Commentary: Serious sign pollution

It was a continuing effort, a series of improvements, battles against commercial interests and periodic maintenance. Individuals contributed their money to supplement public funds to buy part of the land along the boulevard.

Neighborhood groups cooperated with the city and businesses to keep the area clean and green and fought to protect it from commercial development.

The goal was something on which almost everyone could agree – simply to make it possible for people to enjoy a pleasant drive to the Cultural Center and adjacent residential neighborhoods.

Many out-of-town visitors would base their opinions about Flint on the pleasant impressions they gained on the short drive between Dort Highway and one of the institutions in the Cultural Center, an adjacent residential neighborhood, Mott Community College, St. Joseph Hospital or one of the nearby businesses. A simple drive on Longway was more effective at reducing negative impressions about Flint than all of the high-priced publicity campaigns developed to improve Flint's image combined.

If you have been on Longway in the past few weeks you know that the value is about to be destroyed so that a company can make a few bucks – probably from the liquor or tobacco industry.

The massive billboard going up on the corner of Longway and Vernon is only the first of at least two, and maybe more, planned for the north side of Longway on land owned by the Grand Trunk Western Railroad.

According to every public official we have talked to it is a shame, but there is nothing they can do to prevent that billboard, or a whole string of billboards being built on the north side of Longway.

Frankly, we do not think they are trying hard enough. Any government that can find millions of dollars to build and maintain AutoWorld year after year, without any tangible or intangible return to the city and its residents, should be able to ensure that this valuable resource is protected.

Given government's apparent lack of will, it looks like it is up to ordinary Flint residents to do something about this threat.

The first step is to encourage government officials to solve the problem. Write letters to elected officials and editors, circulate petitions and speak at Flint City Council meetings to ensure that they know that you care about this degradation of Flint's environment.

The most obvious solution to the problem is to buy the land from the railroad, tear down the billboards and dedicate the land as a park. This would ensure that there could be no commercial development of the land. The current situation makes it possible for the railroad to sell part or all of the land to anyone for a variety of kinds of development.

The amount of money needed to do this is much less than the railroad's asking price because there is already a potential buyer which plans a compatible use for the land.

For many years there have been plans to use the property for a Gilkey Creek flood control project to eliminate the periodic flooding in the East Court Street neighborhood. The County Drain Commission was negotiating with the railroad for the property but the deal stalled when the railroad increased the price a few months ago.

We do not know what the difference between the asked and offered prices was, but it is reasonable to assume that the difference is less than the original price the county was willing to pay.

There are several potential sources of money to buy the land other than the city operating budget.

The Nature Conservancy, a national non-profit organization which has received grants from the Mott Foundation, chose to buy the whole Manning Street neighborhood between the Flint Institute of Music and Chavez to protect the Cultural Center from development on the fringes. The cost was probably significantly higher than what it would cost to buy the railroad's property because there were houses on the Manning Street area properties. The group should be asked to help.

Alternatively, the city could seek funds directly from foundations or even civic-minded individuals.

To say that there is nothing that can be done to stop this assault on a valuable Flint resource is simply not true. It can be done if government officials have the will.

It is up to you and other "ordinary" residents to let your leaders know that you expect them to lead.

GPC