There is no discounting both the aesthetic and environmental benefits of the rehabilitation of historic or downtrodden properties in the city. A recent issue of the Urbanite details the effects that federal and state tax credits have had in promoting projects in the city. I myself am in the middle of renovating an older building in the city, and tax credits are what can make a project such as this financially feasible. Economic effects aside, the mere study of renovation and the connection to the community projects like this entail bring about a sense of belonging that I believe has been removed in the recent past. Porch fronts have given way to gates and fences; walking the block to surfing the net; and the “need” to know one’s neighbor all but lost. Is this bad? Well, depending upon who you speak to, perhaps yes and perhaps no. But, in a recent conversation with a contemporary and net savvy individual, the realization that it is still largely the community that raises the kids was a powerful recognition of reality. From my view point, I have grown to enjoy a neighborhood en-part mostly through the powerful but simple event of meeting people on the street where I am doing the rehab. This is slowly becoming as powerful an aspect to my life as the project itself. The point I am trying to make is: when reading about, discussing, and if possibly contemplating a project, keep in mind that no matter how large or small, a project becomes a fabric of the neighborhood and vice versa, a neighborhood can become part of your fabric. I believe this is part of a human fabric as well. I would like to hear any stories that you may have about how a project either helped or hurt your feeling of community, and why and how it could have gone differently. Thanks, John
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