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I wrote that piece. I don't throw out the word "NIMBY" for anyone who disagrees with me.

You can see my definition in my above comments on this thread.

This post was about a my town's enthusiasm for new walkable development. This was not meant to deride anyone. My post was meant to have a positive tone to it, not deride someone else. I don't live in a historical overlayed zone. I live in a slowly reviving old walkable town that has a Metro station. And, I'm in favor of all that development coming close to my house. I want to be able to walk to everything. The section about raising the hackles of a NIMBY faction is from my real life experience with planning meetings. Every one I've been to has had a majority who want to see the shiny new amenities that are in walking distance of the Metro with a sizable minority who hate everything and are constantly changing the reasons why.

There are concerns that I understand. However, when I have very calmly used real life examples of why that concern is unfounded the response I get is a different, often contradictory reply. That kind of made me wonder why someone would oppose something using contradictory reasons. I wanted to know what such a motivation is. I did not think I was talking to an unintelligent person. Then why? I use the term "NIMBY" as a description for that kind of behavior.

No one on this blog wants to ruin someone else's neighborhood. I think the lessons of the '50s and '60s have shown the overwhelming negatives of that kind of approach.

by Cavan on Oct 14, 2008 2:40 pm • link • report