HomeMy WebLinkAboutA016 - Letter to editor from Ames Tribune, February 12, 1997 t
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Downtown send(�7s message to renters
To the Editor: people within the structures? ence would be missing in a 440-some-
The following is a letter I wrote to Are we so concerned about the thing'and above neighborhood.Why
one of the Historic Old Town neighborhood looking the right way could they only live here if there were
Association members after receiving a that we have forgotten that without a adequate rentals?Because they are
rezoning update pertaining to the cen- wide mix of people,it's not a neigh- young,lacking resources and in college.
tral Ames neighborhood in which I borhood worth having! They won't be.doing renovations any
live.I am tired of reading articles cov- time soon.They won't be moving into
ering the rezoning attempts in this dis- "I live in your neighborhood,our their very own four-bedroom old home
trict in which housing structures are neighborhood.Three of my friends live and making it the pride of the neighbor-
the focus,but the people within those in your neighborhood.They are also hood...yet.I feel this neighborhood
structures are left out of the picture. students.If it were not for rentals,large should be enjoyed by an eclectic mix of
It is my assertion that there is an and small,providing them with an people.And the message emanating
attempt to discriminate against the opportunity to live in this neighborhood from this neighborhood group,to me,is
young people and young families, near downtown,they would not be here. `If you can't afford the mortgage,the
whose only chance to move into the They would not frequent the antique right front door or the more expensive,
downtown area is by renting.I hear store,the coffee house,the bookstores. but historically-appropriate fence in
groups saying"we don't want any Their money would not be spent at your back yard...WE DON'T WANT
more renters" Drug Town or Carr Hardware. YOU HERE:
Renters are those people who usu- Downtown wants to be vibrant and I disagree with the walls and
ally are trying to get an education to fresh;renters are fresh,young and they cliques being set up and pushed
get a good job to move into a nice spend money!If there are not enough through via the City Council and zon-
community.They are those people and multifamily dwellings available here, ing boards.I know others feel this way,
families who lack the resources to pur- my friends would not drop by my house especially the renters who are already
chase their own homes,especially in a for a walk to the park.Their small chil- here.But then,you only have a vote if
town like Ames.By getting into such a dren and babies would not get to take you own." -7 �i
fervent panic about there being too stroller rides with mine.They would not Sara Martin �' S 3 '15 -
many rental units in or near to the his- get to share gardens with each other. (owner)704 Kellogg Ave.
torical district,are we forgetting the Most of all,their young vibrant pres- Ames