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ROWLETT RAMBLINGS

Footnotes

5/1/2016

1 Comment

 
I have a couple of footnotes from the previous couple of blog posts.  

I made reference to stories that I hear that Rowlett "officialdom" doesn't.  That's true.  If you know anybody in the development business well, you will hear slightly different stories than the ones told by "officialdom."  That is normal.  Some in the development business have had excellent relationships with various cities, and some not so good.   In order to have any accuracy in understanding any difficulties between the development industry and any given city, you must hear a lot of stories. 

To cite only one developer's difficult story with a city is not representative.  To cite only one extremely satisfied developer's story with a city is also not representative.  It is the trending of many stories that reflect what is probably closest to the truth.   A keen observer will be aware of that fact and look for trends.  This is all a part of the appraisal process. 

I have heard stories  on four different recent developments in Rowlett.  All reported difficulties with the city of Rowlett.  I have one opinion based on my own observations that I consider bad.  I have also heard one very good report about dealing with the City of Rowlett.  Of course, what I want to hear is that all city/developer relationships are good.  Of course, that's not going to happen, so you look for trends. 

I'm trying to be objective here.  What I would like to hear is that five stories were positive and one was negative.  That means the city would be positive problem solvers, not problem makers.  Now, it doesn't make a flip what I think.  However, it does matter what the development community in general thinks.  If the "good guys" avoid us, whether the rumors are true or not, the damage is done.  

Generally, I hate rumors.  I rarely pass them on.  There is only one place I tend to follow up on them.  That's in regards to a development site.  That's what I do for a living.  Some of the things I hear from  "officialdom" regarding development, I don't believe.  I don't believe "officialdom" is lying to me.  I do believe they are telling me what they have been told.   I know this is hard to believe, but sometimes developers do not always tell  "officialdom" the truth.   So..... if you can't believe the developers and you can't believe "officialdom,"  who do you believe?   I think you listen to the skuttlebutt.  I follow the rumors.  I see.  I talk.  I mostly listen. With my experience, I can usually conjure up a reasonable truth.  "Officialdom," both staff and elected, sometimes walk a lonely path.  Who are the ones that are wise to believe?  I always had good luck listening to the ones that had access to knowledge, but nothing to gain.

The folks of Rowlett are going to have to make due with a little common sense.  It works well a lot of the time.  I'm a little worried about where we're going.  We are poised for great things.  This election is important.  I would like to see a lot of common sense elected.

1 Comment
Chris White
5/6/2016 11:00:46 pm

I put thing on the Nextdoor website and thought it might be of benefit as to a different line of thinking other than the obsession with "development" -

It's probably a good idea when someone describes a project as a "gold mine for Rowlett" to consider exactly who has the potential of getting money out of it. For example I know Ron Miller has been in real estate his whole life so it's no surprise he is for "developing". Realtors have a potential boost in income. As do people in the construction business. And a lot of businesses are for growth because it has the potential to increase sales traffic. Or maybe they get in on a business in the new development. There are also the investors who put up money and get a return on it. People in charities and in the business of fund raising have more to draw from. So all of that is certainly potential for dollars, though I'm sure there will be plenty of competition as well. And let's be honest. Describing it as a gold mine like everyone in the city is going to get rich off it is just nonsense.

But anyway we come to folks like myself who aren't in any of those categories, which is a good portion of our population. Most people in Rowlett are in white collar jobs. A surprising number are in management jobs. Many came here because it was a quiet bedroom community with all the benefits of such. Plus it is just such a beautiful place. How does that affect the category of "most of us"?

For one our taxes have and will continue to go up. Increased demands on water resources have and will continue to raise the cost. We'll be sitting in traffic more and burning time and gas more while sitting there. As will all the goods and services vehicles that use the highways to deliver their products to us. So those prices will go up. And it's going to get a lot more crowded. Because most of the development going on is going to increase population density. Which also has a strong tendency to increase crime and pollution.

And those are the sorts of things I wish people would think about more when they hear others parroting sales pitches like "gold mine". Who will that be going to? What is the potential to see any of it? Or will it likely cost? Will it take away something special? In this case we've forever lost a large regional park surrounded by a lake. We've lost a public boat ramp, an ideal sail boarding site, and more.

So I'm certainly one of those people who will be paying for this gold mine in some way or another. It's one less place with natural open space freedom. It's one less place that took a lot less money out of my pocket and gave back a lot more than coin. Because large recreational parks "renew" us in ways that shopping centers just can't. Concrete, steel and asphalt just can't. It's why one of the most revered places in Manhatten is Central Park.

Of course there are benefits to development, like having a favorite shopping or food place closer. Or having a beautiful "show piece" development like we have in Waterview. Just try to realize what's behind the sales pitch you hear. And the people's interest in pitching it. And ask yourself if that actually applies to you.

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