As I learned on Council, when it comes to the issue of housing, especially in the Downtown East Side, advocates are fearful of too much success. Some fear resources and sympathy might dry up if the problem is addressed. So the problem is played up and the progress played down.
The danger is that we might miss some pretty amazing progress.
You write: “…advocates are fearful of too much success. Resources and sympathy might dry up if the problem is addressed, some fear. So the problem is played up and progress played down…” and I almost cry. My god, how true that observation is of too many initiatives and ideas and communities…!
Woodwards is exactly what that area needed, a catalyst. The amount of development there is amazing. It bolds well for major developments across the city and hopefully the region. No one can argue the recent mixed income projects across the city have been much more successful then the old attempt of concentrated housing/services.
Gordon brings up something that’s often whispered but seldom discussed openly. The goal of shelters and needle exchanges is to serve their customers. My wish is to see them out of business–that one day their services are not needed or at a vastly reduced scale because we’ve been successful in solving, not merely managing these important issues.
I’m not sure if many service providers share my optimism.