BLEDSOE: Can golf revitalize New Albany?
When I was overnighting in Atlanta as an airline pilot, I was fortunate to watch a special on a local station about the revitalization of East Lake Meadows, one of Atlanta’s worst public housing projects located just six miles from downtown ...
.. This transformation was able to happen when a philanthropist named Tom Cousins, a golfing enthusiast, felt that if character-building through the fundamentals and high standards associated with the game of golf were taught to young East Lake Meadow children, then the cycle of poverty could be broken. He purchased the bankrupt golf course and rehabilitated it and its country club into its former glory.
New Albany is a state of mind … but whose? Since 2004, we’ve been observing the contemporary scene in this slowly awakening old river town. If it’s true that a pre-digital stopped clock is right twice a day, when will New Albany learn to tell time?
Friday, June 05, 2009
Golf as a redevelopmental riposte to "well intended organizations," or just plain mental?
This guest commentary in today's Tribune is credited to James Bledsoe. It's hard to argue that New Albany's moribund downtown country club stands well positioned to serve as a centerpiece of neighborhood revitalization, but some readers may differ with the details as proffered here. That's what makes it fun, right?
Where is Bradford Park?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI wondered the same thing. He's probably referring to Binford Park.
ReplyDelete"You say Bradford and I say Binford
You say Binford and I say Bradford
Bradford, Binford
Binford, Bradford
Let's call the whole thing off"
I guess I would disagree with the assumption that we either have to revitalize downtown or the surrounding neighborhoods. Can they not both be done together? Wasn't that what we would have had with the NSP grant? An opportunity to accomplish the revitalization of a neighborhood that the administration recognized as being a "tipping point" for New Albany. That wouldn't have interfered with downtown development efforts.
ReplyDeleteWhy do we have to focus on one or the other?
"Why do we have to focus on one or the other?"
ReplyDeletePrimarily because the local Republican Party (such as it is organized for positive ends, which currently is debatable) and those local Democrats who might as well be Republican (Coffey, Price, et al) have determined that their fear of change is best salved by reducing these questions to either-or.
It's politically motivated, and stems from frustration that "them people" might be dangerous.
Expect more of it as the next round of local elections draws ever nearer. It's annoying, but also flattering, because it illustrates quite plainly who is driving the agenda, i.e., neither "organized" political party.
I find his logic somewhat underwhelming. He seems to advocate that better neighborhoods can lead to a better core. Reasonable enough.
ReplyDeleteHowever, did not his story start with a golf course as the core developement that led to a better neighborhood?
Of course, it doesn't really matter. As TNA and Bayernfan have already pointed out, what's to stop both(or more)ideas from moving forward at the same time.
Yeah, I figured he meant Binford, too. Just wanted to be a dick about it. I wonder where Mr. Bledsoe would put the gates?
Tell me again...why exactly is it that "Mr. Gated Community" is no longer an "airline" pilot?
ReplyDeleteNow, now - is that truly relevant?
ReplyDeleteBTW, do you have an e-mail address for Paul Haub?
Crime reduction from neighborhood improvement? I'm confused.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Dan Coffey just tell us that the only way to reduce crime was to ignore the conditions that spur it and hire more police officers? Didn't Steve Price declare neighborhood improvements unnecessary as long as we spend our money on plenty of officers to clean up the messes we help create?
I mean, the reams of research done over the last thirty years that point to the contrary must be all wrong, right?
We're so lucky to be represented by such extreme socio-economic talent. What with their plan to continue on the exact same path that led to a rise in crime, it's really a wonder that anyone would feel unsafe at all.
I'm going to revitalize Louisville today with a round at Cherokee at 4. We need a fourth if anybody's interested. P.S. Bring your wallet.
ReplyDeleteWhat jumped out at me was the idea that "nice" neighborhoods attract folks who will then revitalize the area.
ReplyDeleteWrong.
Plenty of "nice" neighborhoods exist in the most gawdawful boring places that lack a sense of place or lifestyle ammenities, none of which I would like to live in.
It certainly helps to have a clean, safe neighborhood with good schools, but those alone do not spin off revitalization activity.
I wonder if Mr. Bledsoe would agree that traffic-calmed, pedestrian, and bike-friendly streets would help make
a neighborhood "nice." I think he would, as long as we had a one-way autobahn loop through town.