Improving the rich, maintaining the poor

As a Greenville native, I have witnessed a number of changes in Greenville in the last decade--even in the last five years. Neighborhoods have expanded off of Highway 11, N.C. 43 and U.S. 264. Apartment complexes have flourished; there is now a second Lowes and a new City Hall building has been constructed as well. New restaurants, shopping centers and construction efforts for ECU and Pitt Memorial Hospital benefit students, residents and visitors.

Though there are a number of changes that have helped enhance the appearance and performance of Greenville, it seems there are a number of projects that are being neglected. Though there are currently sidewalk projects in progress on Greenville Boulevard and Fire Tower Road, which were certainly needed, additional sidewalks need to be constructed in high-pedestrian areas as funds are available.

Among the limited number of sidewalks currently located in residential areas between Evans and Memorial Boulevard, around West Fifth Street, a number of them are deteriorating or damaged. There is also limited lighting due to street lights and businesses that are lacking in this part of town. This particular area of Greenville is surrounded by flourishing developments including, but not limited to, the additions to the hospital, downtown Greenville and the university.

How is it possible that so many city enhancements are drastically expanding, but this particular section of town remains the same dark, disheveled bit of Greenville that it has been for over 10 years now? It seems plausible that the amount of money contributed to city improvements should be distributed among all parts of the city, not just the more frequented areas.

By April 2009, there are supposed to be cameras at the Eppes and South Greenville Recreation Centers to monitor the safety of citizens, though cameras have already been installed at Jaycee Park and the Aquatics and Fitness Center. Air conditioning systems are supposed to be set up in the gymnasiums at the Eppes Recreation Center and the Aquatics and Fitness Center as well. It's surprising that it will be another six months before the remaining facilities will be accommodated with the improvements that the others have already received.

The West Fifth Street Gateway Project is supposed to enhance the appearance of the ball park currently situated on the block of Memorial Boulevard and West Fifth Street. The design plan includes a gated park with brick walks and benches, as well as a community space. This was the final project design that was intended to enhance the street appearance of Martin Luther King Boulevard (the MLK Gateway Project). Efforts with the project appear to be progressing slowly. Greenville's 2007 Project proposal even stated "public involvement…will be minimal."

I suppose when city taxes are involved in Greenville development plans, those paying the taxes don't particularly want to support the areas they don't frequent; however, improvements should be city-wide and not limited to the areas where the money comes from. You would think that the efforts to maintain and improve Greenville's appearance would be city-wide, but judging from the development locations, this just isn't so.

Instead of touching up porches and yards, not viewable from the street, in efforts to maintain Historic Greenville, broken fences and deteriorating parking lots and roads could be addressed first. By improving the city as a whole, we are not only promoting unity, but encouraging the growth of Greenville and shifting to a more welcoming environment for visitors.

This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.co