Can anybody tell me why “apartments” have become so fashionable? Everywhere you look they are springing up. Its not that they are less expensive than the town house, its not that the Housing Executive has decided to take them as a model for low cost housing that those on low incomes can afford. What is fairly obvious is that a developer can build many more on a piece of land than he could the traditional terrace or town house.
The vast majority of us want to see developers helping to rebuild the community and we all rejoice to see the trappings of the building trade providing housing, shops and other businesses which are creating wealth and employment for many people. In the Old Testament we have the story of Nehemiah who wept and prayed to God when he heard the bad news that his homeland was in such great distress. He was a go-getter. He was not content to attend talking shops or just to complain about the poor politicians or church and community people: he wanted action and so he pleaded with the king to give him a leave of absence and some resources to enable the rebuilding of the city. We need all the resources we can get our hands on to rebuild the Greater Shankill community. In the last four or five years the Crumlin Road, to take one example, has been transformed with good quality housing and we hope to have, very soon even some shops that will bring the people back to spend their money here. No one has any complaint about this. What I wonder about ,and I know this is the concern of so many others ,is about who is making all the money? I wonder, is it possible that all these apartments are fashionable because they are making money for those who are taking it out of the local economy? Could that be the case?
It’s not that we don’t want any middle class people coming to live here and bring with them their experience and support: all we want to ensure is that there is an economy which welcomes all those who want to love and contribute to the area. All we really want is that the young people who want to stay or even return to the area are given the financial opportunity to do so. We want to see an end to the drain out of the community.
What is your dream for this community? What I pray for is the return of those people who call themselves “Christians”; what I pray for is the decision of the Jesus followers who really have a heart for Him and for the people He has created to settle down and live and work in this community. I pray for an end to the raiding parties that come each Sunday and then go back to the suburbs. What I pray for is the development of a vibrant community of all ages, where people have the choice to buy or to rent their homes at affordable prices. Which developer is going to rise to that challenge? Where are the Christian developers who can and will invest in this community just because they want to do what is right?
What are you praying for?
1 comment:
There is an irony that this post was written during a time that we spent many days together but scarcely did we discuss this topic. I remembered that you went to a public meeting to raise the question to the politcal figure but I did not ask to participate in that meeting. An opportunity missed.
We will become part of the influx of new people into the area and we will contribute as much as we can. Your point is well taken that development is best accomplished from within the community by people working with people who have a long term view and stake in the community. Apartments are cheaper to build but don't have to be ugly. Citizen advosory groups can have influence on development, as do government overseers, and the developers themselves. I hope to participate in one or in all of these avenues to assist in the physical building up of the Greater Shankill Road community. I have facilites and capital improvement management, green design, masterplanning, and group facilitation experience. I would love to use it in the service of the community. I will pray to work with like-minded people.
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