While reading in recent issues of your Wednesday newspaper about something called “Developer Jim Pace’s vision for the heart of Fayetteville,” I was reminded of the words of an old song: “It seems to me I’ve heard that song before … an old familiar score ….”
Memories of the beginning of the downfall of my native Clayton County come flooding back. It was the early 1970s, and the silver-tongued “developers” descended with their utopian pitches on the virtues of high-density living, and commerce like we had never even dreamed about.
When the then-three-person county commission seemed to be too eager to please these guys, with spot-zoning and other approvals that never seemed to favor the long-term interests of the citizens, some of us with civic club connections across the county got to talking.
Common sense things, like Fayetteville’s requiring sprinklers in single family homes less than 20 feet apart, began to be tossed aside for these guys. That kind of action really raised suspicions.
Some of our number who were “legal beagles,” or Bob Woodward-type newspaper guys, got to digging. Turned out that all three commissioners had ties to the “developers” and stood to gain personally from their official actions.
A recall effort failed, as they usually do, but voters learned enough to throw the three bums out on the next election cycle. A seven-person county commission was installed, as I recall.
However, eventually big money “developers” had their way. All of that high density housing, supposed to keep the young people at home, and the promised commercial boom, with jobs galore, turned into the mess you see in Clayton County today.
Spineless and/or corrupt officials, combined with apathy of too many citizens, spoiled a once great place to grow up. All of those silver-tongued “developers” and land owners who pocketed millions are now six feet under the grass, and their legacy is something their heirs would not set foot on today.
After about 25 years of being out “conquering the world,” I retired and returned to this area of my heritage. But, after 15 years living in Fayette County, I have yet to meet a single person who came here for a high-density, urban lifestyle.
That seems to be exactly what is at the heart of “Jim Pace’s vision.” God forbid! The hired city planners seem to be of the same mind, and are not apparently working to continue the type of family-oriented environment most citizens came here to enjoy.
Note: If you decide to print this, please withhold my name. I’m just trying to tell a cautionary tale from my own experiences, for whatever good use you can make of it.
Name withheld by request
