Wild Wild West Side
The New West Side Association, spearheaded by Dale of Urban Oasis, is one of the most exciting ideas we’ve heard in a while: a group that takes (subverts?) the form of a neighborhood association to bring students and renters together and fight for their common interests. (More on this Arbor Update thread.) If only we weren’t moving to the OWS — sorry, NWS — at the end of the summer, we could start the New Fourth Ward Association.
I was thinking about the possibility of a NFW, particularly with someone-on-here’s mention that renters far outnumber owners in the OFW. Who’s up for taking that challenge?
posted by Dale on May 28th, 2005 at 7:15 pmDarn it all! Now my plans for becoming a real estate magnate in Ann Arbor are ruined! I was counting on the OWS association members to pass on or for Proposal A to be repealed so that they wouldn’t be able afford to stay, but now I have a student/renter uprising to deal with. Oh well, I’ll just have to wait another four years for these folks to graduate. Maybe the OFW would be a better place to lay my nefarious plans (insert evil laugh here).
posted by JCP2 on May 28th, 2005 at 8:49 pmThat’s the hard part of organizing student renters. Moving out of the neighborhood after only one year would seem to be the standard, meaning you’d have to totally reorganize every year. (Though perhaps organizing student renters would give them extra reason to stay in one place?)
posted by Murph on May 28th, 2005 at 10:45 pmI think this might work better as a city-wide umbrella organization with neighborhood associations built-in. Kinda of like your an ICCer but you identify most with whichever co-op you live in right now — you’d be a member of a student/renter association but identify most with your neighborhood group … Hmmm
posted by Scott T. on May 28th, 2005 at 11:20 pmI certainly think a consortium is the goal. Also, i think that the year-to-year transience can be overcome. First, year-to-year is not as bad among grad students — there are always people who are going to stay in one place (or move not too far) over a period of years. Also, by promoting activity and identification in within a neighborhood, people may be encouraged to move within that neighborhood — not to look for their next place anywhere in Ann Arbor, but to look for their next place in their neighborhood. Finally, the identification and involvement with the group (perhaps as an officer or prominent member) will exert a pull on people, eg someone who stays on the west side because they’re an officer for the NWS or something.
Oh, yeah, I posted this to the NWS blog, too.
posted by Dale on May 29th, 2005 at 12:20 amKudos to Dale for starting the ball rolling on this. I’m ready to get to work on it too.
In the OFW, renters occupy:
93.5% of households.
in OxBridge:
93.8%
Makes me wish for a stronger word than “outnumber”.
posted by Dan Faichney on May 29th, 2005 at 11:31 amA+ work, kids.
posted by Jen on May 29th, 2005 at 1:56 pmDan, you can still get in on the “Loser Blog House” aka Madison House aka 106 W. Madison — I’ll help you build a door in my basement shop and you won’t even notice the room is small you’ll be so busy.
posted by Dan on May 29th, 2005 at 5:50 pmDale, I think that last comment was you. And if you keep posting our address everywhere someone might ignite our porch couch.
To tell you the truth, I’ve been having nothing but pleasant interactions with our neighbors as I’ve worked in the yard all weekend. I like this neighborhood in the summer.
posted by Brandon on May 29th, 2005 at 9:41 pmIt’s always easy to get along with people if you’re just gardening. And most of our neighbors are renters. (that previous one was me)
posted by Dale on May 29th, 2005 at 10:21 pmWell, they’re old renters, then. Still nice, though.
posted by Brandon on May 29th, 2005 at 10:58 pmMy plans to move out of OWS fell through, so I ought to be signing another lease here any day now.
posted by Dave on May 31st, 2005 at 7:25 pmFYI — New West Side informational/membership meeting 2pm this Saturday at Leopold Bros. See what it’s all about.
posted by Dale on June 1st, 2005 at 1:18 pmDan Faichney cites census tract 4003 as his source for the 93.8% rental rate in the Oxbridge Neighborhood. Only a small portion of Oxbridge is included in 4003. The majority of 4003 is student housing south of Hill and west of Washtenaw. Most of Oxbridge is encompassed in census tract 4053.
posted by BlogLurker on June 1st, 2005 at 10:02 pmDarn it all! Now my plans for becoming a real estate magnate in Ann Arbor are ruined! I was counting on the OWS association members to pass on or for Proposal A to be repealed so that they wouldn’t be able afford to stay, but now I have a student/renter uprising to deal with. Oh well, I’ll just have to wait another four years for these folks to graduate. Maybe the OFW would be a better place to lay my nefarious plans (insert evil laugh here).
posted by Scott Davis on June 11th, 2005 at 2:19 pm