LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the recent letter by Mrs. Shirley Carley regarding the destruction of the corner of University Drive and Montgomery.

I have lived in Starkville my entire life, and have never been so dismayed at so-called progress going on in our city. I’m not against progress by any means, but at the expense of older landmarks and all available land for apartments, condos, and tiny houses is different. The problem is we are losing Starkville’s identity while our taxes keep going up and nothing is done to replace our infrastructure or save land for family homes. Our city government seems to be making “progress” in order to house our students and weekenders, who are by all means important but not permanent. These structures sit on streets that are large potholes that get filled with gravel, not fixed. Our sewer lines are also crumbling. Ask any plumber in town.

As for taxes, I may be forced to leave here, mine have become so high. It’s a sad situation. Now the taxpayer’s hospital is being used as a pawn for unknown reasons at the loss of thousands of our taxpayer dollars needed elsewhere. All I can say is I hope our recent elections just might do something to point us in the right direction and off this current course. It will lead nowhere I’m afraid. Erle Chenney, Starkville

Dear Editor,

I do not understand the need to tear down beautiful, historic houses in order to build more concrete structures. It seems that what was Starkville, as a home town, has become Stark Vegas, a place for free flowing fun, noise, and alcohol. Surely we now have enough housing for students on campus, not to mention the myriad structures being built to house students who choose not to live on campus.

There was recently a move to “sell’ Starkville as a retirement city. Retired people surely prefer graceful homes to bars and chaos. Our town is disappearing, one antique structure at a time, and the memories those older houses inspired. Is this really ‘progress,’ or just the destruction of historic buildings for the profit of a few who ignore the desires of the older residents? Barbara Monts, Starkville