"I understand what neighbors are saying about character, but the ordinances do not control a neighborhood's expectation of what that character should be," Strapko says. "People are looking out their windows at the houses on the block, seeing what's there now and seeing that as neighborhood character. But the character of the neighborhood from my perspective is what can be built there legally. It's frustrating to tell people, 'I know you don't like it, and I agree with you, but I can't prevent it.' I see where they're coming from. Developers are going into popular and desirable neighborhoods and exploiting them for profit. The people who live there want to retain what makes the area desirable. But if it doesn't violate the ordinances, no one can say anything about it."
But Olson and his neighbors still have plenty to say. While other nearby neighborhoods, such as Washington Park and Bonnie Brae, are fighting scrape-offs and pop tops by modifying zoning or establishing historic districts, Cory-Merrill is taking a more traditional approach -- inviting developers to association meetings, distributing information packets about variances, bird-dogging new construction, attending zoning hearings and studying codes.
James Bludworth
Think big: A new house on South Clayton Street dwarfs its neighbors.
James Bludworth
Another monster's on the way.
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It's not that they oppose every new construction project. And it's not that they want to scare away newcomers. They simply want to protect the sleepy charm and affordability that make Cory-Merrill what it is.
"We're not trying to be an aesthetic gestapo," Olson says. "We're not in a time warp, we're not stodgy, we're not against big houses per se, and we're not getting into smaller issues. We are open to the development of new housing. But there is a place for high-density and multi-use. It should not be allowed to invade every neighborhood."
Olson stops his car in front of a small brick house on Elizabeth Street that's slated to become another scrape-off. Once again, the owner wants to build bigger than Cory-Merrill's zoning allows. "This area is undergoing redevelopment," the owner said in a building notice. "My project is in keeping with this redevelopment trend."
"To which I say, 'Hogwash,'" Olson grumbles. "There is no redevelopment on this block. Or even the next block. That is just a total misstatement."
This house will be a test case for the neighborhood association, Olson says. And if the city grants another variance and allows a monster home to become even more monstrous, they'll move on to the next scrape-off. And the next one. And the next one.
"What else are we to do?" he says. "Roll over? Give up? We have to make our presence felt. One thing is for certain. If you sit back and allow the rape to go on, there is no hope. We want them to know we're here and we're organized, and hopefully the word will get around. We're watching."
