Residents of Auburn are still divided about apartment construction downtown.
The moratorium on building apartments in the eastern portion of downtown Auburn was put in place by the City Council in February and was extended for four months at the last council meeting on Aug. 4. There was a proposal to expand the moratorium's coverage, but it was removed from the last meeting's agenda.
Kelley Griswold, a member of Keep Auburn Lovely, a grassroots organization designed to influence the public opinion and city government's decision about development, spoke at the City Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 18.
"We want to protect the downtown flavor of Auburn," Griswold said. "The Loveliest Village flavor of Auburn."
Griswold said the group is in favor of smart growth, which means protecting downtown and re-developing older properties outside of the downtown area, especially west of College Street.
"We are not a group that is opposed to development, as some have tried to portray us," Griswold said. "In fact, we want Auburn to develop and prosper. But we're just concerned about how that will happen."
Griswold said there are other options rather than tearing down older structures and replacing them with high-rises, and he wants to ensure all citizens' voices are heard before a decision about further development in Auburn is made.
"We've heard radio interviews that say decisions won't be made without other input, yet the moratorium extension was removed from the agenda last week prior to the citizens' communication part of the agenda," Griswold said.
Griswold said he is "discouraged" by the way the council has handled the situation.
"I urge you all to take a step back and listen to those who want smart development," Griswold said.
Nick Hayes, another Auburn citizen, is in favor of development.
"We really threaten our economy as well as our reputation as a city by discouraging development, especially in a public fashion," Hayes said. "This development across the street [160 Ross], which I think by any objective point of view is arguably the nicest apartment complex in town, has been ridiculed in a very distasteful way."
The property is collecting significantly more revenue as 160 Ross, according to Hayes.
Hayes said Auburn is a changing city, and people need to recognize and appreciate that.
"I do think that we need to grow in a smart way," Hayes said. "However, I think a lot of the people who are in support of this issue ... when projects come up, and are actually being proposed, they don't like any of them."
Hayes said people must be accepting of people of all backgrounds, regardless of economic status.
Stone Ray, freshman in architecture, lives at 160 Ross. He said he likes living at 160 Ross because it is close to campus and he can walk almost anywhere.
He said he is in favor of the new building on Wright Street.
“As of now, I do not have a single reason to walk on that block, and if it was built, I would," Ray said. "It would replace some old apartments that are not urban at all … the apartments do not add to Auburn’s character … they are not lovely.”
Mayor Bill Ham Jr. said he hopes there can be a compromise so generations to come can enjoy Auburn.
"I don't expect every one of you to be dancing in the street at Toomer's Corner and be happy, because somebody's not going to be perfectly happy," Ham said. "But middle ground is I think what we're looking for."
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