Farm Worker Refuge Camp
To the editor:
The legal maneuvering to build an apartment complex for Farm Workers on Pine Island continues. On appeal, a Special Magistrate recommended approval of Special Exemptions to build six two-story buildings of 32 2 bedroom units and 32 – 3 bedroom units. There would be a Club House, Common Area, Sewage Plant and parking for 152 cars.
Besides the fact that there is no need for this complex, it is a terrible idea. A high-density low cost housing complex creates a bad social environment. In most major cities these housing projects have been torn down. Instead of improving people’s hopes and aspirations these housing developments ground down people’s will, and their greatest dream was to escape from the “projects.” What had began as an urban planners dream to do good, in reality achieved the opposite results.
The planning is wrong because it is a high-density complex for one socio-economic class of people. They are not integrated into the community and are confined as in a labor camp. The first phase of The Palms At Pine Island would have a minimum occupancy of 320 people. The second phase would raise that to about 640 people. When all the residents are the same low-income occupation, it becomes housing of last resort. A few bad apples are inevitable and they do not spoil the whole bunch – they terrorize them.
High-density, low-income housing developments cause well documented problems. People are dragged down by the neglect of the shared spaces by the lowest common denominator occupant of the institutionalized building. They share entryways, halls, stairways and balconies. These common spaces have no ownership and are neglected and abused. They collect filth and debris because everyone thinks, “It’s not my space.” This well-known design failure is called, “Indefensible Space.” These areas can become ambush zones. Lights can be disabled and unsuspecting people are mugged, raped and murdered.
This type of development is the worst type of discrimination. It is economic or class segregation. Separating these people into one socio-income compound demeans them and denies them an equal standing in the community. It is as if to say, “We don’t want you among us; we’re going to pack all of you together over there.”
There are strict laws and regulations prohibiting racial discrimination in this country. There is an abundant stock of existing low income housing on Pine Island. Therefore, the few farm workers presently live in independent small density housing units integrated in our community. This is good for their self-esteem and the development of their children. They have positive role models in their neighborhood. They have pride in the level of care and maintenance of their exterior space. They can defend their outside areas and entries. To allow the proposed development would deny them of these freedoms. Please plan on attending the hearing before the Lee County Commissioners on Feb. 10, at 9:30 a.m. to make your objections to this project.
Roger Wood
Saint James City