Progress requires public participation
Many of Greensboro's civic leaders recently viewed firsthand the critical role public-private partnerships played in revitalizing downtown Greenville, S.C., and professed a desire to leverage similar strategies in Greensboro. But, how can we expect public-private partnerships to succeed here for downtown revitalization if council members are unwilling to apply such an approach to the ultimate candidate site screaming out for help: Bill Agapion's infamous Cedar Street Apartments?
Our community's future is bleak if our elected representatives cannot end this disgrace. If we are serious about pursuing public-private partnerships for community revitalization, this is the place to start, and we should challenge those unwilling to support Robbie Perkins' modest proposal for eliminating the Agapion stalemate through a public-private partnership.
Affordable housing is important, but it is misguided and counterproductive to insist on preserving any particular site for affordable housing at all costs when manifold alternative sites could offer more and better affordable housing. It is regrettable that the proposal would benefit Agapion, but that does not justify allowing this cancer to persist. The city would not be paying to reward bad behavior; rather, it would be investing in Greensboro's future to overcome past mistakes.
Marsh Prause
Greensboro
Comments (6)
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Question?
Does not public , private mean, the public pays for it and the privates take the money to the bank?????
Posted on December 2, 2005 6:41 AM
Dog bites back, The difference in Greensboro and Greenville, SC is that the folks in Greenville don't tax their folks to death. The tax that is collected from the upgrading and new construction paid for by the private sector is returned to pay for additional services needed ,can't be spent on political boondoggles( and I don't even have to name those for you that have occured in G'boro) and to keep the taxes looooowwwww.
Try that anywhere in NC and see if it flies.
Posted on December 2, 2005 8:37 AM
How much is the rent on Cedar Street? Can you guarantee the tenants there that you will build nicer units with a public/private partnership, charge them the same rent, and make sure they keep their homes?
It's not that I feel people should live in slums. But it's better than living in the street.
Posted on December 2, 2005 9:06 AM
I think it WOULD be a reward for bad behavior.
To pay this notorious slumlord MILLIONS of dollars for being one of the main slumlords of greensboro for years will set a precedent for continuing to allow more Agapion type landlords to house people to in deplorable conditions.
People will buy up as much crappy property as they can and just let it go to hell, until the city decides to buy it.
I personally believe there is a special place in hell for people like Agapion. I do not want MY tax money to contribute to the Agapions of the world getting richer as a direct result of their sins.
Posted on December 2, 2005 10:57 AM
Every post I see in this thread makes good points. truth and Lilly in particular raise an issue that troubles me, which is the displacement of poor people due to gentrification, something that has been going on for some time now downtown but is highly visible in the case of the Cedar Street apartments. (Does anyone other than me remember when they were called the "Downtown Apartments?") The reason for the high visibility? Bill Agapion and the recent fire.
Sadly, the best thing in the long run for the Cedar Street neighborhood will be to buy the land from Agapion and redevelop it, which will push the poor people out and force them to find other low-cost housing. Even though this will be best (in my opinion) for Cedar Street, the question remains, is it best for Greensboro? I think it is, but your mileage may vary.
Best regards,
Tony
Posted on December 2, 2005 3:31 PM
Tony & Truth I can appreciate your points, and I'm not saying that they should make Cedar Street into yuppieville.
Just because someone is poor, in my world, that should not mean that you should have to live in substandard housing. That's all.
Posted on December 2, 2005 8:25 PM