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Originally uploaded by dieselboi

In my neighborhood, where I have lived now for 10 years, things are changing rather quickly. I live 2 blocks off N Interstate and the new zoning proposal is really going to change the landscape. Where single family homes currently stand, high rise apartments and/or condos will soon dominate. Boy, the ghosts in my 1890s home would be miffed.

I’m not against development. I am actually for it in my little neighborhood. I want to see some of the detritus removed and if condos come in as the replacement, so be it. Slowly the neighborhood cleans up. [For all you haters who think I'm supporting the negative side of gentrification, email me offline your home address and I'll send over some of my neighbors and neighbor's "friends" to come over and shit in your lawn, steal your flowers and plants or knock on your door @ 1am looking for cans.] Change can be good.

And yet…. The photo to the left is of a couple of houses just a block from my house which are boarded up. In total, there are currently 7 single family homes on that block of 9 that are boarded up. These houses range in age from 54-104yrs old. Seriously, one of the houses was built in 1904 and will be razed in a few short weeks. See, they are razing the entire block in order to build a mixed use complex with condos, apartments and retail space right off the Prescott MAX stop. An amazing location for anyone to be sure. It saddens me to see these old houses go, but it saddens me more to see my liquor store go.

Yep, the liquor store! I live 2 blocks from a prime liquor store, the only one within many miles. There are no liquor stores on NE MLK, nor on N Interstate. Whole neighborhoods are going to be left wanting when this liquor store closes in a couple of weeks. All in the name of development. Where will I get my whiskey now?

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