Spring Valley Civic Assn.

sidewalk beautification

The reason that they (Southfield City Council and Mayor) want to start with this sidewalk beautification program is to see how much they can push the hard working lower income and fixed income residents out. We pay one of the highest property taxes in Oakland County. But they want more taxes from new residents. (we did need a state of the art Library and Cable TV station)

Look at all the foreclosures all around us. I have one behind us and one next to our home. I have counted at lease 8 vacant homes in Sharon Meadows. Do you think new sidewalks will bring new residents into Southfield?

legislation and grants

Steven,

In Michigan, I think there are legal ramifications to not having sidewalks in communities and there was legislated a requirement to install sidewalks.

$2500 divided over 10 years (120 months) = $21 a-month. That does not seem like an amount that can cause hardship.

For low income, which I am not sure that this area in Southfield, would qualify as a low income neighborhood?

But, my understanding is that for fixed income there are some provisions being made to assist seniors to pay for this project.

Participation

I think it is important that our neighbors participate in the city business, especially if it involves our subdivision. I applaud you for caring.

Economy is bad in michigan

I think that we need to get as much improvment in the subdivision as possible. The cost of improvements would be much higher if we as individual homeowners went at it alone.

Some homeowners may not even make the improvements. I lived in the City of Detroit and there they would rip it up and then charge you. At least here there is an effort to fray some of the cost. Unfortunately, for some homeowners the builder did not include sidewalks in front of some homes and that is costing some homeowners more than others.