Guy Karon had heard of the acronym NIMBY before. The ‘Not in my back yard’ way of thinking. There wasn’t much objection when he built his new, industrial strength ferry dock on this side of the lake but it had caused some concern on the other side, where there was a more resort style community. He was on the other side of the issue this time. He really did object to this new development next door and wanted to light a fire under the other residents to see if it could be stopped.
He was the first to arrive at Bert Steinhardt’s door the morning of the meeting.
“Good morning, come on in.” welcomed Bert. ” This is my bloodhound, Pocano. I’ll just leave the door open for the others. Coffee?”
Helping himself to a cup, Guy said, “I guess everyone is coming except Lori Hazell. She called me yesterday to say that she was going in this morning for treatment of gallstones. Glad I don’t have to deal with that. Although I have to say this proposed development is galling enough as it is.”
Hans tapped at the door and came in, somewhat overwhelmed by the size and volume of the penthouse and amazed that his unit and this one were in the same building. He joined them over coffee.
“I have a few more details about the proposal…” he was beginning, when Jack Pardoe and Earnest arrived together. They all sat down at the dining room table, passing around the offered treats, while Pocano kept one watchful eye on the men and a hopeful one on the floor.
“Are we going to have a chair for this committee?” inquired Earnest. “Perhaps it would be better if one of you besides Hans or myself would do that.”
Guy said, “As Lori is dealing with her gallstones this morning, that leaves only Jack, and you and me, Bert. I could do it , if you are both going to be away again soon.” There were nods. This at least was agreed. “Hans was just saying that he had some new information.”
Hans began again. “Yes. As you know, this area is zoned residential and high-rise so it was more likely than not that something would eventually be proposed. I guess we just thought that the old lighthouse there was a semi-permanent fixture. Now it looks like the development is generating interest from the preservationists because it will partially restore the lighthouse and incorporate it into a kind of a plaza at street level. The new building itself will actually resemble a lighthouse in shape.”
“A thirty-some story lighthouse?” protested Guy, who had seen a few lighthouses in his line of work. “It will be massive at the base!”
“There is a proposal for a spiraling one in Chicago. That’s supposed to be even taller than this.” interjected Bert. “Does this one spiral too?”
“Not so far as I know, though it’s putting us in a tailspin.” quipped Hans. “The issue, I assume, for our building, is the actual placement of the structure on the site. Depending on where it is set, it would change the impact on ours.”
Guy looked around the table. “Everyone here is opposed to this project? No secret supporters spying in our midst? I’d like to hear what you all have to say and then give your ideas about what action we should be taking to stop it. Bert?”
Bert laughed, “You know, I’m still having a bit of trouble visualizing this.” Turning to Hans again for clarification, he asked, “So, you’re saying that there are some different places this could be set on the lot? And that depending on that, it would or wouldn’t block the view?. That’s what we’re talking about really, isn’t it?”
“That and how proximate, or close, it might be to us, yes.” replied Hans.
They all followed Bert over to the windows and stood mentally moving the new lighthouse this way and that, like a gigantic chess piece. Hans pointed out the more probable placements and the likely effect each might have. They returned to the table. Bert offered more coffee and pressed the pastries on his guests, saying “Eat up lads, we may need our strength on this one.”
“But there are other factors than structure to take into account.” said Earnest. “I recall a few cases like this in England. There are issues of increased traffic, loss of property value, and sense of community at stake too.”
“Not blending in with existing architecture likewise,” Jack started to say, “though in this case, that might be moot as there’s a lighthouse there already.”
“But not a thirty story one!” Guy interposed. “Surely the argument could be made that it wouldn’t blend in with the surrounding architecture.”
“Plus it would seem to be benefiting the new residents there at the expense of the people already living along the avenue – even though we have only been here a few years ourselves, at most,” added Jack, referring to the POP’s.
“Although,” opined Earnest, “our building would arguably block their views as well, only in the other direction, at least on the lower floors anyway.”
“On the other hand,” mused Bert aloud, “I can see that the city would benefit from over thirty stories of new taxes on a single site. And the traffic, can’t see that as an issue for the city either. This is a main street, after all. Out in the country, if we don’t like what’s going on, we just buy the acreage. Eminent domain is the only way out of that.”
“Please feel free to buy out this developer anytime Bert.” encouraged Guy. “Then we could disband this committee. In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions about our direction here? Is everyone opposed, as I asked earlier?” All of the heads were going up and down, so he continued. “Hans, what works best in these situations?”
“Letters and publicity sometimes have an effect. Attending city council meetings to express opinions. Going on record with a list of plausible, truly plausible, objections. It can have an effect on the number of votes required to approve the project.” offered Hans. “Hysteria isn’t helpful, in my experience. Neither is expressing what’s known as a “drawbridge mentality” he added. “As though we were entitled to our own castle and surrounding moat – the elite. That won’t wash in the city. Sometimes it’s possible to press for changes to the design that make it less awful – lowering the number of storeys, for instance. That’s happened before…” Into their deliberations intruded the wail of the fire alarm.
“Did we get a notice the alarms would be tested this morning?” Jack was the first to react. The fire department insisted on regularly testing alarms.
“No, this isn’t scheduled.” confirmed Earnest. “There must be smoke in one of the hallways downstairs. Let’s go down the stairs, see what’s going on. Come on.” he urged them.
“That’s one way to get rid of our objections” said Guy, “burn us out of house and home!”
“Come on Pocano, get your nose in gear.” coaxed Bert, as they all raced towards the back stairs.