As noted earlier on this blog, Sarah Becker's article on the Parker-Gray Historic District was published in the November issue of the Old Town Crier and is now available online.
It once more raises the question why the City is dragging its feet on the nomination of our neighborhood to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
33 comments:
Maybe her best story since Duckwalk
"Whether it was politicians putting the homeless shelter adjacent to public housing or ARHA's failure to somehow scatter public housing, citizens want equitable solutions."
I have heard it said that the city does not wish Bland to be another Chatham Square. If true can anyone explain the project design?
"Still the city uses housing availability and wages to argue affordable housing especially density bonuses."
I have little sympathy for Council's affordable housing policy. We are a two income family who bought here mostly because the neighborhood is affordable. Until recently there was a crack house nearby so our story is not unlike others. We budget pay our way and city employees can too.
Tucker's history is interesting but speaking of protests the Braddock workshops are lacking. Last Saturday some at my table expressed a want to reduce density but the facilitator told us we couldn't. He claimed the city would object.
"I have heard it said that the city does not wish Bland to be another Chatham Square. If true can anyone explain the project design?
"
They DONT want it to be like that? Well what do they want it to be like then?
Anything different is better than what it is now....
The project design appears to be 120 units of pulblic housing spread randomly all over the Bland and Bland Addition projects, with 380 units of market rate housing now mixed in. So it appears that for every 3 market rate unit, one public housing unit will be mixed in.
Not great but better. The problem is Madden Uptown and Adkins are still around and the "new Bland" will always get troublemakers from those projects.
""Still the city uses housing availability and wages to argue affordable housing especially density bonuses.""
I read this in the Charrette notes. It seems that most of the outsiders to PG have no clue what this neighborhood actually looks like and how much affordability already exists.
They also dont seem to get that the people who move into this affordable housing are going to be just as irate about public housing overconcetration as "wealthy" folks are.
"Last Saturday some at my table expressed a want to reduce density but the facilitator told us we couldn't. He claimed the city would object.
"
Of course they object
Less density = less revenue
Sadly what Becker also highlights, though, is that in the end, presevration of African-American history in Parker Gray is just as much dependent on the African-Americans who live here.
I hear no groundswell of rage that Parker Gray increasingly is defined by the housing projects. "Whites" are asked to remember and preserve history but what we see to preserve is drug dealing, trash, and loud noise all night.
Sadly, I think the only way this changes is if their is a rise of African-American anger to a level that the Council cant ignore. At the Charrette it was argued that African Americans have not been involved in the process enough. Another example of the paternalistic City assuming most black residents are poor and cant read a meeting notice.
"speaking of protests the Braddock workshops are lacking."
"I have little sympathy for Council's affordable housing policy. We are a two income family who bought here mostly because the neighborhood is affordable."
Ever noticed how many former city employees participate in these meetings? Are they lobbying for housing percs? Remembering yesterday? If Artemel created Braddock Place then why do I want to listen to him now?
"The project design appears to be 120 units of pulblic housing spread randomly all over the Bland and Bland Addition projects, with 380 units of market rate housing now mixed in."
That's till too many public housing units.
"If Artemel created Braddock Place then why do I want to listen to him now?"
Are you talking about the failure of retail because I live in Braddock Place? With retail I agree.
"Another example of the paternalistic City assuming most black residents are poor and cant read a meeting notice."
Would it surprise you to know that there are many retired black business owners here whose net worth exceeds $1 million? They are old now but if Council thinks all blacks who live here are poor then Council is just plain stupid. As more older black homeowners die or their children inherit and sell I agree that it is mostly low income that remains. That's why Melvin's references to "community" send me sideways. The city's perception of "community" also sends me sideways. Tucker was educated an attorney who owned a home and apparently had guts. So I can endorse Tucker's history. She's a good history writer and I hope the nomination does go forward.
"Would it surprise you to know that there are many retired black business owners here whose net worth exceeds $1 million? They are old now but if Council thinks all blacks who live here are poor then Council is just plain stupid. "
It would not surprise me at all. I never see Council or P&Z mention in the planning sessions the effects that crime have had on the African-American community. My sense is that many middle-class African-Americans moved out of here when they got the chance, as they have been the disproportionate victims of crime in the area.
"My sense is that many middle-class African-Americans moved out of here when they got the chance,"
I do think the city has driven the black middle class out of the neighborhood. Do you remember Keith Butler, Woodrow Randall's son? Randall ran a taxi business for years. Keith refused to live in his father's house because "the city treats all blacks like low income." He rented the house for several years then gave up on development and sold the property to Nathan Carter. Butler turned his back on Virginia and lives in Maryland. Sarge apparently is also among the wealthy ones.
"Last Saturday some at my table expressed a want to reduce density but the facilitator told us we couldn't. He claimed the city would object."
How interesting... our facilitator, a red-headed woman, agreed when Herb Cooper-Levy (of RPJ Housing) insisted on the same thing. I finally got him to admit we could demand reduced density, but he, too, added the city would object.
And if looks could kill I wouldn't be around to write this.
It's to the developers' advantage to make money off affordable and low-income housing - so they push the nothion of the "poor black" community" and stand in the way of any formal recognition of the many accomplishments of the Samuel Tuckers of this community.
It's Euille and company who benefit from serving the developers, at Parker-Gray's expense.
""My sense is that many middle-class African-Americans moved out of here when they got the chance,"
"
I would second that comment. I would also add that I have an African-American friend who refuses to "move in". He looked the place Irmer is peddling but after walking around the neighborhood a bit, decided it was better to move to Arlington. Suffice to say he rarely visits now and only by car.
"He rented the house for several years then gave up on development and sold the property to Nathan Carter"
Yep, Carter is riding the affordable housing issue for all its worth. His net worth What does it say about city politics when the proud ones leave and the drug types come?
Impressive man! Well written and hopefully the nomination will move forward. But the Plan is another story.
"Yep, Carter is riding the affordable housing issue for all its worth. His net worth What does it say about city politics when the proud ones leave and the drug types come?
"
Thats Euilles "new and improved" public housing in a nutshell. How long before the market rate units revolt when they realize Adkins and its anarchy is around for the next 20 years?
"But the Plan is another story."
Are you as unhappy as I am? Last night my table had few residents. Most were developers, their aides or attorneys. Is Dixon promoting these pie in the sky maneuvers only to tell us we density to pay his utopia?
"Are you as unhappy as I am? Last night my table had few residents. Most were developers, their aides or attorneys."
Really? If you were so unhappy about it, you should have said something so others could have joined in. But you didn't.
""Are you as unhappy as I am? Last night my table had few residents. Most were developers, their aides or attorneys."
"
Probably tells you that most residents have started to check out from the process.
Cant blame them. The "charrette" has quickly beocme a charade. See you in 15 years when we are back to discussing how to fix Parker Gray.
"I would second that comment. I would also add that I have an African-American friend who refuses to "move in". He looked the place Irmer is peddling but after walking around the neighborhood a bit, decided it was better to move to Arlington. Suffice to say he rarely visits now and only by car.
"
Isnt this just sad? I have often heard these types of tales secondhand, of the corrosive influence that the problems in the area have on African-Americans, but this sounds like a real world experience of its effects.
How about a residents only table?
"See you in 15 years when we are back to discussing how to fix Parker Gray."
Is Adkins your issue? It's mine.
"If you were so unhappy about it, you should have said something so others could have joined in. But you didn't."
Am I being chastised? Who would you like for me to tell? If you are a consultant or staff then you have already received my message. Tucker is probably the better protester.
"Is Adkins your issue? It's mine."
Segregating the poor so that an underclass subculture is enabled to ferment and spread is one the biggest public policy mistakes a government can make when dealing with poverty problems.
The failures in this plan derive directly from that.....
Becker is such a good writer. Her work with the Apothecary Museum was also outstanding but most of all I appreciate her willingness to educate me.
"The failures in this plan"
are too many to count.
I didn't realize that the neighborhood had such history and support moving the nomination forward quickly.
What is the address of the Tucker house? Is it open for tours?
The address is 901 Princess Street, but it is a privately-owned home.
See this link for a self-guided tour of Parker-Gray:
http://tinyurl.com/2un2ze
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