LIVING HERE
What’s happening with the Riviera redo?
Different phases and prices are being bandied about by everyone involved, From the Piers and Harbors Committee, the plan commission, the city council, and even the mayor. So far, a mix of renovations have been presented with respect to the repair and remodel of the structure. MSI Engineering has summited a proposed summary analysis on the seawall and pier survey, and the ACM (Asbestos Containing Material) and lead paint survey. MSI representatives also provided bids from two different contractors Collins Engineering would do the seawall work at $4,200 and the pier work at $5,200 totaling $9,500. JF Brennan was a lot higher totaling at $14,200. MSI would add approximately $5000 to the bill if hired to supervise the project. The lowest bid for the ACM and lead paint-work came from Intertek, estimating $3,400 for the asbestos coverage and $1,200 for the lead paint totaling $4,600. The other companies that provided estimates were all at least a thousand to a few thousand higher. A decision on which of the three roof options also needs to be made and done soon. This work is necessary and needs to be completed before any of the actual renovations can begin.
At present, the city has not chosen a roofer and does not have a confirmed plan, or rendering or a final confirmation on how the city will pay for this huge undertaking. The roof fix comes with three options; a metal roof, costing $842,960, concrete tile estimated to cost $957,262, and a clay tile roof coming in at $1,238,224. There have also presented a few different ideas for the main level of the Riviera. Popup and Flex Space is the new big thing and seems likely to play a big part in the remodel of the Riviera. This would mean most of the retail space could be removed, or if any of it remains it would look and operate differently. The Riviera will likely have a very new look. The now dark dreary tunnel that leads to the lake will, no doubt, be brighter, feel bigger, and draw in many more people, businesses, events for the city, residents and visitors alike. The total for doing all of the work, inside and out, mechanical, electrical, elevator and more is set at just under five million dollars ($5,000,000.00).
Northsider
The City of Lake Geneva attracts people because it represents a better place to live than most other places.
When the number of new people entering is relatively small, and when those entering are scattered throughout the area, then new arrivals assimilate into the population in a gradual manner. However, as that rate of influx increases, or when new entries are concentrated in specific areas (pockets), then rather than being assimilated into the area, they become isolated and do not adapt to a local way of life, but try to adapt their surroundings to fit their wants and the way of life they brought with them. Whether it is the nation or the City of Lake Geneva, the same basic principles apply.
Today rather than promoting a melting pot of different views, opinions, incomes, etc., the City of Lake Geneva is attracting those from outside of the area into specific new pocketed developments that target those of a particular economic and social background. These pocketed developments will no longer reflect the diversity or the mores, habits, and opinions of those currently in the area. They will create pockets of a narrowly focused community. These artificial pockets of isolated communities that developers are creating can have a real, nearly invisible, downside. Isolation as Darwin pointed out, changes those experiencing it over time, but unlike the changes Darwin described that take generations to effect one’s genetics, mental changes start almost immediately with one’s isolation in a new community, and the greater the isolation the greater the change.
The new communities are isolated from the surrounding areas. They have only one or two access points and no way for local traffic to flow through them. This limits and discourages contact with and from those outside of that community. Furthermore, being surrounded by only those with similar views, the effect reinforces and adds assurances to one’s own views as being a majority opinion, which in turn reinforces how one already sees the world. Building communities that target and attract specific categories of individuals may make financial sense because it is easier to sell the property, but the targeted group biases the direction of the city and divides it into segments. Gated communities, affluent developments, retirement villages, and low-income housing are all forms of economic and social isolation or segregation. It may appear fine to have these developments, because people like their own kind (however they define them), but allowing them also includes blocking out what those new entries to the community don’t want, or don’t want to see, all of which is divisive to the remainder of the culture of the city. Targeted development, segments and artificially alters the city with the views of those that they attract, views that do not reflect or represent much of anything close to the views of the current residents.
Happy Anniversary
Happy 64th Wedding Anniversary Mary Ann and Bob Pearce!
