The March 11 start of the $5.5 million redevelopment of the State Street area, should give all residents of Ann Arbor pause. For the next year, the State Street area will undergo a barrage of construction as lighting is added, sidewalks are expanded, trees are planted and the one-way streets are once again made two-way thoroughfares.

While these changes may appear beneficial to the community, there are serious concerns amongst State Street merchants of rising rents and the threat of commercial homogenization if only national chains are able to afford the rent that will inevitably increase. The plan also overlooks the need for more parking spaces and will temporarily reduce parking during the construction.

The city"s decision to spend such a large amount of money on the State Street retail corridor is questionable considering the more pressing needs throughout the city.

The redevelopment of State Street is one part of the city"s present attempt to re-invent and invigorate downtown. The concerns of present shopkeepers, such as possible loss of business during construction and the lack of parking, have been ignored while the city has instead focused on development for the future.

For the past decade, the city has existed in a state of conflict between its traditional population and an influx of wealthy individuals from Detroit seeking the charms of Ann Arbor. This conflict has played out throughout Ann Arbor, but is most apparent in the planning of luxury condominiums throughout the city.

High-priced apartment complexes far beyond the means of any student have sprung up in the area over the past several years. Spoon Equities, the developer behind the proposed retail and housing complex, The Collegian, on Maynard St., is attempting to change its original plans to include fewer and more expensive units. If the city approves these changes, property values will increase along with student rents. The Collegian, as well as other luxury condominium developments such as the Fifth Avenue and Washington buildings could place students in an uncomfortable and uncertain state of flux concerning their residential choices.

If students are driven away from their traditional neighborhoods, the city risks losing the vitality and dynamism that makes Ann Arbor an attractive place to live.

The city must also work in other ways to improve students" experience in the city. Necessary changes should include more lighting throughout residential areas to improve safety. Another helpful innovation could be the inclusion of "blue light" phones throughout the city that provide an immediate connection to police.

While the University does not have the authority to add security features to city property, Ann Arbor could work with the University to allay the safety concerns of students. With the recent rash of crimes on campus it is imperative that the city does everything in its power to make the environment appealing to all students. For too long these needs have been ignored while multi-million dollar projects have been implemented to spur on commercial revenues.

Because resources are desperately needed throughout the city, the redevelopment of State Street is especially dubious. The city is sacrificing the quality of life in Ann Arbor for the ephemeral solution of redevelopment to increase tax revenues.

Through this and other schemes , Ann Arbor may eventually lose the spirit of iconoclasm that has allowed the city to flourish for the past 177 years.