The Case of the Missing Citizens.

Reading Randy Stoeker's The CDC Model of Urban Redevelopment: A Critique and an Alternative, reminded me of the Plaza Fortuna Reinvestment Zone in the Westside of San Antonio. In fact, the reinvestment zone is only a 15 minute walk from my house.

The reinvestment zone was intended to attract investment by outside developers to the vacant land and provide affordable house. Ideally, by developing the empty lot (that was used as a place to dump old tires) the area would have a new and healthy community. However, a neighborhood association was never created.

I attended an annual meeting last January as a representative of a state legislature's office. The annual meeting had police officers, members of the San Antonio Economic Development Office, the developer, and a member from city hall. However, no resident was present.

The only person to show frustration was the police officer because he said the area was known for crime and vandalism. He asked if a member of the neighborhood association was present, but a Representative of the Economic Development said one was never created. No one said anything, except for the developer. All he said was, "hey, I just built the homes."

I walked away disappointed that this had occurred, but as Stoeker mentions, "market processes are unpredictable, unstable, unaccountable, and disorganizing" (Stoeker, 1997). Whoever the leaders that were involved in the creation of Plaza Fortuna, never consulted with local residents. Nor have they attempted mobilize residents since then. But as Stoeker mentioned, it is not a CDC's job to mobilize persons. Then who does? My belief is that elected officials or residents now must take the initiative to organize and create a neighborhood association. Ideally, if the neighborhood association is created, it could address issues such as crime and vandalism. But, before that could happen, much work must be done in order to help residents meet each other, discuss problems, and initiate whatever they believe is necessary. Hopefully, they could identify people who could represent them on the annual board meeting?