PAVED PARADISE

A post in the Front Porch Forums --
By Dave Curtis, Lafountain St Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 7:12 am

Do we all remember the planning and meetings that went on and on concerning the YMCA moving to the Moran Plant?

Do we all remember the public vote where the overwhelming majority said to tear it down and create open green space?

In the paper the other day was a flyer describing the proposal. Look carefully at the overview/map; it appears as though not one inch of green space has been created. However, there is a lake front parking lot with scenic pavement and probably beautiful painted lines. Actually there's a song about all that...

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
and a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

In the very recent past the voters resoundingly spoke. Burlington shouldn't be about parking lots. Granted no one is planning a "....Pink Hotel, a boutique and a swinging hot spot...." but we are planning on "...North America's first indoor ice climbing facility, a health & fitness center, cafe, bar & restaurant." I wonder whether the bar & restaurant will be pink next to the parking lot.

Once it is gone and converted into cafes, bars, restaurants, and assorted shabbiness the ability to have a park enjoyed by everyone will be lost. It seems to me that every one of the parts of the proposal are catering to visitors - how about us?

Please remember - we have voted on this already. Ask the obvious question - why aren't our city officials remembering that?