Dear Winnetka Village Council,
After reading Gail Schechter's (executive director of Open Community) letter to Davis Trandel (CEO of Stonestreet Partners) it gave me some ideas about the housing in Winnetka. I believe Winnetka should be more diverse in more ways than one. By adding affordable housing. She sates that she wants 15% of the new One Winnetka building. I believe this is not to much to ask for considering that Winnetka has less affordable housing than the state law as seen in this photo. The Affordable Housing Planning and Appel Act is show with a red line. That line in the 10% required by Illinois that every town must have. What affordable house is, is stated in the Open Communities letter "Affordable housing is considered a family or individual that pays no more than 30% of their income". People who need affordable housing are those with low income or single parents what want there kids to go to a good school.
The staryotypes of those with low income are any other race or ethnicity than white. The act is in place to make the North Shore more divers. I feel that being diverse in not a bad thing. Relaters try to keep the north shore while because when a colored couple tries to buy a house they show them houses they don't want. There also the ones who tell other neighborhoods to sell there house because a low income family is moving in these are called "blockbuster" from The Value of Diversity in Housing article. This makes the relater get more money and leaves neighborhoods back to one race. With having the 15% of One Winnetka would help with the diversity. Not only with race and culture but financially as well.
The would give many opportunities for local workers to live closer to their jobs. Examples of local jobs are teachers, shop workers, and even student jobs. Being able to live close to your job is a big evantage. You would be close so the use of public transportation would be less of a need. Saving money on transportation fees means they have more money to spent, and more money to stay and continue to pay rent. In the latter Gail said, "To demand the developers a started community benefit". This quote means that we need to benefit the community that One Winnetka is being built in. One way to benefit the community is to add that affordable housing. This will make public transportation less crowded and more safe for those who need to travel. Finally One Winnetka should help out the community by adding the affordable housing.
Thank you for your time, Natalie Shumate (senior at New Trier High School)
