Plenty of QCTimes articles worth talking about today, but I'll start with the one most likely to be talked about anyway, and maybe post something about the others later today.
Old Sears store may house prisoners -QCTimes
I'll just explain what went through my mind as I read this article.
First reaction after reading the first paragraph: This is a terrible, horrible idea. Turning the old Sears building on 4th Street into a halfway house is really not what downtown needs. Many people would have thought it'd be tough to find something worse than JLCS, but at least with the homeless its possible that they're not convicted criminals.
After reading that this would be replacing 605 Main: Oh... this is replacing the existing halfway house/probation office in the former hotel at 605 Main Street. The article doesn't say if the whole multi-story building would be abandoned, or just parts, but apparently it has mold problems. Moving a halfway house 10 blocks seems a lot less bad than bringing in a new one.
After reading that the number of inmates would increase from 84 to 120: Ok, I'm back to negative feelings. Moving inmates around downtown is one thing, adding 50% more is another. Sure it may be efficient to have them all in one place, but downtown has enough issues at the moment.
Final Thoughts: I've been in 605 Main, (as a visitor, not a resident) and its a piece of crap building. The outside hallways used to be outdoor hotel-type balcony/hallways, and were enclosed at some point, probably before I was born. The floors slope about 15 degrees, and you feel like the hallways could just peel off the rest of the building. So I understand why they want to move, even without society's new evil, mold. Putting a jail-type thing along the "Government corridor," as 4th is being reimaged as, does make some sense. The inmates are still considered incarcerated, so they aren't just out hanging around outside. Drive past 605 Main and you don't see crowds hanging out. I'd suspect they don't run off much, because that would land them back in all-the-way jail just when they're about to be released. It seems like a good reuse of this under-used building.
But..... MORE inmates? No way... not downtown. I'd support it if it were just moving them around, but adding 36 more is not a good thing. Also, even though I don't despise D1 like some do, why the heck are they so up on this project?? This is a long way from senior citizen housing, and while I can see the benefits for the Department of Corrections Services, what are the benefits to downtown, or the citizens of Davenport? Is there some grand plan for the property at 605 Main?
If they could just work out a way to house the new 36 inmate/residents outside of downtown Davenport, I could see myself defending this idea. The way it is... I'm at best neutral, and at worst completely opposed to it.
9 comments:
I don't feel a halfway house is a crime solution. It allows criminals access to the area, or a chance to run. Build more prisons and do away with early release.
I'm going to have to agree with Colonel Davenport.
A halfway house could be considered part of the revolving door problem, unless you believe that they only allow the "good" criminals to get out. That would free up space to keep the "bad" ones in longer, I suppose.
I don't know, like I said, I might be neutral about this. I just wonder if there are other cities that don't even have a halfway house.
Turning an old retail store into a residential facility, one word, costly. Many coming out of prison have substance abuse related to there crimes, not good placing them within spitting distance of dope dealers.
D1 just wants the square footage to disappear from its statistics of available space downtown.
Granted, a lot of people don't know what the hell 605 Main St is because people don't live near it. Drive past anything and do you really know what goes on. One of the postive things about the skatepark is the addition of the parking lot at Warren and River Drive, serving as an entrace to the riverfront at Warren. What a great new access toward the river for people living west of Gaines. Now less than a month after the skatepark opens the suggestion of plunking down a halfway house along this new route to the river. This is a huge disappointment in city planning if this goes through. Businesses are trying to clean up along Warren starting with shutting Sugars down so then we get a prison in its place. This city has no sense. To many Warren and 4th are still the downtown but it's not THE downtown. That's why it's coming off Main St and heading west. D1 is still pissed at Keith Meyer for suggesting the Rainboow District got included in the cutural district.
Davenport One is all about numbers not planning. This is an interesting idea. Not sure it is a good one, but we do have the existing on at 605 and I think perhaps we need to ask the neighbors there is there is trouble.
Let's face it, Davenport One is failing. This is stupid. Has anyone told them and us about the plan to make the old Salvation Army Building on River Drive low income rentals. Hmmm.
I don't think anyone had any problems with the Main st. address, so why do you think there would be problems in the Sears building? Certainly a bulding that isn't sitting empty would cause less crime than a full one.
While I can appreciate having a meeting, this is a done deal. Plus we need to be asking the homeowners in the area and business owners there what they think. Not, the social service agencies and JLCS or thier transient population. Oh yes - the CCC has no homeowners that's right.
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