by Pamela
The Morse streetscape plans are beautiful. So why did I find the meeting so depressing? So many people put such long and thoughtful hours into the plan. The citizen participation warms the heart.
But I’m still depressed. $3.7 million to prettify Morse is a lot of money to invest on a hope and a prayer that such efforts will somehow bring more/better business to Morse and thus chase away the bad businesses and bad guys. Nowhere, in the history of the world, has it been shown that putting the cart before the horse will get you down the lane. Beautification programs don’t magically bring business, nice as they may seem. Andersonville first had a thriving business community, then it got streetscaping. Devon has long had a thriving business community. Their streetscaping plan didn’t bring business. Business was already there. Their beautification program simply enhanced an already robust commercial area. Clark has robust businesses without pretty planters.
Further, the principals were unable to provide the upkeep costs. If I paid into that SSA I’d be a bit concerned about future increased fees but maybe I overly worry about future costs. I’d also be concerned that $3.7 million in taxpayer dollars (those are your and my dollars) will make for a pretty street but still we’ll have ugly businesses which won’t encourage new business. Last I checked no one can kick those businesses out provided they have a lease and pay rent on time and otherwise obey the law. If there is no attendant rise in business there will be no rise in sales tax collections. Yes, maybe the pretty street will lead to rent increases which will shake out some of the businesses. But it will take time. And it will take a line of people wanting to open businesses there. And it will take building owners willing to rent to the kinds of people who want to open businesses. As one woman in the audience said, "those businesses in the strip mall east of the tracks are just creepy; I’m not going in there.”
The plans, nice as they are, depress me. A bunch of people gathered together to grab their share of the taxpayer pot of gold since everyone else is grabbing. If we don’t grab someone else will! When will people step back and realize that all this grabbing simply causes legislators and politicos to tax us more? When will we step back and analyze the return on our investment? It’s one thing to pay taxes for roads and bridges and to support the infirm and the otherwise needy. It’s another to spend tax dollars on beautification projects that enrich the already monied class if they enrich anyone at all. Has the Devon beautification project led to an increase in sales and income taxes in that area? If so, by how much? Perhaps the business owners see more business but has it resulted in sales and income tax increases that have (or will have) paid for the project, and increase overall taxes for other, more important, uses (such as roads and bridges and paying for the infirm)?
What IS the return on these investments?
I was also depressed by the lack of respect shown to the two businesses that have invested the most on Morse – Morseland and Connie Abels. Whatever one may think of these businesses or the proprietors (and I don’t know them so have no opinion one way or the other), the reality is that they have put money into Morse.
Yet the plan shown didn’t even give them a planter. How sad that we live in a world where we’ve all been brainwashed into punishing success. If my management treated me as the ward appears to be treating these businesses in the streetscape plan, I’d pick up and leave for greener pastures. While one must naturally help those who need some support, it is also important to reward success by at least tossing a bone their way as a measure of thanks.
Sorry to be a party pooper and a wet blanket but this strikes me as an exercise that will make a lot of people feel very good but won’t prove to be the panacea everyone thinks it will.
18 comments:
You aren't a party pooper, just a very honest observer and taxpayer. The same sentiments were expressed at the Howard Streetscape meeting some months ago. It's like hanging the Hope Diamond on a dead horse. It doesn't improve the photo.
Pamela, thanks for taking the time to put your thoughts in writing and share them.
Bob K said......> " if you think Joe Moore can come up with $1.7 million from the city that he needs to complete this thing you've got your head in the sand."
Hey Bob K, stop it. It's one thing to attack Alderman Moore but you may have hurt Cary Steinbuck, Kimberly Bares, Rene Carmego and Kevin O'Neil's feelings with this comment?
We can't have that type of attitude here.
Connie Abels owns ReMax Northcoast Realty at 1225 W. Morse.
Couldn't agree with you more Pamela. They need to make a credible case for ROI, not just fund temporary feel good projects using our money. I find the lack of provision for maintenance especially troubling.
I also have some issues with what little I understand about the design (Had to work late - couldn't make the meeting). If they are going to do something like this, wouldn't hanging planters make more sense? Okay, they are more expensive, but at least they wouldn't get filled with trash...and that whole plastic plant thing...Craigs photos of the plastic plants progress today were funny, but it's not so funny when you have to walk by them everyday. And benches? What are they thinking?!
I think the plan (from the little I know about it) is a good one. All those amenities are nice. I just think that they should probably hold off a few more years before they do it. I'm afraid that with the present conditions in the neighborhood you are just asking for this stuff to get vandalized. I mean, these things get filled with trash everywhere but good shop and property owners clean them up in other neighborhoods. With all the vacant storefronts on Morse, that's not gonna happen. The money might be better spent on getting the kids who do the vandalizing off the street and teach them respect for and pride in their neighborhood first.
Nico's mom,
Hanging baskets do sound like a good idea. I can't imagine that they could be more expensive.
Bill,
Asking business owners to help to beautify their own property sounds like a good idea to me.
Someone mentioned that the Morseland would not get a planter and that somehow they were getting the short end of the stick. I think it is possible that they don't want one as it would take up the outdoor dining space on their sidewalk. Anyone?
Michael- I thought the same thing about the planter in front of Morseland-maybe they don't even want one- but that is not why there were no planters planned for that spot.
I was on the Steering Committee and the reason is because we decided to focus on the most blighted areas. The area by Remax and Morseland is quite nice already. Maybe it would be a good idea for a planter to go by Remax because Connie would most certainly maintain it!
Pamela- I felt sad too. I just know that if there are plantings, they will be vandalized and being a gardener, vandals ripping out plants is a form of rape to me.
Obviously I believed in the project or else I wouldn't have been on the committee, but I do not believe it will transform Morse- but it sure won't hurt! I am not quite so doom and gloom as some of you about it.
I believe that the clean up of the fasade at the Fragrance Island, Morse Meat Market fasade work coming up, and the new condo building on the corner are a nice cleanup. At the risk of sounding new-agey(I'm not at all)we have to visualize positive changes and not focus on the negative so much.
Craig- I thought it was the CTA that was responsible for those planters- did anyone else hear that?
Let's forget personalities for a moment. My plaintive wail about the streetscaping plan isn't about Joe or anyone. On the contrary, my impression was that everyone involved from the Alderman's office on down to the citizen committee people did a very nice job on the plan, on raising a big chunk of the funds, etc. Granted, there is still more funding to be raised and seeing will be believing on that count. Nonetheless, a round of applause goes out to all the folks who put time and energy and effort into the project. They did a nice job, and we should recognize their efforts.
My problem is the fundamental nature of the project. While I appreciate that folks feel as though we have to "do something" about Morse to turn it around and that prettifying it is a route, I don't believe that route will provide a return for the community. Pretty doesn't make for safe streets; pretty doesn't make for new businesses that will attract pedestrian traffic. I don't see it solving the underlying problems with Morse. Businesses won't open there if they don't think it's safe for them, their employees, and their customers. Pretty won't get rid of the druggies and other neerdowells. The first thing we need to do is make Morse safe. Barren would even be ok, provided it is safe barren. How do you make it safe? Fight the crime. Sweep the crime right out of the zone. Make it super uncomfortable for perps to hang there. Once the crime leaves, the business will come, and we'll all shop there. Even cokehead Mayor Barry in DC got that. I happened to live in a 'hood that was the beneficiary of his "Operation Cleansweep." My civil liberties were violated about daily but the 'hood got cleaned up and the Section 8 lady next to us didn't have to worry about her kids getting shot or having to push away the pushers.
Once Morse has a certain commercial robustness and the community thinks that further enhancement such as a nearly $4 mil rehab plan will augment the zone, then perhaps it might be worth it. During planning provide upkeep costs and inform those in the SSA what their assessment will be. Assure those in the zone that their SSA $ will be spent wisely and the services will be provided in a capable way. And for pete's sake, give those businesses who invested early and stuck through tough times a few planters. Reward those who helped make it a success.
I don't think my thinking is unreasonable. When I propose a project in my biz, I have to incorporate into my p&l all costs -- from overhead to ongoing costs. Not just the start-up costs. And then I have to show that these dollars invested will provide a decent return. If the return is too low, then the project doesn't get greenlighted. If I really believe in the project, then it's up to me to figure out a way to get a respectable ROI. And, I have to show my management hard data that support revenue projections. This is econ 101 from a english lit major who never took a business course. If I get these basic concepts, why can't all taxpayers and community members and leaders get it. For every tax dollar we take for project X, project Y either won't get funded or taxes will have to be further increased. If everyone has their hand in the til with no regard to basic economics, then the til will eventually run dry or those who man the til will reach out to taxpayers for more money. There is a tomorrow and at some point the interest will come due. I prefer to pay off my credit debt quickly, not wrack up interest charges. Why can't our political leaders take a similar responsible approach to spending?
If it turns out that Morse is unable, after sweeping out crime, to become a robust commercial zone, then so be it. That's market forces and no government program can make business open shops, restaurants, etc. and we'll all just have to accept that Morse isn't attractive to business, sad as that would be.
But I would bet $100 that Morse won't turn around until the scary element is gone, no matter how gorgeous the rehab plan. And it's unlikely that the rehab plan will lead to increased pedestrian traffic in and of itself. I've spent too much time walking around RP. Some days I think I'm almost the only one who does walk around which is a reflection of how many people walk the streets round here.
In a word, 911 and a cell phone may make a difference. It is not difficult to be discreet with a cell phone. Describe the situation to a tee and it may work.
Yes, the white tee shirts may be an issue, but if the guy is wearing a Cardinal's baseball cap brown and black cornrows, is about 5'11", and is perched on a particular corner, then you have yourself a positive ID.
You can also track activity on a weekly basis. Where is the activity? When during the week does it go on? What time during the day? Is there a schedule or routine? Are there particular individuals? Do you have a way of taking a digital photo from your balcony and e-mailing it to a responsible CAPs officer?
You can even follow the traffic from one block to another or have someone else do it. You can walk the dog and take mental notes.
I recall a few things that happened in other neighborhoods over the years that caused those goals that everyone has. The question is whether we have those who moan or those who can maintain their privacy, yet accomplish their objectives while being discreet.
Once again, Pamela, you are right on target. I too want to extend my thanks to those who volunteered their time on this project - I know your intentions are noble.
However, I agree that this project is pre-mature at best. 4 million dollars - think about it, that's a lot of money, especially given that it is only the start up budget! What the most cursory discovery reveals about past, present and prospective shop owners is that their main concern is safety and security. I wish that were not true - I wish a pretty street would fix this. If anyone involved in this project would like to make a credible argument about how the beautification project would help with safety and security, I would really like to hear it - seriously.
I live on Morse. I would love to see a better street there. If you go ahead with the project as it stands now, I hope that you are right and I am wrong about the outcome. But I hope you will take these comments in the constructive spirit intended and rethink any issues that need extra attention now. You are using our money for this - that is a grave responsibility!
I didn't take offense- I just am more hopeful on this one- but hopefully won't be too disappointed!
Krystal,
Thanks. I try to avoid personal attacks and spewing a lot of venom, although that is sometimes difficult to avoid around here. All that does is make for angry neighbors. I have met Hugh a couple of times as well as others who don't always agree with me and they have been very cordial and friendly. In short, good nighbors. I really appreciate that olive branch being extended by the way.
I'd like to share a little info surroundng what was once a very troubled little strip that has really improved recently. The problem was booze and the solution also was booze.
At the Jarvis stop there were always dirtbags hanging around. Then they closed the liquor store and many of them went away. A little while later the bar that was there was replaced by a new bar with big windows that faced the street. The presence of people sitting near these windows at night who can witness any sort of shady activity going on led to even less loitering, pan handling, robberies, etc..
I used to visit chicagocrime.org and find that people were robbed near that stop almost daily. Now the area is starting to attract businesses again. This all happened since the spring of this year. An amazing turn around.
Carrie Nation proclaimed......>"The problem was booze and the solution also was booze."
You and Alderman Moore have alot in common. Telling us what we can and can't eat and drink.
Umm... When did I do that? I was simply stating that a good new business replaced an old bad one and it made a real difference.
Craig - your recent comments seem to be symptoms of the disease "Irrational Michael K Fixation". This is an extremely virulent disorder, the only treatment for which is immediately turning your attention to activities that actually matter.
Wishing you a speedy cure...
Build it and we will come. I wish that message were getting out more.
BTW - had anyone visited that new Indian place on Jarvis near the bar? Any good?
When we visited this new bar it was packed. Michael, do you know what the actual change in crime stats has been before and after this place opening?
I cannot say that the amount of crime has decreased but the TYPE of crimes has changed dramatically. It used to be all violent crime but now it is more on the lines of petty theft and vandalism. There are still some battery and assault crimes but much fewer than last year.
I like that Indian place. They have this creamy mango drink thing that my wife loves. We have ordered from them a couple of times.
FYI the bar seems to be expanding into the corner space as I have noticed that the old Charmers bar decorations have been recycled and added to the wall.
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