On May 17, an opinion piece raised concerns about the proposed Cudahy Farms affordable housing development on the northwest side, focusing on its perceived negative environmental impact.
The author argues about the importance of trees, green spaces and biodiversity. While I would never claim that these things aren’t important, there is more to environmentalism than this. To fully grasp the effects of development on the environment in cities like Milwaukee, factors like transportation, consumption and human needs must be considered.
Building dense, urban housing — especially affordable housing — close to job and commercial hubs is good for the environment; it reduces the length of car trips and makes transit/biking more feasible, slashing transportation costs and emissions. Also, by building here in the city, we can preserve the wild places further outside the city. Housing demand doesn’t disappear just because we refuse to build new housing.
Opinion: Cudahy Farms development harms invaluable trees, wetlands and Milwaukee’s health
Dense, urban development is the most environmentally friendly and sustainable form of development, especially in contrast to the suburban development that characterizes much of the northwest side. An environmentalism that prioritizes the well-being of a couple turtles or frogs at the expense of people who need homes, especially when a housing shortage exists and the need for new housing stock is so great, is counterproductive and detrimental to the human condition. In fact, I’d argue it exacerbates human suffering.
Cade Gerlach, Milwaukee
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: There is more to urban environment than just green spaces | Letters