Weekend Roundup
There have been a lot of interesting stories floating around this week; I haven't had time to highlight them along the way, but they are worth mentioning with a bit of delay.
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I'm excited that this weekend the folks at Uplift East Durham and Preservation Durham are teaming up to do a tour of some East Durham houses and help introduce people to a neighborhood that, despite NIS teardowns, retains a wonderful stock of historic houses and its once-separate-village feel when you walk down Driver St. to the old commercial district. It is an urban gem, and no group has done more than Uplift to emphasize that it is a beautiful part of our Durham just as much as anything on the west or north sides. Kudos goes to Jim Wise for publicizing the event in the N&O. More details at Uplift East Durham's website
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The city council may have learned a bit about the pitfalls of land transfers without public communication, as several council members expressed displeasure at DHA for springing the need to receive immediate options on city owned parcels on Morning Glory Ave. in order to qualify for funds, but that didn't stop the council from resounding approval. The logic of some on the dais was that DHA would need to seek approval for rezoning, which is a dodge - it essentially requires the public to fight against density rather than the wisdom of the use. It is yet another multi-unit (20 in this case) complex for 'special-needs' homeless folks - one would hope that DHA would be carefully planning the placement of such units given their huge investment and radical facelift across the street, but I'm not confident. I can confidently say that assurances that neighbors support the project are b.s. - only one person I spoke to yesterday had even heard about it. It still seems like we don't hear enough about DHA getting land near councilmembers' houses in Hope Valley.
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At the other end of the socioeconomic spectrum, the city made a wise choice to approve the Crossmans' plans for a B&B in the former King's Daughters home on North Buchanan. It was refreshing to see the gated community kookiness of a some TP residents did not rule the day this time, and crazy demands for valet parking and the like were brushed off. It's really the best adaptive reuse of this large historic structure.
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The N&O has two excellent articles today - one on under appreciated civil rights photographer Alex Rivera, whose photographs are showing at the NC Museum of History. I mentioned Mr. Rivera last Monday in my MLK post, and the short-sightedness of North Carolina Central in continuing to push to tear down his house across from the campus.
The second article is about the success of light rail thus far in Charlotte. Why groups like Locke and Reason have a particular froth-at-the-mouth obsession with rail over say, defense spending or sub-prime mortgages is beyond me, but the story in the N&O points out, once again, that people not only ride rail, but because it is a fixed guideway (and not perceived as a noxious addition) it promotes economic investment. We've known this about rail for at least 150 years. I'll reiterate my push for an iterative rail system. Let's start in Durham with 2-3 cars, running between the aforementioned Angier + Driver and Ninth (or Duke Hospital, better yet) during some peak hours and special events. If it's successful (and it would be, as long as it wasn't gross mismanaged) build on success.
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9 comments:
with regard to the kings daughters home B&B, where exactly are people going to park? if i lived nearby i might be a bit concerned.
If you lived nearby you would have your own driveway, and plenty of places to park.
drcollins makes a good point; you would have a driveway. but really, where are guests going to park? just curious what their plan is. I drove by and there is barely an alley behind the building.
Whoa there on the Hope Valley Comment. We too are struggling with poor land planning and enforcement. There is a sky scraper going up on a teardown lot next door to a 1920's cottage in Hope Valley and the City has been no help at all to us.
We are not all wealthy out here, and are not well connected, apparently, either. There's enough urban neglect, greed, avarice, ego, and short sighted thinking for all of us to share here in Durham.The Markham Avenue - Monsein -Tate House comes to mind when thinking of greed and ego as well as several Hope Valley monstrosities.
Hope Valley is in the midst of its National Register study listing, soon its homes will be contributing structures in a National Register District, but I suspect we'll continue to have the thoughtless teardowns and financial pressures that affect all of Durham, black, white, poor or wealthy.
lwn
lwn
Sorry - agreed on land use planning problems. I don't mean to particularly pick on Hope Valley, which I know is trying to deal with teardowns. I was more intending to pick on particular council members who imply that neighborhoods are selfish and less humanist in some way for being distressed by such things - when those actions don't occur in the neighborhoods that those council members live in. But that isn't to say that other egregious land use problems aren't occurring in those neighborhoods. You are absolutely correct that the common denominator is poor planning and lack of well-thought-out policy. I'm sorry about the broad brush - thank you for reminding me of the primary malfunction.
GK
Gary,
As a lifelong resident of Hope Valley am am brought to tears when I see the callous disregard for history, beauty, proper land use and sanity in our historic neighborhood (as well as the rest of Durham). There are what we call "inconsiderate newcomers" who toss money around and impose their will on us all because the City is unwilling or unable to reign in their excesses. These are the same folks who use that money to buy off their "friends" to keep them quiet as they plan their next atrocity! I am a huge fan of you and your blog! Keep it up! Nuff said.
lwn
Mary & Anonymous - The King's Daughters purchased a vacant portion of a neighboring lot, upon which we will place a parking lot. We are planning 13 on-site parking spots, while preserving as many of the stately oaks as possible. In addition, we have an off-site agreement in place with Hall-Wynne funeral home.
-Colin Crossman
No City Council members live in Hope Valley. And some of us live near group homes.
Mike Woodard
Sorry, should have written "500 feet from Hope Valley" or "1400 feet from the green at Hope Valley Country Club Golf Course". I regret the error.
I would assume that living in proximity to group houses is one reason why you respect your constituents and their opinions on the matter, even when you may disagree with them. I've never heard you voice a patronizing or dismissive word to a constituent. Which is why most people I know, and I include myself, respect you a great deal as a fair and honest representative who goes above and beyond to gather data and participate in the public process rather than forming your judgments at the outset.
GK
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