Pittsfield lot transformed into community garden

The "neighborhood" is not involved in this garden. The people in the neighborhood who mowed those lots and picked up the trash and glass used that land for recreation. None of the people in the surrounding neighborhood were even nofied that a "coommunity garden" was being put in. Horshoe stakes were torn out and a fence was put up that impedes a swing that neighborhood children used. These lots were used by adults and children who did not feel that the local parks were safe.The people who planted in that garden were not form the neighborhood. Some weren't even from Pittsfield or MA. Another case of someone from outside the area taking it upon themselves to decide what was "right" for the nighborhood without even asking the neighbors.

With all due respect Goody, what is your point? That a haphazard local hang-out filled with trash and abandoned playground equipment was better than a bountiful garden? The fact remains that someone owns that tract of land, and it is up to their discrection how to use it within zoning guidelines. They could have erected a 10' high privacy wall and built their own garden or playground for their own enjoyment and completely ignored the neighborhood.

Forgive me for pointing this out, but in terms of childhood development, education & nutrition, property value, neighborhood safety and if nothing else, visual appearance, a community garden sounds like a much better use of the land. Let the parents throw horsehoes in their own yards.

The city owns the land. And it wasn't filled with trash. The area residents signed a petition to have the old houses knocked down. One resident even paid to have soil and grass seed spread over the lot. They had cleaned up the land and picked up the glass and trash and mowed and removed dead trees at no cost to the city to keep the area nice. There was no abandoned playground equipment. My point is that it would have been nice if Mr. Pecoraro had made some effort to get the neighborhood involved instead of ignoring them.

Talk about a load of crap. People used to spend time there, one "real" resident got stuff topsoil and seed brought in and now this idiot "do gooder" took it over, and that is somehow good?
Mr. Pecoraro is nothing more than a self serving idiot, trying to toot his own horn about "what a great thing I did."

Goody wrote:

The "neighborhood" is not involved in this garden. The people in the neighborhood who mowed those lots and picked up the trash and glass used that land for recreation. None of the people in the surrounding neighborhood were even nofied that a "coommunity garden" was being put in. Horshoe stakes were torn out and a fence was put up that impedes a swing that neighborhood children used. These lots were used by adults and children who did not feel that the local parks were safe.The people who planted in that garden were not form the neighborhood. Some weren't even from Pittsfield or MA. Another case of someone from outside the area taking it upon themselves to decide what was "right" for the nighborhood without even asking the neighbors.

The landowner doesn't have to ask what you want!

Once again, the city owns the land, not Pecoraro.

Goody - After re-reading the article as well as your post, I see your point now.

I guess I would just ask now, is a garden there so bad?

No, the idea itself is a good one. What bothers most of us is that Mr. pecoraro's attitude is that because he owns over 100 acres in NY, and three apartment buildings on Bradford(which is one of his first statements when he meets people), he has the right to decide what the neighborhood should do. That and the fact that none of the people in the neighborhood were consulted or involved. I think if someone from another state wants to garden he should do it on his land and truck the food to the needy.

Would you rather have the lot used as a stray cat litter box or a nice garden with fresh veggies...LOL

Besides, it serves a dual purpose. (1) it removes the blight of run down homes and garbage everywhere, (2) the local crackheads and homeless bums can pick a late night ear of corn and feed themselves. So, in a sense it does give back to the community. I think it's great that it is no longer an eye sore. But, realistically, how long does anybody expect that to last. It will be vandalized or destroyed before to long. I know there are good people that live over in that area, but a majority of them should live in a zoo. If there weren't juveniles in the area, I know what type of garden veggies I'd like to see grown there-for medicinal purposes only of course......as always, enjoy life, put down the liquor, and enjoy the sweet smell of blunt smoke.

Maffucio ought to clean up the washed out roads at the corner of Dewey and Columbus,Onota and Linden,Pecks Road, before the fire station, near the bottom of Lenox Ave towards Wahconah, there are many more and there all in his Ward.

"My point is that it would have been nice if Mr. Pecoraro had made some effort to get the neighborhood involved instead of ignoring them. "

If the city owns that tract of land, what's stopping is rest of the neighborhood from getting involved? I ask this seriously, not sarcastically. When I read the article my first thought was "what a great thing to bring neighbors together" and wished there was something like that in my neighborhood but that's not the case?

One of my favorite "tourist" stories took place in Stockbridge a few years back. It had been an unusually active year for bears and the town held a meeting to inform residents,(mainly second home owners), on the proper way to deal with the bears. One woman stood and ,in a very forceful voice, said, "as far as I am concerned bears belong in zoos..or in the mountains"??????????DUH

emerald wrote:

One of my favorite "tourist" stories took place in Stockbridge a few years back. It had been an unusually active year for bears and the town held a meeting to inform residents,(mainly second home owners), on the proper way to deal with the bears. One woman stood and ,in a very forceful voice, said, "as far as I am concerned bears belong in zoos..or in the mountains"??????????DUH

Oops...that post was meant for another thread. Senior moment..too early in the AM..enjoy the story anyway.