A brief East End Connector update
Some of my more obsessive readers may recall some long posts earlier this year expressing frustration with some members of the City Council over their swaying in the breeze approach to the East End Connector. Council, led by Mayor Bell, made the EEC a major highway priority back in 2002. Now that we're approaching right of way purchase (2010) and construction (2012) phases of the project, community opposition from immediate neighbors of the Connector has given some council members the opportunity to downplay their previous support of the project.
As a result of that February public hearing, i found myself on what's being called the East End Connector Ad Hoc committee. There are a number of city and state personnel on the committee, as well as several residents from the East End neighborhood, and a couple from other areas of town.
I'm not going to be blogging much about the committee. As a city sponsored group, its meetings are public, and i'm sure if you root around on the city's website, or email the right people, you can get copies of the minutes and find out what all has been discussed.
I did want to mention one item that came up at yesterday's meeting. Back in 2001, when i first got involved in the issue, the information i had was that only between 8 and 12 residences would be directly impacted by the EEC. By directly impacted i mean the residents would have to sell their properties to the state and relocate. The current preliminary document presented last night listed 23 properties that may end up being acquired by the state to build the EEC.
The most curious thing is that over a quarter of these (7 by my count) are new construction, having been built within the past 18 or so months. A quick check of the city's GIS maps shows that only one of these properties is owner occupied.
Now, maybe my brain is calcifying in my old age, but i can only think of one reason why someone who owned undeveloped property in a highway right of way would go ahead and develop it just before the construction of that highway. Anybody else out there want to enlighten me as to other possible reasons why you'd build a rental house knowing the state would be buying it and knocking it down in a couple of years?
As a result of that February public hearing, i found myself on what's being called the East End Connector Ad Hoc committee. There are a number of city and state personnel on the committee, as well as several residents from the East End neighborhood, and a couple from other areas of town.
I'm not going to be blogging much about the committee. As a city sponsored group, its meetings are public, and i'm sure if you root around on the city's website, or email the right people, you can get copies of the minutes and find out what all has been discussed.
I did want to mention one item that came up at yesterday's meeting. Back in 2001, when i first got involved in the issue, the information i had was that only between 8 and 12 residences would be directly impacted by the EEC. By directly impacted i mean the residents would have to sell their properties to the state and relocate. The current preliminary document presented last night listed 23 properties that may end up being acquired by the state to build the EEC.
The most curious thing is that over a quarter of these (7 by my count) are new construction, having been built within the past 18 or so months. A quick check of the city's GIS maps shows that only one of these properties is owner occupied.
Now, maybe my brain is calcifying in my old age, but i can only think of one reason why someone who owned undeveloped property in a highway right of way would go ahead and develop it just before the construction of that highway. Anybody else out there want to enlighten me as to other possible reasons why you'd build a rental house knowing the state would be buying it and knocking it down in a couple of years?
Labels: Durham, East End Connector
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