Rogers Park: Embracing Change or Resisting Progress?

In a recent gathering, Anchorage Assembly Member Erin Baldwin Day engaged with the Rogers Park Community Council to tackle the city's housing crisis. The discussion revolved around easing zoning restrictions to allow more housing options along transit routes like Northern Lights Boulevard. Many attendees, mostly in their 70s, were resistant to the idea. They feared that higher-density housing would alter the neighborhood's character. However, Rogers Park has already seen changes over the years, with condos, apartments, and short-term rentals popping up.The neighborhood's affordability has shifted dramatically. Homes that were once within reach of working families now cost over $500, 000. This leaves young professionals and families struggling to find suitable housing. Baldwin Day, a local resident, presented various housing options and emphasized the need for change. She highlighted that Rogers Park already hosts diverse land uses, debunking the myth of it being purely single-family residential. The choice is clear: adapt and grow or resist and stagnate. Change is inevitable, and embracing it could pave the way for future generations.