Re: [UC] Rediscovering the 'smart side' of the city

[Krfapt]

In a message dated 7/12/2004 11:40:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: how would you prevent this kind of thing [from Brian Siano: "Anyone remember that bike store at 41st and Baltimore? Not there anymore-- apparently, a local community organization put some pressure on the landlord because of the "undesirable elements," so now it's a nice, friendly, realty storefront.] from happening. I am afraid its the nature of capitolism and the good ole USA.   I "think" the history here is that Mark Hirshfeld (New Horizons?) bought that building among others and opted to use the commercial space on the first floor as his own office. It's possible but difficult to believe that a property owner would crater to pressure from a community organization absent conditions that might result in legal action.   More importantly in a general sense, not specific to this location, is that rentals in this area can command much higher prices than was the case only a few years ago. And the bike store may have been able to stay in business at (I'm just making up the numbers, but they'd be reasonable for that space and location) something like $450 per month but wouldn't be able to survive at $750 or $800).   Of course, costs of ownership have been rising for things like taxes and insurance (and they'll take another jump in Spruce Hill if the pretentious historic district nomination becomes a sad reality). But there's also a natural enough tendency for owners who've invested their selves and substance in the area when it was struggling to want to harvest the benefits of their labors and risk-takings now that their efforts have borne fruit. They can do this by raising the rents or by selling at a price that force the buyers to charge higher rents just to cover the debt service. This is a conscience-wrenching dilemma for at least some of us housing providers -- for instance, to rent a decent 2-bedroom apartment for $600 per month to a long-term tenant you know can barely afford that much, when the current Penn Off Campus Living current listings show average and median for this size unit as $1,116 and $1,175, respectively.     Always at your service and ready for a dialog, Al Krigman For an admittedly biased report on the first "forum" bungled by the Task Force on Historic Designation Reform, check the online equitable urban revitalization bulletin board at www.urbanrevit.blogspot.com.