Why they play the game

Giants win!! Who would have thought?

If your a regular reader, I apologize for not posting recently. I've been a little under the weather this past week.

Most of my posts have been in regards to Hammond property & taxation. This one won't be any different, except for the fact I'd like to move the discussion in a different direction.

Change is often met with skepticism, but ready or not, change is coming. As I stated in a previous post, rental property owners will benefit greatly if the Govenor's proposals are adopted.

I have also posted previously that I believe rental property is an intergral part of the housing options for city residents. However, I do not believe houses cut up into multiple rental units is beneficial to the fabric of the city.

An old victorian made into a two or three flat is one thing, cutting up a garage into a three unit rental is another entirely. People, are not cattle to be herded into a convienent location to maximize profit.

What type of people would want to live in such an enviornment? I would imagine the poor, who are most vulnerable to being taken advantage of. Perhaps illegal immigrants, who probably wouldn't cause a fuss if they were unhappy with the living conditions.

The city, for it's part, appears ready to attack the problem. A litmus test will be how the case of the garage cut-up turns out. Besides the issue of whether permits were drawn to do the work, I would imagine the city somewhere must have an ordinance concerning square footage and density of population inhabitating that footage. Beyond that, was the work done up to standard. Judge Harkins docket, might be filling up in the not too distant future.

So while legitimate rental property owners are about to see the bottom line improve, the clock is running on those who are not. I do not begrudge anyone making money, but it's hard to raise the profile of the city when too many view it as a holding pen for livestock