West Enders: Never surrender!

Sierra Vista Herald ^

[SandRat]

West Enders: Never surrender!

Efforts to rejuvenate the West End are not new in this community’s history.

Mayor Rick Mueller reminded us of that fact during his “Spotlight” speech Tuesday morning at the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center.

Technical problems prevented Mayor Mueller from starting his remarks with the benefit of a supporting video. All he had were a fist-full of notes and his decades-long memories of what Sierra Vista was like in its earlier days.

That was more than enough.

In the late ’90s, he and another local politician, Pat Call, invested themselves in doing something about the West End. In particular, they focused on Fry Townsite, where the living conditions were comparable or worse than they are today.

This is county land. Mueller recalled that it took two tries to get enough referendum votes to incorporate Sierra Vista as a city in 1956. For the second vote, boundaries of the city were drawn to assure passage of the measure and several areas in the community were left out, remaining under the governance of Cochise County.

By the mid-’90s, just before Sierra Vista began to flourish with new investment, there was an honest fear that the appearance of Fry Townsite, with abandoned trailers and others in need of extensive repair, would contribute to a decision that would affect the continued operation of Fort Huachuca in this community.

Beyond that, property owners in the city realized that improving the value of the West End and its neighborhoods would contribute to higher real estate values, which created a spark of momentum to “get something done” to improve the appearance of this city’s most historic district.

Something similar is happening today. Mueller pointed to neighborhood associations doing their part, the city increasing its code enforcement efforts, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization kicking in a study and plan of what could be done. Cochise County has also helped, contributing funds to legal expenses and working closely with the city to take ownership of numerous derelict properties

But fixing up the West End doesn’t happen overnight.

Speaking from experience, Mueller noted that it’s taken decades of continued focus by the city, Cochise County and local residents to make progress on the goal of improving the West End. Resources for the effort are provided when they are available — like the upcoming street improvements planned on North Garden Avenue. It takes money, cooperation and community support for a West End plan to work.

But even more important than these factors, it takes dedication over time.

[PAR35]

Sounds like the usual use of government resources to benefit connected developers. Not a bad thing, if you are one of the politicians or developers that benefits.