robzilla71173 t1_ivp4dka wrote
Reply to comment by Outrageous-Ad-2761 in Galloway zoning issue fails, blocking plans for development across from Sequiota Park by Cloud_Disconnected
Speaking for myself I saw it as a class warfare issue. The people of galloway aren't going to stand up to fight development in our neighborhoods. In fact, that corner of town sometimes drives the commercial development that encroaches on mine. We had the same problem with an apartment complex being built a few years ago uphill from us in our flood prone area and our protests fell on deaf ears. Since then we've had a factory move in that blocks the sunsets and drowns out the stars from the park where we used to watch them. The park itself is now being covered in astroturf, which will be great for the soccer parents who flock here from the other end of town but makes it pretty hard to enjoy for the people who bought houses next to it. I don't even know why they just bulldozed two acres of trees down the block from me but I assume it's a parking lot or strip mall. We don't get to fight those things and the people who do have the means to fight them don't really worry about them outside of their own neighborhood so it was hard to be asked to vote no to help them.
The No signs where I live are on commercial property. When the guy who owns a derelict gas station that attracts squatters yards away from where your kids play asks you to please vote to protect the sanctity of his house from the dangers of luxury apartments, it's hard to not get mad.
Embarrassed_Feed_145 t1_ivp96h7 wrote
this is where i stood too, it was really hard for me to have sympathy for them when they dont care about the actual problems. but on the other side, i felt we dont need more inaccessible housing, so i was pretty torn lol
robzilla71173 t1_ivpdzi3 wrote
I get that second thing. I wavered back and forth a bit at first and that might not have happened if it weren't about luxury apartments. But then again I think the neighborhood would have opposed it even more vigorously in that case. It just had a NIMBY feel to it from the beginning. Plus, they bought their houses when there was an active gravel quarry, I remember how loud and dusty that neighborhood used to be. So the argument that it would ruin their neighborhood seemed kind of hollow to me. Really this group and some of these discussions affected my opinion. I saw people talking about how this sort of thing didn't belong on that end of town and I kept wondering why it wouldn't. They put all that work into making it a walkable, inviting neighborhood and it seemed like they were now shutting it down for new people. I really am happy for the residents, now hopefully they'll carry some of that goodwill into my neighborhood when soccer season comes back and maybe they'll keep in mind that people live there who need to get around and don't enjoy old socks and trash all over the park. Hopefully.
the_honeyman t1_ivpjvjq wrote
They won't, I was told on this sub by the loudest voices against this proposal that if low income neighborhoods wanted to stop development they should pony up the resources to do it, otherwise tough shit.
robzilla71173 t1_ivpv86y wrote
We did fight it in my neighborhood. We just didn't have the means to take it to court or get it on a ballot. But we went to zoning meetings and it didn't matter. In my parents neighborhood a developer actually tore the windows and doors off the houses and told them they wouldn't finish demolition until the zoning change was approved.
the_honeyman t1_ivpy1pf wrote
Exactly. Nobody cares unless you have enough money to buy somebody. So fuck it, good for the goose, good for the gander and all that.
robzilla71173 t1_ivpuwmy wrote
I remember reading that comment and its when my no became a yes for sure.
the_honeyman t1_ivpxty3 wrote
Same. I was on the fence about it mostly until then, but the fucking audacity and arrogance put on display cemented my choice.
robzilla71173 t1_ivq747z wrote
It seems like any other day, this group wants more mass housing in walkable neighborhoods. Except just not their neighborhood?
WendyArmbuster t1_ivraa3a wrote
It may seem that way, but you've got to remember, most people don't want mass housing. No young kid says, "When I grow up I'm going to live in an apartment!" People look at the heat maps of reported crime and see the obvious relationship between high density apartments and rentals and crime. Nobody aspires to work in a call center, go home to an apartment, and spend their evenings taking mad bong rips and playing video games outside of the Reddit community. I mean, it was fun in college, but as an adult? Nobody wants that.
robzilla71173 t1_ivrcp5r wrote
The people in this group are who we're talking about. It's weird to watch the group think reverse course.
WendyArmbuster t1_ivrv7xf wrote
I don't think there's as many people who are for high density housing as it seems though. They're just loud about it. Even the ones who are for high density housing aren't really for luxury high density housing, especially when it's plopped right across from a favorite park.
Me personally, I hate apartments, and especially when they're placed in existing neighborhoods. I hate the lifestyle it forces the residents to endure. I hate the inability to earn equity on your housing budget. I hate how landlords get richer and tenants get nothing in the long term. I hate how they destroy the value and character of neighborhoods. I hate that you can't practice your trumpet or drums there, do woodworking projects, store your canoe, work on your own vehicle, build a skateboarding half-pipe, or grow a garden. I hate the consumer lifestyle apartments promote.
the_honeyman t1_ivqb8ju wrote
Bazinga.
robzilla71173 t1_ivp6xhi wrote
Yes, downvoting me for expressing my honest opinion really wins my heart and mind over to your cause.
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