From Gowanus Lounge:
We firmly believe that developer blight is going to emerge as one of the THE issues of 2009. We’re talking about construction sites that are either abandoned or left to fester for so long that they become ugly, dangerous to the community and a kick in the ass to quality of life. So, we’re starting a new GL Series today called Blight Me, in which we’re going to be featuring properties that in some way royally f*ck up life for their neighbors and neighborhoods. We noticed this one because pedestrians were walking in the middle of the street to avoid the ice built up in front of this site. This is what the inside of 314 12th Street looks like.
4 comments:
Excellent issue bravo!
There are already built but un-occupied new buildings that are deterioating with graffiti and vandals breaking windows etc. Anticipate that there will be a squatter problem eventually. The properties that wanted to get a foundation in the ground can be death traps and havens for rats among the garbage and detruis being dumped there. Pity the neighboring building dealing with this on a daily basis.
With the blight and dangerous debris, isn't this site a superb candidate for the use of eminent domain?
Oh, I see, it is already owned by a wealthy, protected developer.
But, couldn't the site be converted to a small sitting park?
Oh, yeah, that. The Commissar has no money for parks unless he can also rip off the taxpayers and give private property to developers, and make a little something for himself on the side.
What are the citywide preservation organizations doing about this?
There are two sides to every story. Behind all of these blights is a developer who is getting hit hard by the financial crisis - namely, can't get loans to complete there projects. Just like the homeowner who can't get a mortgage, developers rely on banks for $. Without loans, there's no $ for materials and payroll. That amounts to layoffs and empty lots. So, before you judge, look at the bigger picture. Real Estate has been hit hard, at EVERY level.
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