New Berlin Housing

The proposed MSP development in New Berlin's City Center discussion is getting ugly. Reportedly a public meeting on May 25th showed anger and disenchantment with the development. In fact, according to an observer, according to what people were saying at the recent public meeting, you would've thought people who could pay $1,100 for a 3-bedroom unit were the lowest of the low, scum of the earth, etc.!

A group has formed over this issue.

Some of those at the library meeting said that workforce housing is not the vision the city presented to residents when the city center plan was developed 11 years ago. Upscale condominiums were envisioned. The condominium residents were seen as being able to support the high-end shops that city officials hoped to attract to the retail section of the city center.

The original vision obviously is not working. That's sort of what happens when every community seek to only permit-I mean, attract-the upper echelons of the population. I think that's called social engineering.

There have been plenty of research disproving many, if not all, of the fears that people have about this type of development. Housing Tax Credits does not equal low property values and crime. If anything, property values have been shown to increase. Tax-credit housing also has a rigorous tenant screening process, so crime & safety is not the concern people claim.

This is pure NIMBYism.

The next meeting with this on the agenda is June 7 at 6 PM at New Berlin's Council Chambers in the City Hall at 3805 S. Casper Drive. Please come to show your support for affordable housing.