Regrowth, redevelopment, renewal and rezoning

Yes, even wealthy suburbs like Upper Arlington have a problem with their tax base. We can't grow; our founding families made some bad decisions about tax base 80 years ago, and we're paying now. So, a developer comes along, the council sees an opportunity "for the common good" (more real estate taxes, more business, more residents, etc.) and poof, there goes our right to private property. It won't impact my property, but why should the abutting property owners of this newly rezoned commercial property have to take the fall for the rest of us? In 20 years, will there be another 5 homeowners as the Kingsdale Shopping area creeps northward? And what has the Council done that's so terrific with Kingsdale in "redevelopment"? It's already zoned commercial and it's half empty. Plus that horrid "mixed use" condo is (slowly, slowly) being built across the street which knocked down 1950s era 4-family apartments that were at least in scale for the neighborhood.

I've been seeing these little homemade signs in the yards of Tremont Road residents for months, but didn't really know what was going on. Unfortunately, all I did was stop by the city building and read a few documents. I didn't really inform myself; didn't blog about it; didn't contact any UA City Council members.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Well, the Council passed it. They would have passed it anyway, even with my objection (hundreds were at the meeting), but it's the local level where democracy really starts. By the time these guys get to the statehouse in Columbus or Washington, they've got dollar sign stars in their eyes and plugs in their ears.

There's one more chance to change this. According to City Insight (city publication) affected neighbors have begun the process for seeking a referendum on this issue. If successful, we'll be asked to vote on the rezoning in November, along with another group who are anxious to take a number of our basic rights.