First off, I have to apologize, as I’ve been busy and have neglected my blog of late. I am now making little audio segments for my brother Robert’s podcasts, and I’ve also been pretty busy at work and with personal matters.
Few things are more frustrating than a seldom-updated Web site – except maybe one that’s full of spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes – and I’ll try to put in more stuff in the future.
I do want to talk today about development.
Florida is in the midst of a growth boom, as lots of people are moving to the state to take advantage of relatively low prices for homes, relatively low taxes and abundant warm weather. The state is a target for hurricanes, but this season has, except for Hurricane Dennis hitting the Panhandle, been quiet. But the new media keeps telling us not to get complacent. I tend to agree, because the hurricanes that hit the east coast of Florida, Frances and Jeanne, were September storms. We’re not out of the woods yet, by a long shot.
It’s always kind of interesting to me that development is such a hot topic in Florida since new arrivals have paid for a lot of the road and infrastructure improvements, and their taxes pay for other government operations that make the state a wonderful place to live. Private business has stepped up, and while folks may howl at the horror of malls seemingly on every street corner, we have lots of choices for everything. I consider that a good thing.
A Miami Herald columnist pointed out several months ago that while all the development in Florida might seem to be a bother, compared to some places, like his hometown in Ohio, it’s a boon. While some states are losing population and shutting down, almost, Florida is a happening place. To me, that’s a good thing.
But lots of people, including new arrivals, worry about the future of the state and want to preserve the lifestyle. Countless residents of metropolises – and I’m not naming names of people or cities here – weep over what they consider to be the loss of the small-town feel they say once existed and is now gone, thanks to the people who have moved in.
Even in areas that were devastated by the hurricanes last year, such as Arcadia, the wealthy and well-off are mainly concerned that things not change too much, and not too much for the better for the poor and those who lost so much, in order to keep that small-town feel.
Well, I think that small towns are overrated, and prefer to live in the city or sprawling suburbs around other people. And I’m not alone.
Some of those who gripe about new development are themselves living in suburban subdivisions, and just upset that others want a piece of the good life, too. There’s also the fear that more housing will lower prices across the board.
As for me, I recently contracted to have a new house built in a nice suburban but centrally located subdivision. I like living where I am now, but I see a chance to have a nicer place, plus I already have some interest in the town house I own now.
Growth and development are discomfiting to some folks, and I understand their concern, but it’s a fact of life. People want to live in Florida, and they have a right to live where they want to.
If growth is so bad, I say, consider the alternative.
Vincent F. Safuto works for a newspaper in Florida, and occasionally turns up on his brother Robert’s podcasts.
