Blight Committee Veers Off Course

EDITORIAL - Saturday, August 30, 2008 - At the past several Blight committee meetings one Planning Commissioner has repeatedly brought up the condition of homes on Pewabic Street. This commissioner has described the neighborhood as "a seedy little area" and looking like "Appalachia". The above slideshow depicts the homes on Pewabic St. I noticed one obviously vacant home with a boarded up front door. This house has never been mentioned at a meeting. The discussion has instead focused on vehicles and "messy" porches. The slideshow below depicts true blight.

It is my opinion that some members of the Blight Committee are trying to move blight enforcement in an unethical, immoral, and illegal direction. Attacking someone because you do not like their "lifestyle" or income level is deplorable, and certainly does nothing to foster a sense of community in this small town. I want to be very clear that I do not agree with this disturbing trend. Occupied homes should be at the bottom of any enforcement list. The only exception to this should be if there is an obvious danger to health or safety.

The negative impact on property values of this so-called blight was also discussed. At one point a City Commissioner even suggested that some house colors be deemed inappropriate. I have no doubt that some property values are dropping, but would suggest that other factors are involved. Crumbling streets, outdated infrastructure, vacant store fronts, and the sheer number of homes for sale immediately come to mind. Or maybe, just maybe, it's the huge number of truely blighted, dangerous structures located throughout Ironwood.

Steve Frank