Column: Carbondale neighborhoods ‘ election
April 16, 2007
Carbondale’s residential neighborhoods – especially the older neighborhoods in the city’s heart, such as the Arbor District where we live – have been neglected for many years. Many neighborhoods are now bereft of schools, parks and most other amenities. The housing stock, largely given over to rentals, has become dilapidated and, in some cases, dangerous.
Realtors have often guided homebuyers into nearby towns and new developments, depressing our housing prices and robbing us of the vitality gained by fresh vision and energy.
Yet, this area holds enormous potential. Within walking distance of the two major employers – the University and Memorial Hospital – with easy access to City Hall and the downtown, it is one of the most desirable areas in Carbondale.
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Signs of increased community activism are everywhere. The recent successful opposition in the Arbor District to the CVS/pharmacy “big box store” underscores our determination to protect and rebuild our neighborhoods. Our northwest neighbors successfully defeated an attempt to sell Hickory Lodge.
Our neighbors appear to agree with writer Rod Dreher that the “Small and Local and Old and Particular are to be preferred to the Big and Global and the New and Abstract.”
Regardless of who is elected to be mayor and to the City Council, Park District, and school board this coming Tuesday, our neighborhoods will remain a central concern.
�Parents who visit Carbondale and SIUC with their daughters or sons must have an attractive “front door” to the university. The overall blight is a serious problem in recruitment of students.
�Students who move off campus must have safe, well-maintained and affordable housing.
�New residents must be able to find quality rentals and attractive homes to buy.
�Young families must be able to send their children to excellent schools.
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�Despite the fact that our neighborhoods are the most densely populated in the city, we have the fewest parks and green spaces.
�In one of the worst decisions of the last several decades, our neighborhoods were bisected by an east – west couple on Walnut and Main. Major highways should not race through our older residential and business districts. We should explore a bypass for the north of the city.
Unfortunately, irresponsible landlords have mined much of the older housing stock. Very few have invested significantly in these properties.
With the vigorous rental code inspection regime that all our City Council and mayoral candidates promise, the repair and upkeep of these houses may be too expensive for the current landlords. The City must have a pro-active plan to deal with the “transition.” A housing corporation should be set up by the city to raise funds and direct planned development.
We should explore a “magnet school” for elementary students that will attract children from all over Carbondale with a rigorous and demanding academic program. Carbondale was once renowned for the outstanding quality of its schools. It should be again.
We should re-examine the assumptions embodied in our zoning. Why shouldn’t mom and pop stores be allowed in our densely populated neighborhoods?
We encourage the model of the “New Urbanism” whose principles are “walkability, connectivity, mixed use and diversity, mixed housing, quality architecture and urban design, traditional neighborhood structure, increased density, smart transportation, sustainability and quality of life.”
The older parts of Carbondale were once our most vital, lovely and gracious. With imagination and significant private and public investments they will be once again.
D. Gorton and Jane Adams Gorton is a Carbondale resident and Adams is a professor of Anthropology.
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