To the Editor:

I have been following the news regarding Lytle Street for a while [“Vote on Purchase of Lytle Street House Is Postponed by Council After Protests,” Town Topics, March 11, page one]. I live on Lytle and own two houses there. I recall when I knew ALL of my neighbors. For nearly five decades I have witnessed what gentrification has generally done to the community, specifically Lytle Street.

The municipality seems concerned about the Mary Moss Playground and the adjoining property currently owned by the Barskys. It sounds like the municipality would like to purchase the Barsky property, which Barsky will raze. This will allow the municipality to expand the playground by 60 percent. It seems the county will reimburse the municipality 50 percent of the purchase price if it is used as “open space.” This seems a wise economic investment for the municipality. However, it’s a severe blow to the human need for affordable housing.

The Task Force on Affordable Housing claims to have no options. Hendricks Davis is cited as saying “There is a tremendous need for affordable housing in this community, and not just in our neighborhood,” On the other hand, Council Member Lance Liverman supports the idea of the tear-down/park expansion. He cited other possible uses for the park. Actually, there are already activities in the park after hours: activities that are not something anyone in the neighborhood would support.

The Mary Moss playground is public land, right? The Barsky property, if purchased by Princeton will become public land, right? Wouldn’t the prudent land use solution be to rebuild/or renovate the houses already standing on that property as affordable housing?

The use of the publicly owned playground seems intrinsically tied to the privately owned Barsky property. The suggestion by Mayor Lempert, 75 years after the fact, that the lack of a filtration system in the playground’s pool is unhygienic is valid. If a sprinkler is in the planning/funding for an expansion of the playground, why not leave the playground as it is and use some of that funding/planning to provide a pool with a filtration system?

Six houses on Lytle Street have been or will be torn down/rebuilt. Only one was replaced with an affordable unit. Mr. Tash’s old liquor store, was torn down and replaced by Habitat for Humanity. In 70 years I have seen the community diminished, first, street by street (Upper John, Baker, Jackson Street, the alley behind First Baptist Church) and now, house by house.

I read some place where former Mayor Jim Floyd asked if the municipality can give consideration for the desires of the community members on these properties. He and I both know that the municipality has never really given more than lip service to the desires of this community.

As I said, once upon a time I knew all of my neighbors. The people who move in now, for the most part will not even share a “good morning” with me. They act like I don’t belong here. Gentrification/eminent domain kills a community.

Jacqueline L. Swain

Lytle Street