Equal time ....
This was posted anonymously in response to the discussions on this blog regarding the "Nichols Vision" and more importantly the future of Prairie Village:
"Whether or not you think J. C. Nichols walked on water, I think we can all agree that he’s not going to come back and give us his vision for Prairie Village today and tomorrow. And, as he’s not coming back, people like Andy Wang are working toward developing a new vision for our city and giving us the opportunity to be involved in the process.
I imagine that J. C. Nichols, a forward-thinking man, would do the same if he got the chance, for the Prairie Village of today bears little resemblance to the city of the 1950s. Prairie Village began the decade as mostly pastureland and ended as one of the fastest growing cities in the country. In the 1950s, most women in Prairie Village stayed home and raised children, while their husbands took the family car to work. The Kansas City metropolitan area wasn’t replete with discount stores that draw people away from shops in Prairie Village, and residents didn’t have multiple cars to make it easy for everyone in the family to shop elsewhere.
Today, we are one of the few cities in Johnson County with a declining population. Today, it’s about 21,511. In 1970, the population of Prairie Village was 28,378, according to the U.S. Census of Population and Housing. In 1970, there were 4,577 people per square mile in Prairie Village. Today, there are only 3,470. In 1970, there were 8,771 housing units in the city with an average of 3.2 occupants in each residence. Today, there are about 10,031, with 2.1 people in each. That’s fewer people with more cars and more property to maintain.
We need a vision for the future that is going to attract more people to live in Prairie Village. The alternative is continued decline in the population, forcing fewer people to come up with more funds to support city services...and schools. Trying to recreate Prairie Village of the 1950s is not an option. Neither is bringing back J. C. Nichols from the dead. The future of Prairie Village is in our hands. If we support the city’s merchants, attend area activities, send our children to area schools, and get bright and thoughtful people like Andy Wang elected to office, we will have the resources to keep the city vital.
So, instead of debating J. C. Nichol’s vision, let’s debate how we can attract more residents, more shoppers, and more children to Prairie Village to make the vision of Prairie Village’s future more positive. --The Crank of PV "
"Whether or not you think J. C. Nichols walked on water, I think we can all agree that he’s not going to come back and give us his vision for Prairie Village today and tomorrow. And, as he’s not coming back, people like Andy Wang are working toward developing a new vision for our city and giving us the opportunity to be involved in the process.
I imagine that J. C. Nichols, a forward-thinking man, would do the same if he got the chance, for the Prairie Village of today bears little resemblance to the city of the 1950s. Prairie Village began the decade as mostly pastureland and ended as one of the fastest growing cities in the country. In the 1950s, most women in Prairie Village stayed home and raised children, while their husbands took the family car to work. The Kansas City metropolitan area wasn’t replete with discount stores that draw people away from shops in Prairie Village, and residents didn’t have multiple cars to make it easy for everyone in the family to shop elsewhere.
Today, we are one of the few cities in Johnson County with a declining population. Today, it’s about 21,511. In 1970, the population of Prairie Village was 28,378, according to the U.S. Census of Population and Housing. In 1970, there were 4,577 people per square mile in Prairie Village. Today, there are only 3,470. In 1970, there were 8,771 housing units in the city with an average of 3.2 occupants in each residence. Today, there are about 10,031, with 2.1 people in each. That’s fewer people with more cars and more property to maintain.
We need a vision for the future that is going to attract more people to live in Prairie Village. The alternative is continued decline in the population, forcing fewer people to come up with more funds to support city services...and schools. Trying to recreate Prairie Village of the 1950s is not an option. Neither is bringing back J. C. Nichols from the dead. The future of Prairie Village is in our hands. If we support the city’s merchants, attend area activities, send our children to area schools, and get bright and thoughtful people like Andy Wang elected to office, we will have the resources to keep the city vital.
So, instead of debating J. C. Nichol’s vision, let’s debate how we can attract more residents, more shoppers, and more children to Prairie Village to make the vision of Prairie Village’s future more positive. --The Crank of PV "
posted by Andrew Wang at 1:52 PM
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