Conservation easement eyed as buffer

Wow, you mean to tell me these fools haven't come to their senses on this yet and they are still toying with this notion?

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What is your concern WatchDog?

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This has future disaster written all over it. But this is what happens when spur of the moment $$ waving under the nose can do to ones senses that gives no thought process to long term impacts on major projects like this and what it can create for the future.

Fast forward. Phase one of three, complete and 120 rental units underway, living in those 120 multi-family units is going to at best 70 percent of families already living right here in Salem moving into them to escape the "what I call" rental home get rich scheme by landlords that have slummed up Salem. That means approx. based on the actual families who will be relocating their from all over the city...approx. that first phase will house (guessing) at least over 100 children.

Just out of curiosity, since we don't hear a peep out out the school board on this project, (no surprise), do they have a plan underway for the impact alone this is going to make on our school district? Busing will take whole new meaning.

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That is only phase one. I predict, Walmart, might be wrong, but I think Walmart will be the new playground.

Let see, if I can do some math here. A family of four with an annual income of $32,160 could qualify to live in the apartments.

So that means a mom working full time at Walmart and a dad working full time at say McDonals, yep, they qualify. Right along with their two small children.

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Now let's throw ontop the 120 now vacant rental homes all over Salem. It is no secret, Salem has out a welcome mat...we have been notoriously picking up E.Liverpool and Youngstown misfits? Throw ontop of that criminal relocation program. Court records and jail logs don't lie.

So now those 120 rental units are now filled. Hey look at that Salem just grew our population. A population that now exceeds the grwoth numbers of employment, unless of course, there is some major job boom about to happen that Kosiba and SOD is secretly hiding from us.

My guess, just a guess, I foresee crime picking up, development they brag about, I say, two more cops on each shift. FD will be busy. That Salem health department, yep, it will be busy busy too.

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The catch of all of this...who is going to pay for it? The makeup of Salem and the average household incomes can't be denied. The city is looking at income revenues? I'm looking at the numbers of what it is going to cost the city. I see a no win.

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To big of project in the wrong area. Just my opinion.

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If there was a industry coming into Salem and that plant with job openings to 200 people along side this project, you wouldn't hear a peep out of me. Because that is equal growth, one balances out the other. But that is not happening here.

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Employment is on the rise in Salem evidenced by the increase in withholding tax collections year-over-year. The hospital is adding employees as are many of the local manufacturers. You say that the schools should be concerned, but you also say most of the residents will come from other Salem slums? These 100 kids you mention are already here.

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Truth is a new teacher, or a new police officer, or a new firefighter that is recently married with a small child and a spouse that works part time also fits the profile for tenancy. Also, if a high-quality, well-managed apartment complex comes to town, maybe the competition would coax the other landlords to fix up, or tear down. Although your intentions are well meaning, it seems you are doing more fear-mongering than fact-mongering.

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truthbtold, you didn't understand what I wrote and I apologize. Forget the fact that this is a apartment complex. This is phase one of phase three. The first phase built will consist of 120 units. 120 homes for a 120 families that will average 4 people per unit. Those 120 families and I will be nice and say...approx. could add up to at least 480 people giving and taking single adults to parents with two or three children. The fact remains that is at least an estimated guess of about 100 children living there and that will be guaranteed and that is a low figure.

All those 120 families just left 120 other houses or apartments. They are now available. Those 120 available will be open to whom? The outside public. They will move in. With no job market...who do you think will move here? Do you really foresee a middle class family moving into a vacated low income house or apartment? Seriously?

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Those kids relocated still have to bussed to school. Where? Then throw ontop the 120 new families moving into Salem? Add those kids and put them into the school system?

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"Although your intentions are well meaning, it seems you are doing more fear-mongering than fact-mongering."

Well guess what? It's not up to me to research those facts...our elected leaders up their with Berlin had better have done all their homework. I'm just giving them something to think about. I hope I am wrong on this. I really do.

However, there a lot of contributing factors to take into consideration. This is not a small project. I'm looking at other things too. We have a lot of uncertainty in this country. Salem does not have a dome around it exempting us from the rest of the Federal Government crisis unfolding. I have a bad feeling that we are going to get slapped with some tax hikes. I also think, alot of these small business in Salem are going to be kicked in the gut. I think our illustrious hospital is going to feel the impact of Obamacare when that Insurance change takes affect in October. I think Salem is going to feel that crunch.

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Obama did not just jump in bed with the insurance industry a couple months ago because he had nothing better to do. That is just steaming up with the cover of "insurance fraud by hospitals and doctors. He has to get medical costs down. I think Salem hospital is going to regret that luxury high rise hotel they are building. I just think things are going to get ugly before they get better. All those free government handouts are going to start being eliminated and the many families already here in Salem existing on some type of financial assistance will feel that brunt of it.

All I am saying...our city leaders better be absolutely sure about this decision. Once it is locked there is no going back.

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NRC Group, seriously, do you think they don't know what they are doing? They are closely watching that housing market and targeting their areas carefully. Foreclosures are their best friend. These are rental properties.

Again, I hope I am wrong.

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You say "Employment is on the rise in Salem evidenced by the increase in withholding tax collections year-over-year." I say...costs are growing with it. We are not getting ahead. We are still at stagnant growth. Berlin did not just lay out the future debt problem coming up for nothing.

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Good points to think about, young Lady. The question is will they and are they strong enough to say no?

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