Council will hold a double Work Session, moved for the holiday, on Tuesday the 18th to talk about and plan the micro-shelter project and other response to people without adequate housing as well as to finalize the Council Policy Agenda for 2022.
In the Council Policy Agenda,
there does not seem to be a lot to say. It might be nice to have
climate centered even more, but the agenda is for 2022 only, and "Coordinate
and implement strategies in the Climate Action Plan" is one of the
items. So is an update to the Transportation System Plan and adoption of
Our Salem. Collectively we can center climate in each of these, and at
least theoretically there is room by regular city political processes to
strengthen climate action in them.
There are several pieces in the response to the housing crisis. Others will have analysis and better thoughts. It seems significant that last week one person who had initially submitted comment in opposition to one site, later in the day submitted revised comment in favor: "I was not under the impression that the shelter would include 24 hour security or on-site staff. Now, having done thorough research, I support the City in allowing a micro-shelter to be placed at 1280 Center St, NE." That is an admirable instance of making the effort to look into things more closely, and changing opinion with new evidence!
 |
| An empty space to admire? Or a place for life? Deadness at the end of a work day (2013) |
I want to point to a small moment at a different proposed site. Public comment on the proposal for a managed micro-shelter camp at Peace Plaza unsurprisingly is mixed. Some think it is a great location, near services and transit, and visible to City Hall to help ensure it's not swept under the rug. But some who live on Gaiety Hill in the Historic District highlight exclusionary and NIMBY themes. It is worth dwelling a moment on ways some comments make explicit the implied exclusionary zoning function of Historic Districts.
(Other objections are the usual: Proprietary claims to on-street parking and martial tropes of "invasion" and "occupation." Garbage. One person suggests they should all be institutionalized at the State Hospital. Etc., etc.)
On Exclusionary Function of Historic Districts and Zoning:
A half-dozen Gaiety Hill neighbors...are unanimously and vehemently opposed to utilizing Peace Plaza as a location for micro shelters or any other housing project. Beyond the dozen reasons previously offered, the diminished property value of our historic homes will result in legal action to reverse any decision the City may make to utilize Peace Plaza for the purpose of micro shelters. We have already consulted a local law firm and are prepared to take action. We will not allow our lifelong investments in this Historic neighborhood to be diminished via this ill-advised folly.
A group of neighbors - including homeowners, CPA firm, Attorney firm and Architectural firm are concerned about the existing zoning of Peace Plaza. Any development for micro shelter would need to pass land-use changes. We have consulted with a local law firm and a local land use specialist and believe this will be a costly - and ultimately fruitless - endeavor. Consideration of this site should be abandoned.
Previously on Peace Plaza, especially its Inertness:
- "Move Peace Plaza! It Doesn't Work - In Fact, It's Broke!" (2013)
- "Two Police Stations: Eugene's Car-Dependence and the Civic Center's Desolateness" (2013)
- "A Postscript on Peace Plaza: The Library Remodel Broke it!" (2013)
- "MORE PARKING!!! won't Solve Peace Plaza's Deadness" (2021)
On our Historic Preservation Framework:
- "Defense against Developer Dark Arts: Historic Districts' Unpredictable Charm" (2016)
- "Update on Historic Preservation Plan may be too Limited" (2019)
- "Incumbency Privilege in the Historic Preservation Plan at Council Monday" (2020)
- "Zoning and the Restoration Drama: Different Perspectives on the Buchner House" (2021)
And on the History of Salem Zoning:
- "1920s Deed Restrictions as Precursor to Single Family Zoning" (2018)
- "Salem's First Zoning in 1926 Grapples with Laundries, Junk Yards, and Signs" (2019)
- "After Zoning Tax Fails at Ballot, Zoning Commission Quits in 1926" (2020)
- "City First Zoned in December 1926, Appealed to City Beautiful Concept" (2020)
1 comment:
In additional public comment, from a slightly different angle, this time a person affiliated with the Public Art Commission, also highlighting exclusionary ends and a link to Historic Designation:
"The City cleaned up the Peace Plaza, removing weeds and clutter – and drawing attention to the major element of the plaza, the central Crescent Probe sculpture by artist James Lee Hansen. This sculpture was appraised several years ago as the City looked at the value of its publicly-owned collection. Crescent Probe is valued at $450,000. The Salem community contributed the funds which enabled the sculpture’s installation in 1974. The Peace Plaza was designed as a public shared space for gathering, celebration and reflection. Now, with the library improvements made, the Civic Center being considered for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, and the City of Salem preparing to celebrate, in August, 2022, the 50th anniversary of the development of the Salem Civic Center, siting a micro shelter site at the Peace Plaza seems like the wrong location at the wrong time."
Post a Comment