JANESVILLE 鈥 For the first time in several years the south side is getting a significant 鈥渟eat at the table鈥 as newly-elected council member Cassandra Pope joins council members Josh Erdman and Heather Miller.
It鈥檚 a trio of southsiders.
A longtime cheerleader for the southside, Miller says it鈥檚 about time. She said the city鈥檚 south side for years has been 鈥渇orgotten about鈥 after its major industry, General Motors, left in 2009.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tiresome being thought of as an afterthought, and as a southside resident, I do sometimes feel like we鈥檙e the last to know,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e the last to be considered. We are really not being marketed in the same fashion that other parts of town are.鈥
Miller feels it鈥檚 not it鈥檚 not just the south corridor that gets short shrift, but the west side too. Miller feels that having a larger representation of south siders on the council is long overdue.
Miller said that with three voices advocating for southside residents and underused parts of the city, there are more opportunities to advocate for the economy on the southside, rather than the typical focus that鈥檚 been on the east side鈥檚 Milton Avenue corridor.
鈥淲hether that鈥檚 medical, whether it鈥檚 for pets, grocery or what have you, you have a voice that really will be brought up at any given moment,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淲henever we talk about bringing new businesses into town, we (southsiders) will always have a seat at the table. Now we will always be part of that conversation.鈥
She said although people are focused on the GM/JATCO site, the southside has much more going on than that. She said the city鈥檚 vision for Beloit Avenue housing could be an asset in development because it could create the kind of residential density that drives nearby commercial development.
鈥淚 think in the next five years, we鈥檙e going to see a complete turnaround for the southside in general,鈥 Miller said.
鈥淭he more we can do that, the more businesses recognize, 鈥楬ey, this is a place I want to be,鈥 I really feel like in the next five years, the southside is going to do a complete turnaround, and that housing development is going to be very crucial to that.鈥
Miller said the south side is regularly considered the 鈥渋ndustrial鈥 part of town. But she feels it鈥檚 time for a rebrand 鈥 and with added voices on the council, a new look for the southside could become a bigger priority.
鈥淣ow that we have representation, we have some vocal people who will likely try and push this through,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e gonna see a big change. I鈥檓 excited to see where this goes.鈥
Newly elected council member Cassandra Pope said she thinks a new council with more members personally familiar with the needs of the southside bring about a balanced effort. She hopes to see council members lobby for support support and resource to all areas of the city 鈥 including the city鈥檚 more overlooked areas.
鈥淎s a south side resident, I do not intend to only focus on the south side, but on the city as a whole,鈥 Pope said.
鈥淚鈥檇 just like to see emphasis on where the need is the greatest until all sides of the city are 鈥渉ealthy,鈥 or at least on a level playing field. It just so happens that right now, the greatest need seems to be the south side.鈥
However, she doesn鈥檛 necessarily think that having three southsiders on the council will push the needle on the south side. She said that point to her is to have a majority of council members focused on 鈥渓ong-term, deliberate planning鈥 to create change.
鈥淭he city taking and redeveloping the former GM/JATCO properties, Heather鈥檚 continued work, and community advocacy have brought focus to the southside,鈥 Pope said. 鈥淣ow is a great time to start moving some effort and support that direction.鈥
Pope said she wants to see the Center Avenue and Beloit Avenue corridor get mixed-use properties and dense housing. She hopes the city uses the GM/JATCO site in a way 鈥渢hat meets the wants and needs of southside residents and the city as a whole.鈥
鈥淢y vision for the southside is not nearly as important as what the southside, as a whole, wants and needs,鈥 Pope said. 鈥 I鈥檇 like to see the southside connected to the rest of the city in a way that feels natural and fluid.鈥