Torn between two lovers, my turn to complain about gov't

... or should I be praising local government instead?

A long time back, if memory serves, I wrote about locals that were pushing incredibly hard to keep the area near where I live rural and prevent the development of a shopping area that would be anchored by a Target store (for those not familiar, Target is a K-Mart/Wal*Mart type store).

There was much complaining about those plans, even though the plans were legal, were intended to use land that was properly zoned and would have been done in accordance with area development plans (though the anti-Target crowd would argue otherwise).

Today I received the weekly copy of the incredibly local newspaper and find that the lead story there was on a plan that has been hatched up by the County Executive to have the county purchase the land from the developer and keep it permanently as an open space, park-land type area.

On the one hand I'm very happy that the land should remain as open space that will serve as host to wildlife, and will continue to be there with leafy green trees, and sometimes marshy ground. I really didn't think that the area that had been choosen for the Target site was the best area for that type of business and development. In fact, I think the developers were being somewhat stupid considering that there is land with former Tobacco warehouses on it that basically sit empty at this time less than a mile away from the originally proposed site. To me the perfect solution to everyones problem would be that the developers got control of the land with the warehouses on it and used that land to wipe out the eye-sore warehouses that sit with "For Lease" signs on them.

If that happened the developers would be doing everyone a favor by very significantly upgrading the quality of business on that land. The locals would still have their open space, and rural feeling in the poorly chosen area, and yet other locals (like me) that want some business in the area could have enjoyed the ability to shop locally.

I suppose the County Executive may have these sorts of plans up his sleeve, and if he does that congratulations to him. Everyone really does win if that is the case. As is, the county exec and self appointed local civic association are claiming a win-win. I'm not so sure it's a win-win, but I do acknowledge that using the land for it's new intended purposes is probably for the best.

Now my only real complaint is that my tax money will be going to the county's purchase of the property. Thankfully once they do buy it there won't be any need to spend more money on upkeep as the intention is to keep the land as is and let mother nature do her thing.

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Have you lived there all your life? If so, it is a bummer. If not, - last one in close the door.

I know of what you speak. But unfortunately, we can not stop this stuff. We can only direct it. Hopefully we can do the latter well.

My previous home is in the middle of that stuff. I guess karnac should be so lucky. if you see green, it will be used. Unless you buy way out! Then your children willl, but you will be spared.

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Have you lived there all your life? If so, it is a bummer. If not, - last one in close the door.

Not quite all my life, but for a long, long time now. My wife and I have lived in this park (park as in mobile home park, community, etc.) for 20+ years now. Considering my age, well, lets call it about half my life

Years and years ago the Tobacco warehouses I mentioned were busy places and didn't look the blights they do now. I had previously mentioned (in older articles on the subject) that the area I live now is a bit blighted because of apparent greed on the part of the landlords and property owners in the area. There is a pad site with a former Dash-in (mini-mart, Seven Eleven type place) on it. It's been empty for about 5 years now with no takers in sight for renting it and using for any thing at all.

Across the street from that site is a former hardware store. Small corner store type. It was formerly an Ace hardware, but in name only. More like "Moe's tavern, Moe speaking." All of 2 main aisles, and 2 small aisles on either side of the cash register area that led into the "screw room" (more like bolts and screws room). They went out of business because they couldn't afford the ever increasing rent fees and/or because they never paid the fees that they were being charged. Whatever the case, abandoned building for going on 3 years now.

The Tobacco warehouse I mentioned, about 4 or 5 years running.

To put it into perspective, the site with the Tobacco warehouse could probably hold about 90% of the proposed site that was going to be used for Target. The adjacent land hosts businesses that I would think could be encouraged to sell out cheaply or at a minimum partner up with the Target developers so that they could build a new version of their old business (one of the adjacent business owners has a crappy car wash {fully automated and manual spray type} and Citgo service station combined on it, it's pretty much the only viable business there). The only other adjacent lot that I would think might be involved in such a plan has been through about 13 different businesses in about 20 years, none of which ever lasted. It's been under development as an Animal hospital for ages now, and never seems like it's making any progress.

Like I said, almost enough land just in the one Tobacco warehouse. If the development group bought both warehouses, they'd have almost enough land for a Mall of America sized development. So, why haven't they done it? Darned if I know. Sure seems to make the most sense to me.

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