Parkland represents an unincorporated suburb in Tacoma, highlighted with unique circumstance. Because of it being an unincorporated suburb, there is no mayor, council, or own police department that a conventional city would have. It gets the majority of its funding from Pierce County, and the lackluster development of Parkland shows how effective it’s support has been. The lack of governance contributes to Parkland being overshadowed and undermined as a slow community with a weak presence . There are key factors that play into some of the struggles that Parkland encounters such as insufficient regulation and a poor sense of unity. However, a strong presence of business and purpose executed by those who inhabit Parkland help alleviate some
…show more content…
The central point of Parkland called Garfield Street is home to a development has been expanding over the last few generations. Garfield Street features a mix of mom and pop and franchise restaurants and companies. The Garfield Station got its name from the historical significance that railways and streetcars play into Parkland nearly 100 years ago. Most recently built, the Garfield Station, a building that looks curiously out of place for Parkland, has been built and has been open. Often times I can feel the sense of disassociation of this building being in Parkland. I remember distinctly the delay they had when they were first trying to open it. August 2014, the banner said, but it had not open till December of 2014. Even now, the building seems to be rather empty with lots of blank office and business spaces.
The Garfield Station relates to a passage in the “The Death of Great American Cities” where the plan to develop the community doesn’t addresses what the community “really needs.” The tenant in the passage states “ Nobody cared what what we wanted when they built this place. They threw our houses down and pushed us here and pushed our friends somewhere else. We don’t have a place around here to get a cup of coffee or a newspaper even, or borrow fifty cents. Nobody cared what we need. But the big men come and look at that grass and say, ‘Isn’t it wonderful! Now the poor have everything.’” (Page
The central point of Parkland called Garfield Street is home to a development has been expanding over the last few generations. Garfield Street features a mix of mom and pop and franchise restaurants and companies. The Garfield Station got its name from the historical significance that railways and streetcars play into Parkland nearly 100 years ago. Most recently built, the Garfield Station, a building that looks curiously out of place for Parkland, has been built and has been open. Often times I can feel the sense of disassociation of this building being in Parkland. I remember distinctly the delay they had when they were first trying to open it. August 2014, the banner said, but it had not open till December of 2014. Even now, the building seems to be rather empty with lots of blank office and business spaces.
The Garfield Station relates to a passage in the “The Death of Great American Cities” where the plan to develop the community doesn’t addresses what the community “really needs.” The tenant in the passage states “ Nobody cared what what we wanted when they built this place. They threw our houses down and pushed us here and pushed our friends somewhere else. We don’t have a place around here to get a cup of coffee or a newspaper even, or borrow fifty cents. Nobody cared what we need. But the big men come and look at that grass and say, ‘Isn’t it wonderful! Now the poor have everything.’” (Page