What better use of a city's assets could there be than to provide care and respite to some of its most vulnerable citizens? By allowing rent to stay at $1 per year, the city is ensuring that the vast majority of money donated to and raised by the centre to go towards the care of its residents.
From the sounds of it, this centre is offering support and reassurance to the families of residents and is providing a safe and regulated environment for those that are cared for. This centre, a lot like the HOPE Foundation in my own city, Cork, which helps its residents live with dignity in a caring environment.
If the land is so valuable, then the developer could build a new centre and offer it to the centre at $1 for the remainder of the contract that was in place for the city. The city could also assist with this development, allowing both groups to salvage some self-respect and dignity from this move.
Tom beat me to it.
Have the developer build the new center as part of the deal.
But hey - in the post-Kelo climate in which we live, owning a deed outright isn't a guarantee anymore.
When I read the story, I wondered if the real estate in question was the same place where we played some our most fun and memorable gigs!
What better use of a city's assets could there be than to provide care and respite to some of its most vulnerable citizens?
I agree completely.
This is the difference between the American point of view and one held in other parts of the world.
In the U.S., the almighty dollar rules supreme, and there are people who would think of nothing of putting these citizens out on the street in exchange for a valuable piece of land.
I think there is a deal to be worked out here by people with good hearts and common sense, and that's one reason I wanted to write about it ... to add my voice and little light to the subject.
When I read the story, I wondered if the real estate in question was the same place where we played some our most fun and memorable gigs!
Yep ... that's the place. They were indeed fun, weren't they? I enjoyed playing there.
This real estate company reminds me of Ebenezer Scrooge in "The Christmas Carol," with its eyes on the money and complete disregard for the plights of others.
I'm happy to hear there is a fight against this low blow. Perhaps there are enough compassionate people in this world to generate support to keep the center in place.
As for the idea to build a new center, it sounds good, but it's not logical. If this company is truly in for a profit it is not likely to give its money in construction costs, unless it actually cares about its public image and has any consideration for those in need.
Let’s pray for an epiphany.
Commenting by HaloScan
