Friday, June 18, 2010

The personal side of UNCG expansion

While I believe that UNCG expansion can be a good thing for Glenwood, there is the sad reality that the house that we have worked on for 9 years may be a casualty of this expansion. Diane and I have been married for 10 years this summer, and almost all of those years have been at 828 Silver Ave in our creaky, 102-year-0ld home. The house that made us cry, literally, on our first night in it (because it was so ugly inside and we wondered if we just signed our life away to an ancient mistake), now makes Diane cry when she thinks of losing it. It’s the home that our kids have come home from the hospital to, and we weren’t planning on leaving for a bigger house.

There are about 12 other homeowners in our same position, and for us the expansion just stinks in every way. We don’t benefit from the increase in property values that will come with UNCG expansion. We lose homes that we have poured time and money into. And the best that our neighbors who live south of Haywood (the line of demarcation) can give us is a sad smile, wishing that we weren’t caught in the crossfire and at the same time relieved that they are not in our position (which I totally understand).

I know that the right answer, the one to put my hope in, is that my homes is not a white house on Silver Avenue. My hope is not in property values or equity. My purpose is greater than a quiet fenced-in yard. And on my best days, those thoughts are a great comfort. And on other days, I’m bummed and wish UNCG would just leave us alone.

1 comment:

Ashleigh B said...

Wow, Marshall, this is the first I've heard of any of this stuff. I'm so sorry! It's hard to see the plans for something that (alone) looks so beautiful yet you know is actually destroying many beautiful things--your own home, your ministry in the neighborhood (ministry can be adapted to new contexts, obviously, but that doesn't mean the change isn't painful), and your neighbors' homes. I will be praying for wisdom on the part of all who wish to advocate for Glenwood, as well as the people who are in charge of the plan. Redevelopment and gentrification are sad facts of life, and if it has to happen, I do hope it occur in the most just and compassionate way possible. But I hope it might not have to happen in this case... :o(