Losing Green Space
By soccermom
@soccermom (3198)
United States
April 12, 2008 11:01pm CST
We were on the way up to my parents house today for my dads retirement party and I saw the craziest thing. There was a creek where there had not been one before. And I don't mean a man made drainage, but a flowing, natural creek. But to me this seemed awful unnatural. It has formed becasue there has been so much construction that there isn't as much "green space" as there used to be.
This is an argument to which my husband pointed out there was no winner to, but what if we imposed a moratorium on new construction? What if instead of putting up all these fancy new buildings (which sit half empty, at least where I live)we MADE people use the existing buildings? I thought it would lead to more neighborhood clean ups, and possible rejuvenations of areas that were deemed "dead" years ago.
Hubby quickly pointed out that alot of businesses that have contributed to our area would not be here had the area not been able to accommodate what they needed, which included land to build new structures, etc...
Anyway, here is my question...would you be willing to see your community miss out on jobs and tax revenue in order to preserve green space? Or do you thing the damage that we are doing to our surroundings is worth it?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I have always thought that they should just clean up areas that had fallen apart to put the new business into for alot are really in a business area and was good to the owners that might have passed away or something or take the old apartment buildings and fix them up if not fixable blow them down and rebuild.
I really think they need to stop builing as it take away the wild life habitat
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
14 Apr 08
We have so many empty buildings in our downtown area that it'd make your head spin. It's an absolute disgrace. Most of them have nothing wrong with them except that our area is starting to blend in with Chicago more and more, so the "prime" real estate for businesses is no longer downtown but along the interstate. It's very sad.
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
13 Apr 08
Your husband makes some good points. As do you. I must agree with the no winner to this one statement. It is a hard thing to choose from. Jobs are important. BUT So IS OUR PLANET. And I'd like for there to be some left for my daughter to enjoy. Guess that makes my vote for green space.
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
14 Apr 08
And that's what I told my husband, that it's a shame our kids aren't going to have the places to play that we did. When I was a kid I could ride my dirt bike from our town to the next, al on trails cut through woods and fields. Now that's all gone and there are condo's and strip malls. It kinda sickens me.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
16 Apr 08
In many state we have the oppsite problem. We have the state buying up land to the point some counties have more than 50% public land and increasing each year. One estimate is that it could reach 90% in a few short years. The problem is that the county is still responsible for the roads, water and sewer. It does put a drain on the citizens that remain in the county with very little business or jobs. We can have all the Green Land you want as soon as you move the people out.
We need to have a balance. It seems to me that the people who want Green Space are the ones who live in the large cities, but prefer it in someone else's backyard. We had one citizens group want the City to condemn the remaining lots in the sub development and force the developer to turn it into green space. It would have put a City Park in their back yard and difficult for other to come and use it. When they were asked why they didn't get together and buy the land they cited the cost involved but felt the developer had made his money back so he could afford to donate the land back to the city. This is typical liberal(based upon political yard signs) thinking, we need this and let someone else pay for it.
I want green space for myself and my family. I have purchased 60 acres of vacant land for my family to use for recreation. If I can do it then others should do it too and not turn to the tax payers or others to do it all the time.
1 person likes this
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
19 Apr 08
My husband says this same thing all the time. It's infuriating to see new construction go up when there are perfectly good buildings that could be renovated to accomodate new businesses. In my town they are building a brand new Rite Aid. It's going right across the street from the old Rite-Aid-- which they only built about 5 years ago!!
I sure hope they find a use for the old Rite-Aid building.
1 person likes this
