A Letter That I Read to Clemson City Council on December 14, 2015

To City Council concerning proposed developments and ordinance changes

Anxiety, depression, addictions, and sleep disorders are our epidemic. One in four people suffer from one of these conditions. One reason for this is that we don’t feel like we belong. And we go against the signals from our gut, which have more neural pathways to the brain than brain to gut.

City planners and developers have hooked into mixed-use development as a way to create sustainable community. So here we are with exactly that happening. And yet, people in our community feel excluded from the general vision of the development being proposed and taking place. I wonder, too, if there are decision makers who are going against their gut when these ordinance changes and proposals are passed.

In the past year, I have been to Atlanta, Charleston, Columbia, and of course, Greenville. I am seeing the same mixed-use development in all of these places, and the same basic design. When I first saw it in Atlantic Station a few years ago, I thought it looked great. I was impressed. When I see it here, I see that it doesn’t belong here. Clemson is an urban place, but it is not metro. It is international, but not global. We are not Atlanta, Charleston, Columbia, or Greenville, yet we feed those communities, while we are fed by the world. Just look at the student and faculty population. They come from all over the world.

Still, students don’t respect the neighborhoods where they live and go to cities nearby for shopping and entertainment when it is not football season. Clemson has a faculty turnover because they recruit the best from the world, and once many arrive, only stay a few years because there is nothing here for them.

So, what design best suits Clemson? When considering the demographic of Clemson, what is best when it comes to city planning?

We have old trails that can be restored, and we could grow from that. We are surrounded by forest and a lake, which is one reason why people do stay in Clemson. It’s why I stay. I’m not into football.

So, here are some questions that maybe we should ask when considering the development of Clemson.

• What does our community value, and how can that guide the development of Clemson?
• How can we be good stewards and foster growth from what it valuable about Clemson?
• When we think about return on investment, can it include factors that impact the overall quality of life?
• What should those factors be?

We live in a material world, and we are all called to live from the heart, from spirit. Part of living from the heart is loving the material itself, all of creation, including what we create. When making decisions about community design, can loving the material of the plans, the supplies, and all other things involved in making a building and community be included?

Best regards,

Renee Gahan