Re: What do you think about the Showcase Communities?

[trevor burrowes <trevoroc@pacbell.net>]

Career/Pro wrote:
> 
> Hello Everyone,
> 
> Last week's announcement of the 16 Showcase communities brought more
> attention to the EPA Brownfields program and the other federal
> agencies involved in Brownfields.  I know that a lot of people on this
> newsgroup are involved with a Showcase Communities and I think it
> would be great to hear your thoughts (positive or negative) about the
> Showcase communities that were selected.  Perhaps we could get a brief
> report about your Showcase community.
> 
I may be somewhat out of the loop re: the BF neighborhood in East 
Palo Alto. The BF area (unless this award has expanded it) is the 
Ravenswood Industrial Area (RIA). RIA abuts a large "residential" 
neighborhood (the Weeks Neighborhood) which has a unique rural 
and agricultural flavor. The community plan for the Weeks 
Neighborhood which I and others in the community have worked to 
develop "emphasizes economic, social, and educational activities 
focused on agriculture and open space." It is essential that BF 
assistance in the RIA empowers rather than refutes the Weeks 
Plan. This is more likely to happen if BF support helps city leaders 
to look at development's impact on the RIA as a whole, and on the 
city as a whole. The Weeks Neighborhood Plan is available on 
request. Just send $2 for postage. If you're interested, please 
contact me at: trevoroc@pacbell.net.

Trevor Burrowes