[Durham INC] FW: Alston Widening

[Matt Dudek]

Barry,

NCDOT has two options available: the original widening option which would
demolish the Los Primos Grocery Store, and a new "environmental justice"
option which would leave Los Primos, but would take property from some local
businesses and the Durham Rescue Mission, and would require some tall
retaining walls. There is money available for both of these options so
building could be started immediately.

While many of us who live in North East Central Durham would like to see
some improvements to Alston Ave. have asked for things like landscaping,
bike lanes, sidewalk improvements, etc. etc. we have been told the current
money available can only be used for NCDOT's two current options. This
forces us to push the No Build option and to push for future money to go for
improvements.

The widening of Alston Ave would cause irreparable harm to NECD and would
destroy the continuity of the neighborhoods along Alston Avenue. All of the
revitalization going on in Durham is based around walkable, tight knit
neighborhoods and communities. To put a highway in the middle of that
revitalization will destroy the work going on here and cut off neighborhoods
from Downtown's Revitalization just like cities were cut up by highways in
the era of Urban Renewal. These roads don't bring economic development, they
just allow people to leave the neighborhood faster, or never stop in it.

Matt Dudek
*502 Mallard Ave.*
Cleveland-Holloway

On Sat, Dec 18, 2010 at 9:29 AM, Barry Ragin <bragin at nc.rr.com> wrote:

> "I respect the opinions of other people who *do not want or see no need for
> improvements* to Alston Avenue."
>
> It's not clear to me that these are the only options being discussed
> regarding Alston Avenue. I believe that alternatives to NCDOT's proposed
> design of the Alston Ave. widening project have been put forth.
>
> Barry Ragin
>
>
> On 12/18/10 8:52 AM, Tom Miller wrote:
>
>>
>> Here are comments from Don Yarboro about Alston Avenue.  I still have very
>> serious misgivings about the project and I reject completely that we should
>> do the project simply because DOT is offer to pay for it.   But, as we study
>> the widening issue, I suggest that we invite someone from the NECD to share
>> their views officially.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>> *From:*Donald Yarboro [mailto:donaldtms at hotmail.com]
>> *Sent:* Friday, December 17, 2010 1:42 PM
>> *To:* tom-miller1 at nc.rr.com
>> *Subject:* Alston Widening
>>
>> Good Afternoon Tom,
>>
>> I hope you and your family are enjoying the best of health and prosperity
>> this Christmas season. I enjoyed reading the article in the Durham News
>> about Alston Avenue and wanted to weigh in on the positive side of the
>> widening of Alston Avenue.  I write to you as a lifelong resident of Durham,
>> a former resident of the neighborhood and a major stakeholder in Northeast
>> Central Durham.  During the past four years I have served on the Northeast
>> Central Durham Leadership Council.  The Council is a citizen body made up of
>> NECD homeowners, business owners, city staff and long tenure neighborhood
>> activates.  The council feels it is in the best interest of NECD to move
>> forward with the widening of Alston Avenue. Pac 1 has also voted to support
>> the widening of Alston Avenue. Ernie Mills of the Durham Rescue Mission is
>> in favor of the widening.  The widening of Alston Avenue is a need not a
>> want for the safety and security of the neighborhood.  The NCDOT says that
>> the accident rate on this section of Alston Avenue is some of the highest in
>> the state. The new widening will make the road safer for traffic and
>> pedestrians.
>>
>> NECD has a bright future and the widening will enhance the perception of
>> the neighborhood.  When you ride from Hwy 147 (Durham Expressway) north to
>> Holloway Street you encounter many blighted non historical and non
>> conforming properties showing years of neglect.  The widening will justly
>> compensate the owners for their property and this blight will be removed.  I
>> experience this firsthand when my customers arrive at our building and have
>> already formed a negative opinion of the neighborhood.
>>
>> The widening will have a positive effect on the short and long term
>> economic situation in the neighborhood.  I remember when NECD had four
>> banks.  Today there are none.  NECD was the leader in manufacturing for many
>> years but most companies pulled out.  NECD needs jobs for their residents.
>>  Economic activity will have a better chance to move forward with the
>> widening of Alston Avenue.
>>
>> Debate and discussion is healthy for any major change to a neighborhood.
>>  I respect the opinions of other people who do not want or see no need for
>> improvements to Alston Avenue. I  hope the the above discussion points will
>> help give you some of the positive attributes of the Alston widening.  I
>> speak only for myself in this email.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Donald Yarboro
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> list at durham-inc.org
>> http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
>>
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