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Invest South/West – Statement of Interest

When I first approached my peers about doing work on the South and West sides of the city, I received no support. I built my firm on those rejected projects and changed my peer group. Since then, we stopped looking for peer recognition and focused on providing services where others would not. Now there seems to be momentum to serve the unserved. My former peer group wants to evaluate me again. My new peer group and I are of the opinion that “we” should be evaluating “them”.

WE are interested in being selected as a member of “the pool”.

WE are not interested in pricing Black people out of their homes.

WE are interested in providing designs for fantastic spaces, with thriving businesses that provide jobs and training opportunities.

We are not interested in these businesses having no stake in the community or owned by persons outside the community.

We are interested in preserving existing building stock as a sustainable act and we are interested in creating new “modern” forms.

We are not interested in demolishing the past and erecting strip centers.

WE are interested in being a part of the solution to the “food desert” problem and providing healthier choices and the spaces that accommodate that effort.

WE are not interested in creating environments that duplicate the current conditions or continue the status quo.

WE are interested in creating mini “wall streets” to renew the legacy that has been consistently stolen from the oppressed.

WE are not interested in being a part of an effort that displaces those who are supposed to experience the benefits of good design and maintains the prosperity of those that oppress.

Naaman