The metropolitan sewer district,our
local water works, has been federally mandated to alleviate the sewage releases that occurs during a storm surge. You see our sewers started as storm sewers, the sanitary(
poop) disposal function was added on later.
When it was added, treated the sewage was not on the agenda.
Now it is on the agenda,the huge amounts of rain water that enter the system during storms overwhelm the system and the poop water goes downstream untreated.
Ugh.
In steps the feds with the mandate. Our waterworks department has responded splendidly!
They are currently "daylighting" a stream that had been shoved into a huge
underground culvert years and years ago.
With the increase in paved surfaces over the decades, that culvert is way to small to hold the stream during storms.
The
project will have wetlands, a huge "pond" ,parks,walks,a boardwalk, bioswales....
Up hill in all directions, storm sewers are being diverted to this project and bioswales have been built in the parks.
The blighted property next to this elongated parcel will become more valued. Clean,flowing water and greenery tend to raise property values.
The streets futher away will probably remain pretty low in value. I say this because on the hill nearby are expensive,ritzy houses and condos,that are valued due to their excellent view of downtown. Two lots away from the veiw,and you are back to low value dwellings.
But none the less,this is a great project.
It's also the first of 4 or 5 others already planned.
It ain't cheap. But it's still cheaper than the more conventional solutions,and comes with considerable added value for taxpayers.
Here is link to the plan:http://www.projectgroundwork.org/lickrun/alternative/vcs_map.htm
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