University Terrace Is a Blessing

Since this is the “Yes” blog, I guess I have tipped my hand on my position regarding the NSO. However, I want to say at the outset that I understand why others might vote differently, and I am not particularly comfortable with the yes/no choice that we have to make. I am somewhat saddened by the divisiveness that it has generated.

At another time, I will go into my opinions on at least some of the issues that have been raised and commented on previously on this blog. First, though, I want to say something about how I feel about our neighborhood.

We moved here in 1970 into a two-bedroom house with 1150 square feet on the diagram. While it looked pretty big when it was empty, it was pretty easy to fill up. Nevertheless, we did not see how we could ever afford the mortgage payment, which in the next 30 years became dwarfed by the insurance and taxes.

When we moved in, there were only a few children on our street. We were pleased to have three living right next door for a while in a rented house, but they moved after a few years and left us hunting hard for playmates for our two kids. Now, I am pleased to see how many young families with small children have moved in. I expect that at least some of these parents are wondering how they will ever afford to pay the mortgage and other costs of a home.

One of our newest neighbors is our son, daughter-in-law, and one-year old granddaughter. They live three doors down in a house my wife and I are financing, which included remodeling the house from the studs to the brick. I know what their mortgage payment is, and I know they are wondering how they will be able to keep up with that mortgage.

I can’t tell you what a joy it is to live so close to these kids and our granddaughter. And I believe in my heart that we could never have swung such a deal in a neighborhood with larger homes. If my faith were stronger, I would say that Someone wanted us to stay here for so long just so we could do this. Faith or not, I feel that we have been truly blessed.

My larger point is that I think the University Terrace neighborhood has been and can be that kind of blessing for a lot of people. Its high quality has continued for the 30 years I have been here, and it is still affordable, making it a hallmark of value. The current residents are obviously taking advantage of that value, and I think we should consider maintaining the blessing we have enjoyed for future residents. This neighborhood is something special, and we should recognize that and act accordingly.

If/when I write again, I’ll try to go a little less “Touched By An Angel.” I promise.

Pete Dickson