Iowa City at large: Rockne Cole

'Let's grow!”

Iowa City is experiencing a period of exciting economic growth. No growth simply isn't an option; the real choice is how we grow. While enthusiastically pursuing growth, it is not necessary to destroy our past to build our future. Instead of looking elsewhere for our inspiration, we need to build upon our own unique, and treasured cultural traditions to build healthy and resilient community for all of our residents.

Last spring, I attended a lecture at the Iowa City Public Library on corner grocery stores. In our first century, Iowa City abounded with corner grocery stores throughout our community. But, it was not just grocery stores. Small stores, and public institutions of all kinds permeated the city, providing all types of services ranging from groceries to hardware to coffee to a neighborhood watering hole. The growth was widely distributed, human scaled, and constantly changing. This development model is as valid now as it was when Chauncey Swan first laid out our city grid system. That starts with support of support of human scale mixed use commercial developments that are built compatibly with adjacent neighborhoods. The Northside Market shows that you can have robust, dynamic growth side by side with family friendly residential neighborhoods, and the Peninsula demonstrates its value for new developments.

We must never forget the lessons that Chauncey Swan taught us. To build more resilient neighborhoods, we need to foster a sense of place where we can grow healthy food and healthy kids. We need to support human scale neighborhood commercial enterprises that will serve all walks of life. We need 'third places” where people can socialize with friends and neighbors after a hard day's work. We need quiet places where we can think and write. We need to live close to gardens in our parks so we can plant some seeds while sinking our roots. We need to stand up for diverse neighborhood schools.

I am running because I love it here! I don't want my daughter and her generation to grow up in a place where some have seemingly endless opportunities in our downtown while others remain locked out by race and class. We all have a choice. We can either include, or exclude. We can only truly fulfill Chauncey Swan's vision of become a shining city upon the prairie by ensuring a brighter future for all of our residents.

' Rockne Cole is an at-large candidate for Iowa City Council. More information: rocknecole.com; Twitter: @rocknecole