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First things first, let's define the 'problem(s)'. What are they?
Second, what do you do about it?
Third, do you buy the whole malaise thing anyway? Count me as a skeptic; we have our issues, but the assets are way bigger. A stable to slightly declining population doesn't particularly concern me - quality of life is the issue.
The Cap Times recently ran a somewhat provocative story on the upcoming housing study
Here's a crucial excerpt from that article that summarizes the study's key findings:
In their research, Boyd and Stouder said they have learned five important
things:
- Households in Monona are smaller than in surrounding communities,
with a particularly small number of children.- Household size is continuing to slip at a faster rate than in other surrounding communities. An increasing number of single-family homes are being rented out.
- Median home values are lower than elsewhere in Dane County.
- Monona residents are significantly older than in surrounding communities, with one-third of homeowners in 2000 over the age of 65.
- Many homes in Monona are in need of maintenance.
Boyd said MSA has collected "massive amounts of data" in the past year. Sorting
through it is like working with a giant ball of string, with demographics,
market forces and other factors intricately intertwined, he said.Boyd said the research has shown that a troubling trend toward deteriorating homes may not be as largely contributable, as initially assumed, to homes being used as rental properties.
Rather, he said, it appears that many seniors are remaining in their homes longer than in other communities, and they may simply be reaching an age where it's hard for them to keep up with maintenance."
Doug-
ReplyDeleteMay I kindly suggest we define the outcome?
What do we want our community to be and the define the problems and answers to get there.
Sure, you can try that - it does occur to me that defining 'what we want our community to be' strikes me as much more complex and susceptible to vague answers, but give it a go.
ReplyDeleteI do think we can identify specific problems and answers with more certainty and thus be assured of more certain progress and that certainty appeals to me. A simple example, "roads with potholes are a problem and need to be fixed."
I don't notice many rundown properties in Monona. Unless the consultants believe small is the same as run down.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of children moving into the community may be because there are less children.
In order to attract families to Monona, there should be communication with the realtors who guide interested buyers to properties.
Monona is a nice quiet place to live with lots of green space, but not enough public lake access.
Looking to the future: adding programs to the senior center, keeping the library first rate, keeping the parks clean.
If people don't know about Monona, they won't seek to live here. Realtors are not out to help Monona or any other community. They are making a living selling houses. They have no incentive to steer people into Monona, nor should they.
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