"..in the hope that, one day, developers will see vacant lots as a land of opportunity."
Posted on 04/18/2016 8:44:37 PM PDT by ghosthost
The city of Baltimore worked to tear down thousands of homes on Monday in an effort to lift itself out of decades of urban decay. The city and state are paying millions for demolition in the hope that, one day, developers will see vacant lots as a land of opportunity.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
"..in the hope that, one day, developers will see vacant lots as a land of opportunity."
Not as much as a liberal Dem city government will see them as the land of opportunity to extract fees from anyone foolish enough to build on them.
Don’t forget to install smoke alarms.
Next...Detroit...Then Chicago...
Traveling through baltimore via train I used to be amazed at the number of buildings which were neglected but otherwise appeared to be structurally sound (from a distance). i’m surprised that removing them creates more opportunity than keeping them.
It is a good move. Public funds well spent. Seriously.
old buildings aren’t the biggest problems in baltimore. unless you can also demolish the crime rate, the poverty rate, the teen pregnancy rate, and the illiteracy rate, you won’t accomplish very much.
the place will look a little less cluttered, but it will still be a hell hole.
But I thought liberals are against gentrification. If their plans succeed, then a higher class of people will move in, and existing ghetto residents will be forced out.
CVS can build the biggest drugstore in the world.
Neglected properties to be replaced and filled with the same people who neglected them.
Seriously?
I don’t think they have to worry about a higher class of people moving in
“...i’m surprised that removing them creates more opportunity than keeping them.”
Hint: They’re not going to replace them with tenements or Section 8 housing, I bet. (Can you say “Gentrification?” :)
The hard part, of course, will be to convince anyone to move there with the surviving parts of Baltimordor so close.
I agree - it can be a big risk buying an old building. Asbestos, old fuel tanks, lead paint, etc. Plus I imagine many of those old buildings are draw squatters and other undesirables.
And let the locals use the vacant lots as community gardens until a developer buys. Just make sure they understand that. But maybe that is impossible. “But you can’t put up a nice building here. This is our beloved Community Garden!!”
So we tear down the homes of the ghetto dwellers and build new homes for ghetto dwellers? Sounds reasonable.
Meanwhile, residents of eastern New Orleans are still whining that no new commercial development has occurred in that area, since the Katrina debris was cleared. News flash: the area was demographically down the tubes well before the storm surge hit. Crime was through the roof, retailers had pretty much already closed their doors. It was a sea of payday loan shops and furniture rental vendors - and not much else. Just like Baltimore.
Once you make it a park, always a park. Same goes for community garden to some degree I agree with you. Your other points are also right on the money. Very correct.
Post 14 explains it very well.
How much does a block cost?
I may buy one for my grandchildren to turn into junk yard.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.