Good move forward
This is a good move on our part, and a cost-effective one too (if you're going to acquire property for public use, why not do it when the market should, in theory, drive prices down).
It's something that I've been hoping we'd do for quite while, that is set up alternative means of connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists along our major traffic corridors. The fact we get to do it by developing a greenway - and development buffer - is a bonus.
I will say this though with regard to allocating money toward greenspace purchases - if we can agree to put $750,000 of sales tax revenue aside per year for greenspace preservation, I'd like to see us consider putting $500,000 or so aside for affordable housing investments since the $100,000 per year we're doing under OneAthens, while noble, is quite small.
It's something that I've been hoping we'd do for quite while, that is set up alternative means of connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists along our major traffic corridors. The fact we get to do it by developing a greenway - and development buffer - is a bonus.
I will say this though with regard to allocating money toward greenspace purchases - if we can agree to put $750,000 of sales tax revenue aside per year for greenspace preservation, I'd like to see us consider putting $500,000 or so aside for affordable housing investments since the $100,000 per year we're doing under OneAthens, while noble, is quite small.
posted by Jmac at 7:28 AM
2 Comments:
"...Since the $100,000 per year we're doing under OneAthens, while noble, is quite small."
It could have kept the streetlights on which many (especially if you believe the comments on the blog at Online Athens) may be considered even nobler.
But what do you care now - it isn't your future property tax dollars at stake anymore. (just kidding)
Well...playing devil's advocate here, somewhat. My 'hood actually wants to reduce its street lights. Obviously stakeholder involvement slows down the process, but I would suspect Athens would get plenty of nominees if they asked for people to suggest lights that might not be necessary.
The placement of them seems a little arbitrary, anyway. There's one at the top of a hill, on a street where only 10 people live, around the corner from me. But an entire block that's heavily populated between my house and downtown doesn't have one. I wonder what criteria Athens used to make the cuts -- I'd hate to see the light in front of the local crack house turned off, but doubt it would make a difference crimewise for most of the rest of the neighborhood.
Post a Comment
<< Home