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buildings. Old factory buildings have
been renovated for residential use.
Vacant lots have been combined and
built upon to form high-end condo-
miniums which tower over nearby
buildings. But these shifts are only
the beginning. The City of Bayonne
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CHANGING SHAPE...
from page 31.
has several development projects in
the pipeline. In addition, Midtown
Manhattan will see construction begin
on a super tall 90-story condominium.
These new “super buildings” are
designed as self-contained neighbor-
hoods. Planners are incorporating gro-
cery stores, hair salons, doctor’s offices,
day-care facilities, pet grooming and
boarding, gyms, restaurants and movie
theaters into the footprint of the building.
The idea that one can walk to every
needed store and jump on public trans-
portation for work, has become very
attractive to many in the housing market.
Some projects have taken forward
thinking steps of incorporating electrical
energy generation and water recla-
mation facilities. Even outside of the
cities, new neighborhoods are being
designed to contain all of these features
within walking distance of each home.
But not everyone feels that this “smart
growth” or these “super condos” are a
benefit. In each of these areas, local
and long-time residents have voiced
opposition to the proposed project. In
Bayonne, a group of residents banded
together and took action seeking for the
recall of the city’s mayor. Opposition
can be based on feelings that the new
developments erase history, lead to
gentrification, destroy the neighbor’s
spirit and numerous other objective or
subjective concerns. In addition, these
super buildings change or block the
ever important view of the neighboring
buildings.
As these super buildings and self-con-
tained neighborhoods multiply, young
families find that their living choices
have become limited. Many parents
can not even find a home in a tradi-
tional neighbor which mirrors the one
in which they grew up. These parents
have come to the realization that the
neighborhoods of yesterday have been
replaced. We now find more families
living within a block, yet never getting
the chance to really know their neigh-
bors that may live above or below
them. One can only wonder what
memories of their neighbors the children
of tomorrow’s generation will have. n