Look Out Shanie, Your Constituency Is About to Disappear
Saturday’s “Tilghman Times” article on the deflating condo bubble indirectly inferred a far different future than those on Salisbury’s West Side may be hoping for. Several comments in the “Story Chat” in the online edition broke the silence.
While it is no secret that Salisbury wishes to “gentrify” the North Prong condos are being constructed on the west side of the Wicomico River there has been sparse comment as to what is to become of the city’s West Side. Does anyone actually believe that people are going to drop $400,000 upwards to over $1 million dollars for “luxury residences” that front some of the most blighted areas of the city?
I’m all for economic revitalization of a blighted area, but I wonder what Salisbury Councilwoman Shanie Shields will say to the displacement of the majority of her constituents. As one commenter noted, the strategy used in Annapolis was to move its poorer residents into government housing projects on the fringes of the city. If funding is not available for such a strategy in Salisbury, where do you think Shanie’s constituents will wind up? Does anyone honestly believe that the slum lords who control most of the residential real estate on the West Side are going to forsake profit in order to provide affordable (even if just barely) housing to Shanie’s voters?
No, I have a sneaking suspicion that the ultimate goal of Barrie Tilghman and the powers that be is a far wealthier, and more Wonder Bread, version of Salisbury. That’s definitely one way to expand the tax base.
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Comments
tucked away on the very edge of that prong is some of the most picturesque water/lakefront property in all of the city limits….bordering right on that edge are some of the more modern looking residences around….they are though, subsidized housing and to my knowledge controlled by the Housing Authority folks….waterfront apartment living on subsidized rents, just across the street from million dollar condos, separated only by dilapidated row houses and a pump station that routinely overflows…talk about planning genius
Same thing is happening here in Pocomoke City. Birthplace of Racial Minority Voting Districts.
Councilman Honnis Cane singlehandedly changed America by taking his case for racial districting all the way to the US Supreme Court and won.
This is why there are minority voting districts that hop skip and jump all over municipalities and counties throughout the US with no geographic rhyme or reason.
Interestingly enough, I haven’t heard a peep from him with regards to the gentrification of his district that is now the target of numerous repair or demolish orders because city fathers who were and are still not required to disclose business associations in principal interests are building 400k condo’s along our waterfront which adjoins the areas most run down area.
I’m curious to see what is going to happen when whites ask if they can have a minority district because the districts they live in have suddenly changed in racial demographics? Does the road run both ways?
Shanie has already publicly stated that she’s expecting eminent domain to be claimed on the properties between West Main/Fitzwater and Route 50. Primarily commercial zoned, this land will become much more valuable once the plan is unveiled for it, a plan that is probably already circulating among the anointed few. Too bad that Shanie doesn’t have the support or chutzpah to get anything done in that area other than taking the crumbs that the mayor and Comegys feed her and believing that she’s getting her and her constituents’ due. Why waste money on workforce housing where an upscale commercial/residential can provide tax revenue far exceeding that of working class stiffs in basic housing?
Maybe they are going to put tipis up on that farmland that Gary Mackes wants to buy in Hebron and relocate Shanies constituents over there. A good tipi sells for about $2000 and can accomodate 6 to 8 people, central heating via the fire ring in the center, A/C if you open the smoke flap wide enough and roll the sides up a foot or so. It has got to be better than the housing provided by the slumlords.
But just think, the condo crowd will make for more jobs — as maids and such. It will be a bonanza for Shanie’s supporters.