >Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: >http://e-democracy.org/mpls > _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
