progrès

Have a look and hear what folks are saying about Wyndham Village Development.
I can't forget to give credit to the folks involved with the making of this short video: Richard, the owners of Speedway, residents who gave their opinion, and my co-pirates Steve and Kelly.
Press on image to play.

"progrès"
Julie Voigts
April 2007

3:58 duration

Edited in
Avid FreeDV
and Audacity

Plan goes back for another draft

Current update on the Wyndham Village Development:
The Developer has chosen to pull the plans on the project to address the concern from neighbors and the commission as to some discrepancies/missing/incorrect information in the plan. Please take a look at the latest Journal Sentinel Article posted May 2 2007. Thanks to all that made their voices loud and asked for the best plan. Here is a copy of the plan that is on its way back to being revised. Although I cannot provide pictures of the site plan, and they are not on the website of the Planning Commission (nor is a copy of the plan), I invite you to call the planning office or stop in and get a copy of the plan to review for yourself. The address for the 9229 W. Loomis Road in Franklin Wisconsin 53132 the phone number is 414-425-4024. The contact that I have for questions regarding the project: Ashley Booth (Senior Planner.)

Another concerned neighbor John Michlig is a host to many a conversation concerning this development and has really helped to get the word out and conversation flowing. John's site is called Sprawled Out: The Search for Community in the American Suburb, and I encourage all to visit. I appreciate that he is taking a good look into the project, he isn't against business and development; the thing he is doing is asking the questions that need to be asked of all parties involved in this plan like, "Can't we do something a little better for everyone?" and "Do we want to go ahead with a plan that in a few years may be an eyesore, or may loose money over?" or "Don't we want something that will bring people together in a space and not alienate our community into fractions?"


The more time and care is taken when plans like this are proposed, the more I feel we have an opportunity to come together and really get what we want and not what we settle for. We have an opportunity to see our voices come together do draft the future of our mutual community.

Compiled Views

click on image for sound

Have a listen to a few sounds that I was able to capture. I interviewed folks from Franklin as well as a biologist from the area and tried but failed to speak with the developer Mark Carstenson. On Thursday May 3rd there is a scheduled planning meeting at the Franklin Police station 7pm. I encourage anyone and everyone to attend this, and that the city must hear from its constituents.
The more I talk with all parties (residents, developers, and city officials) that are going to be affected by the project's outcome, the more I understand that to most folks, this is inevitable. Development is going to happen, it's good for everyone, the city is doing what they can, I trust them to do their job, and for the most part... "you're not recording right?...shhhh....don't let anyone hear me and I can't believe I'm saying this but...I feel like I don't have a voice in the matter." I found myself during the process of interviewing, doubting my own intent and interest in a project like this. I was doubting my power to ask questions, I was doubting my intent for the material based on the reactions from some people involved. I came to the conclusion that often times we feel so isolated based on systems of power, that when we see an opportunity to connect with another individual, the feeling of mutual interest is steeped in an almost mutual discomfort.
I was open to seeing what everyone thought of this development in the beginning. I was skeptical that the development was going to be some "big bad box," and that surely the the majority of folks knew about the project. The more I read about the logistics of this project I feel that the project might need to be looked at more carefully. I continue to question if this particular version of the plan is good for all parties involved, and if more time were taken to really develop something that everyone can benefit from, the result might look better and even pose as a model for the city and other types of business.