The old adage from real estate; Location, Location, Location is well known and factual. It's all about the location of the property that makes it valuable. How well does this concept translate to other parts of life? Perspective, perspective, perspective....it translates quite nicely. After all, everyone has their own perspective of each situation. This is one reason eye witness testimony is so difficult to use as hard evidence. What one person saw and believes to be true, could be different from another observer of the same situation. Where you're located physically or mentally when asked about something or observing something plays a significant role on your stance of the reality.
Take Union Square, Somerville for instance. The mayor instituted a new concept for parking streetside in this community. In the past all street parking was parallel or 45 degree parking spots that one PULLS into. The mayor modified this to change the 45 degree parking spots so one must BACK into them, similar to some places they have found in other cities around the country.
Mayor Joe says the new parking is working! Well, there are many who beg to differ on the definition of "working". The mayor applauds the fact that "initial data suggests that the pilot program to calm traffic, promote pedestrian and bicycle safety,... in Union Square is working as intended.". From Mayor Joe's "perspective", creating a slower area that affords more walking and biking and less driving is all positive. From many residents of the area, they're "perspective" is quite different. "This has got to be the most idiotic thing Somerville has ever done!", said by a local resident. This backing in concept has slowed traffic which translates into MORE traffic. Introducing even more pedestrian and bicycle traffic also slows traffic creating MORE traffic.
So the question that isn't being asked that should be, is: "At what point is the balance of maintaining safe pedestrian traffic sustainable while providing safe vehicular traffic without causing congestion?" This specific situation may have some initial positives from Mayor Joe's perspective, but he is elected by the individuals that use this area of the city and vote him in. Perhaps he should listen to the local residents and try to find some harmony that allows for safest possible situation with the least amount of impact on traffic and thus satisfying his constituents on all accords.
To read more on this situation visit:
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/union-square-back-in-parking-is-working-says-city?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001
- Design is what you make it.
Showing posts with label Union Square. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Union Square. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Affordable Housing, is it a good idea?
The Story:
Union Square in Somerville, MA is struggling with a common issue in today's societal and political world. How do we appease the voters on both sides of the story while allowing private companies to create jobs and help boost the economy? The Somerville Community Corporation purchased an unused Boy & Girls Club building and want to renovate the space into 40 affordable apartments, some of which will be Section 8 housing. Section 8 housing is designated for those individuals / families that can not otherwise afford housing due to low income and thus receive government assistance. Affordable units is an industry term in real estate to describe reduced rent apartments to allow families with an opportunity to support themselves by paying a reduced rent compared to the open market.
The battle going on in this story is a struggle between those who would like to allow the project to move forward, provide housing to low income families that need a place to live, as well as provide additional jobs to perform the construction renovation. This project would also help workers across the country because a single construction project of this size can directly or indirectly affect thousands of workers. From factory workers producing the thousands of materials needed in order to complete the project, to the truckers who are essential to delivering the construction materials to the stores and job site, to the food vendors that make their living selling break and lunch time food to the workers. It's a big deal even for a small project like this one.
On the flip side, there are homeowners that are concerned about the societal impact from 40 new apartments entering the market, designated to families of lesser means. They're concerned the already dense living situation in Somerville (the most densely occupied city in Massachusetts), will become even more dense without any relief to assist in transporting all these new tenants. The city was promised (nearly 30 years ago) the state would extend the T line and improve bus routes, to date, there is talk about cancelling the T plans due to costs and transportation deficits as well as cutting back on bus routes and leaving the city without many options.
The concerned residents in this community are the voice for many towns and cities throughout the country. They are villified, made out to be heartless cruel individuals that think of themselves first before helping those that may be in need. The politicians are caught between helping the project move forward and risk upsetting the existing base, or help the project and upset those in favor of the project. Keep in mind, while all this is going on, there is a private corporation that just wants to use it's right to make money and build the project.
Where do you stand? Is this an easy answer? Do we need to reinvestigate how housing is provided for those who can not afford it? Should we close the door to them and say, "if you can't afford living here, move elsewhere; that's what I have to do if I want to better my situation"? Let me here your thoughts. This isn't a problem that's going to go away soon...and may be coming to your town next!
For more on this, follow the link to the original article.
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/affordable-housing-proposal-in-union-square-causes-conflict
- Design is what you make it.
Union Square in Somerville, MA is struggling with a common issue in today's societal and political world. How do we appease the voters on both sides of the story while allowing private companies to create jobs and help boost the economy? The Somerville Community Corporation purchased an unused Boy & Girls Club building and want to renovate the space into 40 affordable apartments, some of which will be Section 8 housing. Section 8 housing is designated for those individuals / families that can not otherwise afford housing due to low income and thus receive government assistance. Affordable units is an industry term in real estate to describe reduced rent apartments to allow families with an opportunity to support themselves by paying a reduced rent compared to the open market.
The battle going on in this story is a struggle between those who would like to allow the project to move forward, provide housing to low income families that need a place to live, as well as provide additional jobs to perform the construction renovation. This project would also help workers across the country because a single construction project of this size can directly or indirectly affect thousands of workers. From factory workers producing the thousands of materials needed in order to complete the project, to the truckers who are essential to delivering the construction materials to the stores and job site, to the food vendors that make their living selling break and lunch time food to the workers. It's a big deal even for a small project like this one.
On the flip side, there are homeowners that are concerned about the societal impact from 40 new apartments entering the market, designated to families of lesser means. They're concerned the already dense living situation in Somerville (the most densely occupied city in Massachusetts), will become even more dense without any relief to assist in transporting all these new tenants. The city was promised (nearly 30 years ago) the state would extend the T line and improve bus routes, to date, there is talk about cancelling the T plans due to costs and transportation deficits as well as cutting back on bus routes and leaving the city without many options.
The concerned residents in this community are the voice for many towns and cities throughout the country. They are villified, made out to be heartless cruel individuals that think of themselves first before helping those that may be in need. The politicians are caught between helping the project move forward and risk upsetting the existing base, or help the project and upset those in favor of the project. Keep in mind, while all this is going on, there is a private corporation that just wants to use it's right to make money and build the project.
Where do you stand? Is this an easy answer? Do we need to reinvestigate how housing is provided for those who can not afford it? Should we close the door to them and say, "if you can't afford living here, move elsewhere; that's what I have to do if I want to better my situation"? Let me here your thoughts. This isn't a problem that's going to go away soon...and may be coming to your town next!
For more on this, follow the link to the original article.
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/affordable-housing-proposal-in-union-square-causes-conflict
- Design is what you make it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
