Do we need Mass Development in Order to Recover?

By Roxann Ploss

This IS the turning point. Either we choose to become a city of high rises and high density or we find away to regain the charm and beauty which made us world-famous.

Mother Nature has very recently, very painfully and very often reminded us that overbuilding on fragile, unstable land will lead to tragedy. Think of La Conchita or Laguna. And, of course, New Orleans. To overbuild is, in my opinion, irresponsible. What about water, air, dust particulates, beauty, mountain views? Our economy depends upon these things to draw the tourist away from their hot, dusty, gridlocked and noisy hometowns. If you read any of the travel magazines, you know that "quaint" sells! Why would holiday-seekers come here if we are going to give them more of what they already have at home?? No one sends home a postcard of The Olive Garden!

Five story buildings in three sections of downtown strung together with others 45 feet high will create a canyon of heat, glare and noise. You will have a lot of new buildings...four or five years from now....but no guarantee that you can fill them. Plus, I am always amazed when I hear one developer who repeatedly says, "when you are standing close to a building, it doesn't matter how high it is." That is utterly astounding to me because that assumes that no one in this town, resident or tourist alike, will ever be more than four feet away from that building! When I stand a block away from the hospital, it does, without equivocation, block my views of the mountain. That is the same for most of the residents.

But I am not anti-development. I agree wholeheartedly that some of our buildings are beyond redemption and MUST come down. They should be replaced by architecture that says "Palm Springs". And I am 100% in favor of the developer who is innovative and has the foresight to save what (s)he can of our current buildings by remodeling, rediscovering their forgotten charm and allure. The entrepreneurs of the 80's did just that with the small hotels, making them world famous. They added to the city through greatly enhanced T.O.T. (Transient Occupancy Tax)...and better looking neighborhoods and at no added cost to the infrastructure. And the entrepreneurs of the early 2000's have been those who have purchased beat-up older homes, completely fixed them up and then "flipped" them. They have added to the city through greatly increased property taxes...and better looking neighborhood and at no cost to the infrastructure.

We have a wonderfully "walkable" street which, admittedly, is in serious need of a lot of TLC. But I cannot see how we will be benefited by a "we are closed for construction" sign being in place for three to five years. What I propose would be the beautification of one block at a time.

And instead of sending six people to Las Vegas looking for the big ticket stores which do not understand the word "seasonal", I would actively promote local-owner run businesses which specialize in one-of-a-kind items. I would work with landholders to find an equitable arrangement for their tenants so that small business owners would not be "hiked" (on their rents) out of business. Let us concentrate on, as I said, renovation and innovation; this will add to the sales tax revenues ....and the beauty of our neighborhood and at no added cost to the infrastructure.

It is time to decide whether we want to be "Everytown, USA" by letting the developers run amok or Palm Springs, California by finding creative ways to retain and improve what we have.