Neighbors organizing in Morehead Hill to save 804-806 Jackson
A few months ago, I wrote about Healthy Start Academy's desire to demolish historic housing in the Morehead Hill neighborhood to expand their school campus. The Herald-Sun profiled the nascent effort by the surrounding neighbors to protect their neighborhood from the school's expansion plans.
Predictably, the school director frames the debate as save-some-old-dilapidated-houses versus save-the-children. Like any good salvo in an argument, there is an element of truth to it; playgrounds and physical activity are good for children. If the school really intends to build a playground rather than just more parking, they might encourage more physical activity in the youth that attend the school.
But it isn't a dichotomous choice, really. Is it necessary to place whatever it is that the school wants in place of these houses? Are there other options for a playground? Could the school replace some of its asphalt parking lot with a playground instead? Could it contribute to the renovation of the Burch Avenue Park two blocks away, and use that instead? Could it partner with Immaculata for shared playground space? Could it use some of the area in front of the school - including some of the former Shepherd St. right-of-way adjacent to the freeway?
Hardly an extensive list of options, but the point is that the notion that these two houses represent the only obstacle to prevention of the 'obesity epidemic' in Durham's youth is misleading. These houses aren't spectacular manses, but they are integral to holding together the fragile historic fabric on the north edge of the historic district - compromised so heavily in the past by the freeway and the prior expansion of Immaculata and Temple Baptist.
The neighbors have started a petition - feel free to sign if it's something that you agree with.
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3 comments:
Please sign the petition so the neighborhood can have more time to work out a win-win solution with the school.
Yes, please do sign the petition... it looks like the neighborhood is doing ok in the "arbitration process," as the academy seems to not have dotted their i's and crossed their t's when filing paperwork to have the structures demolished. If the academy's leaders weren't such bullies, they might have an easier time of it, but oh well.
An amusing note: at the hearing, when the subject of "demolition by neglect" was brought up, the woman speaking for the academy basically said "oh no, it's not 'demolition by neglect,' it's 'demolition by intent.'" Wow...
Take the historic piece out for a moment.
The six neighborhoods of Southwest Central Durham in partnership with Duke and the City, Habitat, Self Help and DCLT have focused attention on Jackson Street from Kent Street and Pauli Murray Place down to Shepherd Street and have placed 20+ low - moderate single families in affordable housing. As a result a once crime ridden street has attracted private investment in cottages along Jackson Street.
Is it not our duty, with some sense of community, to protect those families and the first time investment they have made?
Is it not in their best interest to help protect property value? Is the City interested in protecting its Tax base that is basis of support we give to Healthy Start?
Why is the fact that the enormous area, listed on the original site plan in 2001, mentioned as an alternative play area, not used for this purpose?
The historic piece is important but lets not lose focus on the issue of preserving community.
Do not let the historic piece (as important as it is) cause us to lose site of the negative impact this will have to work we have done with no clear positive result to Healthy Start.
This is not necessary. It is contrary to all development that is taking place in Durham today.
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