[Mpls] "Condos" and "Open Space" - purging the lexicon

[Michael Jensvold]

Let's be a little more precise with language.  The
word "condo" has come to be a dirty word, but it can
be taken to mean anything from, say a triplex to a 40
story fancy highrise.

In its a pejorative sense, from the standpoint of
single family home residents, "condo" dwellers, are
those strange people who are financially able to
purchase proper homes, but choose not to.  To live in
a (rented) apartment is okay for a while if you are
young or of insufficient means, but to purchase a
"condo" is indecent.

I personally think buildings above about 5-6 storys
put people out of touch with the rest of their city. A
rule of thumb might be anything higher than shouting
distance from the world below.

Another phrase that should be tossed out of the
language all together is "open space".  Call it
parkland, call it public space, public realm, but
"open space" is a vague term that confuses the urban
and rural, and fails to properly address issues of the
public realm in the urban context.

I went to see author and urbanist James Howard
Kunstler speak a couple of months ago in Wisconsin,
and he recounted a story of speaking to a group in
Missoula, Montana.  The residents there in the meeting
had decided that what their city really needed was
more "open space", even though they are surrounded by
some of the greatest wilderness in the lower 48
states.  Kunstler said that what they really needed
was more "closed" space.  More urban space.


Mike Jensvold
East Isles language policeman