Webster’s dictionary lists the definition of lifestyle as “the typical way of life of an individual, group, or culture.” When W/S development planned to construct their mammoth lifestyle center in Hudson, how did they determine the typical way of life, or lifestyle of Hudson residents?
Is there something wrong with the current lifestyle in Hudson?
Does the absence of fancy boutiques or cafés make us somehow uncivilized?
Do our children cry themselves to sleep for lack of a conference center or 16-screen mega-plex?
The only lifestyle that W/S development is promoting is the lifestyle of shopping. In fact, every element of the proposed RiverPlace project is designed to attract and retain potential consumers. Period.
Do you see something in their plan that’s popular with today’s’ local kids, like a skate park? No. Skating kids do not fit the preferred consumer demographic. How about some healthy lifestyle amenities, like a running path or bike trail? Sorry, that would lead people away from the retail temple, not towards it. In addition, the sight of sweaty residents might sour the shopping experience for today’s trendy, upscale consumer.
What about our existing lifestyle? If you visit the RiverPlace website, you’ll see that W/S development’s vision is for a “retail center … around a town green that will become the heart of a new community.” What’s wrong with the existing Hudson community? W/S development doesn’t earn any profit from its existence, so they need to create a new community, with its own unique and profitable lifestyle at the expense of the local taxpayers.
In order to fit into this new W/S lifestyle, we will have to surrender the last of our small town values? Our main roads will become wider and more congested.
Our air and surrounding streets dirtier, our taxes higher.
That’s just the start. Once this retail parasite attaches itself to our town, it will attract other parasites just like it. Are we ready to lose the character of our community and quality of life so retail development giants can increase their revenue? If so, perhaps we truly are uncivilized.
© Copyright 2007
Hudson-Litchfield News - April 27,
2007