The There Goes The Neighborhood Edition 5/16/05

[ericcoleman]

Ok, I don't have links, but these two have been much in the news around these parts lately. I suppose these are the same sort of folks who say "but the volcano USED to be so pretty".

Take Your Freight Train Away From Here.
They're building apartment buildings in downtown Des Moines. They're rehabbing old warehouse space into living space. This all in the old warehouse district. Now what is the most common thing that you would find in old warehouse districts? Yeah, train tracks. The trains that go through Des Moines on a daily basis still travel on the same tracks, the only tracks, that go through Des Moines. It's not like it was a secret they were there. It's not like the buildings got built and then they snuck in the tracks one night. No, everyone knew. So what do they do now? They complain about the noise. Yeah, ... TRAINS ARE LOUD !!!SURPRISE !!!. So this nomination goes to the folks who moved into these apartments, and then demanded that the trains be quiet.

I'm So Touched By Your Presence, Deer.
On the same track, as it were. There are all these new housing developments north of Des Moines. They're cutting great big holes in the middle of lovely forested areas and building these little neo-gated communities. In the meantime they are trying to force out all the previous occupants of the area. Except they don't want to move. So the new occupants wonder why, why, why, since they now live right in the middle of these lovely wooded areas, why do they have deer in their backyard? I dunno, baffles me too. Could it be that you moved into their neighborhood. Now admittedly no one wants a rutting deer in their backyard (well, almost no one), but what did you expect? A bunch of deer with U-Hauls driving away saying "screw it, we're outta here".

Comments

[the2wittybird.livejournal.com]

My money goes to the ones living with the deer. Cuz most people who choose to live in the country do so so they can look out the window and see trees and wildlife. You can ALMOST be forgiven for overlooking the trains, especially since your friendly neighborhood realtor will probably know the train schedules and keep you away from 'em till you've signed. But wildlife? c'mon

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

Man, it sucks that I can only vote for one, both offerings are extremely and essentially equally deserving.

[born-to-me.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. Reminds me of the people back home (Mid-Missouri) who got all cranked up during the 100 year flood in '93. They were incensed that their wonderful houses with a river view were getting a *real* taste of what a 'river view' is all about. *coughcoughcough* Um, hello? Does the phrase *flood plain* mean ANYTHING to you idiots???

*sigh*

[ericcoleman]

I remember the back patio of a building on Lake Shore Drive about 5000 north vanishing one stormy night. Suddenly you could buy a condo in that building cheap

[uplinktruck.livejournal.com]

Not only are some people trying to stop building of any industrial operation (like power plants in California) anywhere in within 25 air miles of their homes, now they're moving in next to existing industry and expecting that very same industry to fit their life style.

What are we coming to?

Those folks are really going to love it when the new federal regulations regarding railroad crossings and horn blowing come on line in July. And they think it's noisy now... *evil grin* Sorry I won't be there to see it.

[awfulhorrid.livejournal.com]

My uncle's wife's family owned the Wake County Speedway in Raleigh, NC. Now this track was built in 1962 and runs races every Friday night for several months out of the year. Even though it's only a small 1/4 mile (formerly) dirt track, it's not exactly an easy thing to overlook when you're in the area ... the rather large signs saying "Wake County Speedway" for example should be a dead giveaway to your average person. Or at least you would think so, right?

Still, in the mid 80's, the incroachment of yuppies from the surrounding areas suddenly noticed this loud noise every weekend and demanded that someone Do Something about it! Now luckily, the local magistrates (or whatever they're called there in NC) were sensible enough to realize that the track was there long before these people moved in, so a compromise was reached, allowing the track to remain in business, but the cars are now required to have mufflers.

[liana]

So close... so close. I had to go with the deer story though, on the theory that railroad companies can defend themselves better than deer.