Wednesday, April 23, 2008

What urbanization looks like, from my dining room


The cranes in the further distance are entombed in the ever-rising concrete of a multi-use, commercial / residential tower development one block over from us, the one that Pynchon read about in the paper on the day we moved in, three years ago:


The brick buildings just beyond my back fence? That's the business owned by Condo Jerks, currently festooned in humongous 'going out of business' signs. We actually received from them a flyer promoting the sell-off of the contents of their retail showroom, the one into whose front door I stared for so many months, breastfeeding Munchkin: the flyer crowed about all the good deals to be had, and promoted the 'exclusive new luxury condominium development' soon to break ground. Break ground on my property.

Ain't life funny?

It's working out for us. And I can laugh, maybe a little, because I am a strong supporter of urban densification, urban revitalization, living/working in the core of our city. I liked it so much, I bought the company! as the man from Remington said. I believed in it so much, my house got knocked down for condo visitor parking!

Ha. Ha-ha. I'm recovering. I'm starting to laugh again.

12 comments:

kittenpie said...

Glad to hear it - it does get easier when it turned out okay in the end, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

What kind of window trim will you have in the new house? You know I love your window trim.

Beck said...

I'm so glad I live here where people only move away and the houses are empty and fall down.
(maybe not.)

Christine said...

i'm glad it is working out ok for you guys, but the big picture is sad.

Anonymous said...

Beck. She makes me laugh.

Mimi, I named dropped you over at my place.

Jenifer said...

It's kind of like coming up for air and not knowing which way is up. I'm glad you are at a place where you can find the humour (as it were) in all of it.

Anonymous said...

Finding laughter in a situation is easily the best gift to have.

crazymumma said...

I was just staring at some cranes the other day. I love them.

Laughter is good.

Kyla said...

Ah, those bitterly humorous circles. Funny, but with a slight acidity.

Debbie said...

It's a tough situation, isn't it?

I am in a city that is constantly being chided for its urban sprawl. Yet, when old, delapidated homes are bought and replaced by a high density condo/mixed use project, there's an outcry about how we're losing all our character.

Is there a happy medium?

I'm glad you were able to find a home you enjoy AND that you didn't bend to the developer's initial offer.

Redneck Mommy said...

While I love vistiting the urban centres, I must confess I don't understand how people can actually live there.

I couldn't imagine not having moose poop on my patio or having to slam to a screeching halt while driving for a grouse to cross the road or trying to shake a porcupine out from a spruce tree to keep it from stripping it bald.

Good times, I tell you.

You urban dwellers are missing out.

11111111 said...

Whoa, so what? What's going on--sorry, I haven't been here in a while.