Quote:
Originally Posted by sdperry
Since I bought in Sherman Heights I've been talking with people on the Historic Resources board. Here is an excerpt from a member's email:
"Hey, some good news coming your way: CCDC has agreed to pay for
lighting on the Island and J Street bridges over I-5 from Sherman
Heights to the East Village. I took Nancy Graham and CCDC staffers on
a long walking tour last month to see how we can better work together
on mutually beneficial items. CCDC agreed to take responsibility to
add lighting, plus we're seeing if we can get "landscaping" (i.e.,
maybe potted trees) and pedestrian pop-outs for greater safety. This
lighting will help squash any dumping or bad news on those bridges,
plus make it safer when we walk to the ballpark. The bid for this work
will out out in about January 2008, with results starting in about
April 2008. I'll keep you posted on that. We're also trying to get
CCDC to buy the lot at 19th & Island for a gated park, since the
decking over the highway for parkland is in the Downtown Community Plan
Update."
It's good to see that CCDC cares about the safety of those bridges, because it means they care about a walkable neighborhood and connecting to the surrounding areas. It's a great step, but I can't wait for those freeway lids! However, since they require federal money, it could 10-15 years before those get built. I need to ask her if the work CCDC is planning for April 2008 included replacing the fences on those overpasses too, because they sorely need it.
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This is actually very upsetting to me. As a resident of East Village, and the number of public works project that our community requires, (cross walks, street cleaning, grafiti removal) it is absurd that CCDC would even consider using our tax dollars to fund your desires. The reason why that area, (Sherman Heights, Logan Heights, Grant Hill etc.) cannot afford to maintain its ifrastructure, is because the community leaders will not accept higher densities to support it. Downtown can afford street repair/improvement because we have the density to support it.
By the way, there is no way CCDC would ever by a plot of land for a gated park in that area. For one, there is an SRO hotel across the street, and it would turn in to a drug hang-out. Second, if Sherman Heights can't even afford to pay for basic street upkeep, how are they going to pay for the maintenance of that park. Redevelopment law does not allow CCDC to pay for any maintenance, even within downtown.
Believe me, I would love to see that area revitalized as well as you would, but the community leaders need to accept the fact that it cannot flourish as a single family neighborhood and bring in moderate densities (50-100 DU / ACRE)
CHEERS