Web

Housing for humans has certainly never been as easily constructed as that of a spider. The development of a big empty space not far from our house began a couple of years ago when fences went up,earth movers moved in and we could no longer walk the dogs there.  We have found alternate routes around the development but we have watched carefully, especially OilMan whose engineering instincts are piqued even though he has retired.

The earth moving went on for over a year. It was impossible to figure out what was going to happen. Eventually three cul de sacs went in along with sidewalks, streetlights and drainage. Then nothing happened. The grass began to grow back, covering the terraced lots, and one could almost imagine it the way it used to be, except for the fences which were still there.

Eventually one house was built. It seemed terribly exposed sitting there surrounded by dirt and mud, overlooking what theoretically would one day be 34 houses. Nothing much happened except for a sign that said "The Reserves at Skyhawk...35 homes of distinction". We only saw one home of dubious distinction.

Today all was revealed. Signs with balloons appeared announcing an open house. That would be the one house, which is also the model home and the office. We went along, curious to see how it was appointed and furnished, and discovered that they are selling the homes before they are even built.. There were floor plans, lot plans, videos and handouts. At least three "homes" were already sold for over $1,000,000 each. Building will begin as soon as the ground dries out enough to pour foundations.

We stood looking out a window of one of the five bedrooms saying, "there's the little bridge over the creek that Rudy wouldn't cross" and "there's the creek (now a drainage swale) where Ozzie used to like to run wallow".

One can't stand in the way of progress, I suppose, but progress like this is not narrowing the income gap or creating any affordable housing....Too bad we're not as adaptable as spiders....