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I guess it's just a matter of perspective. I don't think 20 units constitutes a "massive" housing component, and I don't see those units adding in any notable way to the current perception problem you mention. What you need is a positive show of commitment by the city (street cars!), not just the negative of killing a school+housing project. No one wins in that case: the kids don't get the school they need and the neighborhood still isn't getting the development investments it needs. (If the school dies, the art center is STILL not happening, after all. Let's just admit that and move on...) This doesn't accomplish anything, so I don't get the opposition. It just doesn't seem like it's worth the effort.

And I don't understand why a school were kids are scattered to the wind at 3 pm is better than one where the teaching and counseling and structure and support goes on 24 hours a day (since it's only the housing you oppose). I didn't mean the school has a good track record of simply running useful social programs, I meant a good track record of getting kids to turn their lives around by providing focused job training. This isn't a parking lot for troubled kids, after all, trying to keep them out of trouble and nothing more. It's actively transitioning them into being good adults, and the kids aren't forced to be there by the state. As community-minded residents of the neighborhood they will add to the demand for retails and other businesses, which appears to also be a factor in the current lack of growth, no? Another difference in perspective, I guess.

Anyway - clearly you're not going to change your mind. I obviously don't expect my internet ramblings to accomplish that. But I do think those who oppose the school need to get real about what's truly standing in the way of neighborhood growth in general and the real alternatives for that building in particular. Punishing these kids - and yes, that IS what you're effectively doing - isn't going to make your neighborhood better or address the problems you keep mentioning, so why do it?

by anony on Jan 24, 2011 2:10 pm • link • report