Luxury apartments with excessive amenities will only raise property taxes in the area without benefiting the actual homeowners who have roots in the city. This will increase our property taxes without providing us with a clear benefit. High-density apartments also detract from the community because it becomes impossible to form close ties with the people who live here. They also raise property taxes for single-family homeowners, as they will have to pay more taxes to support the schools for all the new students in these dense apartments.

     I lived in apartments for most of my adult life because I had to move around for medical training, and not once did I feel like I was part of the city or knew any of my neighbors. I want more townhouses, duplexes, or triplexes—at least they are part of the neighborhood. I want affordable housing so that middle-class families can afford to live in our city and work in local businesses here.