A Good Restriction

I usually am one to limit restrictions. In all areas.

I think as adults and individuals we should take on the God given responsibility of being RESPONSIBLE. Especially when the only person feeling the consequences of your behavior is you.

I think we all can decide for ourselves if we want to abuse our own bodies. Smoke, drink, inhale, or pop pills. It's up to you.

Marry a man, a woman, a transgendered individual. I don't care. That's between you and your mate. It doesn't affect me in the least.

Why are we not allowed to travel to wherever we want? As long as we legally do so. I'd love to see Cuba. I'd love to try a Cuban.

However, I do see the necessity of some restrictions, especially when safety or fairness of all is a concern.

I'm all for speed limits, non-discrimination laws, and especially now, land usage restrictions.

Why on earth are there no land or building restrictions in Multnomah County when it comes to modular homes. Or as we are now dis affectionately calling them, "Double-wides".

Yes, in our hundred year old plus neighborhood, a double wide has taken up residence in the lot adjacent.

For almost 10 years we had the pleasure of having a green lot with a few large trees between us and our neighbor. I used to be able to look out the dining room and see an apple tree and a nice park bench. Where did the daisies go?

Well, the daisies got torn out and replaced with fake-siding and a roof.

And to top it all off, the "house" is located only about 5 feet off the sidewalk. So walking down our sidewalk you don't see our quaint 1904 home until you're right in front of it. Instead you see the facade of a double-wide.

I get that we are zoned "store-front commercial". That's a restriction that we have to abide by being in a neighborhood that has a busy street 4-5 houses from ours. But doesn't the "store front" restriction mean it's supposed to be an attractive storefront? Not a warehouse or new double wide?

I've seen many new homes go up in our neighborhood over the last 10 years. Old homes have been torn down because they weren't labeled restorative. But thankfully new homes are being built which are based on century old floor plans, just with new, renewable materials.

How can putting a double wide in our neighborhood and next to your OWN HOME improve the quality and value of this neighborhood. Our neighbors devalued their own home. Stupid.

SO, Multnomah County, please focus your attention on how you are devaluing the community. Double wides, warehouses, and ugly buildings do not improve where we live. They don't attract new families or new money to the community.

For 10 years our neighborhood was improving.

Homes were being rennovated. New homes with old floorplans were being built. Meth houses were vacated. Yards and gardens were carefully planned. Neighbors became friends. And more and more families and kids socialized outside.

Let's develop a sensible restriction. Prohibit modular "homes" from being placed in old, quaint, and improving neighborhoods. They belong in modular home parks or out in the country... not in neighborhoods that have worked for decades to improve our surroundings.