HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #32 Nancy Poore
Butler, Bric
From:Nancy Poore <poorerobin@yahoo.com>
Sent:Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:42 PM
To:Butler, Bric
Subject:Regarding the apartment housing BOOM in Carmel
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
We are 30 year residents of northern Indy, on the border of southern Carmel. We urge the council and any "powers that
be" to actively GUIDE housing expansion with thoughtful wisdom.
Three things:
1. The Metro area doesn't need more pricey units. Affordable housing is more likely to find a ready market. Young
people are sharing houses well beyond their COLLEGE years. Research shows they are also living with
parents. Overbuilding higher priced units will eventually saturate the market and (as we already observe with business
parks) there will be empty units. Developers who walk away with their profits early in the game do not care about vacant
units.
2. Developers are leaning toward three story condos. Fun when you are young perhaps, but these units are not
adaptable to older buyers, even when their footage equates to a "downsize".
Again, the developers seem to be CRAMMING as many units as possible on the footprint. We'd like to see an increase
in single story homes that can adapt and last a lifetime. If these are seeded into every neighborhood it establishes a
housing mix that has many benefits. Take a look at North Williow Estates and College Park Estates, in
indianapolis. First time buyers and seniors balance the demographic. Carmel has plenty of oversized homes occupied
by only four family members. Build high-quality, durable "starter-size ranch homes, 2-3 bd/2 bath, and serve first-time
homeowners AS WELL AS seniors looking to downsize while staying in their familiar community.
3. We are concerned at the traffic and population density issues posed in some areas where existing roadways will be
overcrowded with SO many new apartment units exploding. Example: 96th Street at Westfield. Two HUGE three story
condo or apartment units, one on EACH SIDE of I465. How many cars will this add to the two-lane roads that are their
ONLY egress? Is anyone asking these questions? More important: Does community leadership care? Or is leadership
only impressed with unbridled growth and business opportunities? Both of these properties were formerly wooded or
farmed. Were they rezoned? Don't know the answer, but this is why it is tragic that urban planning was abandoned in our
nation.
Thank you for listening to our observations and frank opinions.
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