Contrary to recent commentary, no one is trying to exclude renters from the proposed Pedestrian-Residential (PR) District (a new designation for a several block radius around the central business district). In fact, there are many rental units in the proposed PR District already, and nothing currently, or under discussion, prevents single family houses from being converted to rentals. The misimpression that this is an issue may have come from several speakers venting frustration at City Council for failing to hold irresponsible landlords to code.
Instead there are two main issues with the proposed PR District. First, although there are already businesses in the proposed PR District, the new proposal wants to vastly expand business opportunities throughout the district. There is no data presented to show need for this, or business models for the success of a small corner grocery store versus Kroger, for example, or the possible effect of this on the continued success of the existing downtown central business district. Residents’ concerns regarding increased traffic, on-street parking, noise, litter, and possibly smell (if a restaurant, for example) have been dismissively pushed aside by City Council.
Second, the proposed PR District calls for replacing single family homes with duplexes (two floor, two unit, small apartments). It would be permissible to purchase a house on a 60-foot wide property, tear it down, split the property into two 30-foot wide properties, and build two duplexes 5 feet from the sidewalk, and 5 feet between units. The consultant sent an e-mail to us saying he wants Bowling Green to “look like Chicago.” I can provide photographs of typical North Chicago neighborhoods with exactly these property dimensions. There are few shade trees. Parking is on-street, permitted parking (pay a fee for a permit). Some units have backyards. Others have a yard filled by a garage. Still others have no yard at all, with a second duplex directly behind the first. Apparently, that is the goal of the proposed PR District.
I would point out that the proposed “Pedestrian-Residential District” does nothing for pedestrians (more sidewalks, more cross-walks, better cross-walk enforcement, designated bike lanes, etc.) or for existing residents (enforcing speed limits, reducing traffic, enforcing noise and nuisance ordinances, etc.) There is no data to argue this plan would increase the availability of affordable housing. It is all a social experiment conducted at the expense of existing residents.
The residents arguing with City Council are almost entirely middle-income, senior citizens who have invested a significant part of the financial worth into their homes, and have spent a lot to maintain and improve those homes, typically over decades. They hope to recoup that investment at some future time when trying to afford the cost of senior living somewhere. It is an act of desperation to try to smear those residents are NIMBYs or anti-renter or exploiting anyone.
For some reason, City Council is rushing to finish this very controversial proposal, which would change the neighborhoods of thousands of BG residents, impact their property values and taxes, and ability to ultimately sell their properties. Please read the plan and contact your members of City Council. Thank you.
Jim Evans
Bowling Green
