UrbanCurse by Nicholas Carron
 
12 months ago
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4 comments: 4 comments
@njcarron 12 months ago
The demolition on South Parsons Avenue between Innis and Reeb Avenues started in the late 2000's when a relatively new building that houses the areas essential health clinic went down due to faulty construction. A small IGA grocery store and the historic original Schottenstein's department store (eventually known as the Value City chain) soon followed in the summer of 2008, with the long standing Mayor Coleman proclaiming, "This is the beginning of the transformation of Parsons Avenue. Redevelopment of this site will serve as a catalyst for the Greater Parsons Avenue Vision Plan that we created with area residents, bringing more businesses and jobs to this commercial corridor." In the Spring of 2011, in the final months I lived on the south side, a plan was announced to demolish or renovate dilapidated buildings and homes to make way for affordable housing and mixed use business opportunities, including a new health clinic. By the Fall of 2011, I was able to document the extensive #UrbanCurseRedevelopment process in this area. I am unsure when or if the ground will eventually break as promised. It remains to be seen if the initiative actually has the hope and incentive to being the corridor to life.
@jinx 12 months ago
thank you for sharing this story...i read it hoping for a happy ending although i know that town planners vision is always hampered by budgets rather than the changes it will make in people's lives....
@njcarron 12 months ago
Kaaren : Budgets, Politics and (in this case) meeting a deadline to come up with a plan to spend federal dollars given specifically to this area. without a real plan to deal with the larger issues, merely building low income housing and business space (with the hopes it attracts something besides dollar stores and fast food) has proven to be a band-aid in the past.
@jinx 12 months ago
in other words Nicholas those people who should have benefiitted have been the sacrificial lambs..so sad...