Happy Friday!

Random bits:

I did a big update to my Driven By Compression Progress post. It actually makes a little more sense this time, I was premature in sending it last week, apologies.

I've written a ton this week, and wrote a lot more about software than I usually do. The ruby-based writing I've done has been about "commit tracing", a technique from Chelsea Troy you can implement to become a better software developer. I'm quite pleased with my early testing.

I just finished up a rough draft on part 3, here: Commit tracing via the Pry gem, part 3 (intermediateruby.com). After a little practice, in about 10 minutes I was able to easily re-implement this entire commit on the Pry gem: Add Pry::Warning. Even I am impressed.

I'd love some volunteers to work through it, pair with me on the tutorial (so I can make it better). I'll email those of you that subscribe to intermediateruby.com about this next week.

Now, on to the main show:

Housing and Urbanism 🏡🏫🚋🛣

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This email is inspired by a youtube video titled "4plex city". This video is fascinating, and there was a 2-second clip that stood out to me, because of the use of the word "spread". I want to paint a picture for you, and see if that word ends up landing on your brain the same way it landed on my 🧠

Here's what the splash screen of the video looks like:

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I want to highlight a screenshot I grabbed from 3/4ths of the way through the video. Read that text, under "Anti-Apartment Zoning Approved":

It says:

Extensive zoning changes to prevent the spread of apartment building areas in four south Minneapolis neighborhoods were approved unanimously yesterday by the Minneapolis city Council"?

I'm going to rephrase that, picking a different tense and re-arranging some of the words:

The persons comprising Minneapolis city Council unanimously approved extensive zoning changes to prevent the spread of apartment buildings in four south Minneapolis neighborhoods.

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Distilled a bit more:

MN City Council approved of laws to prevent the spread of apartment buildings within the city.

Let's look at another time this phrase was used.

Here's the fragment of the quote I have in mind:

We must protect the home owner by establishing definite limits beyond which the apartment house may not spread.

That's that word again. Spread.

Here's that sentance in greater context:

Apartment houses are needed but is it necessary to permit them to scatter indiscriminately throughout the private home sections? If Atlanta is to be preserved as a city of homes we must protect the home owner by establishing definite limits beyond which the apartment house may not spread.

This paragraph comes from a document authored by the then-mayor of Atlanta in 1922. He opens that document with five illustrations, this sentance being the conclusion of illustration two. You can click the link here to jump straight to the illustration, or read `illustration 2` in whole below:

Illustration 2

Mr. Smith has purchased a home in an attractive neighborhood. All of the homes have large well kept yards.

Mr. Smith believes that children, like plants, must have plenty of sun light and room in which to grow. The location selected seems an ideal one in which to live and raise his family. But there is a vacant lot next door. A speculative builder estimates that he can buy that lot, erect a four story, sixteen suite apartment house thereon, rent the apartments, sell to some investor and clean up a handsome profit for himself.

The apartment house is erected and is quickly rented and sold.

It rents well because it is in a section of private homes and has the benefit of the lawns and open spaces about the adjoining houses. But the value of Mr. Smith’s home is practically destroyed. His light and air is cut off by the huge bulk of the apartment house.

The quiet and comfort of the entire block for private residence purposes has been largely destroyed.

Each home owner fears that a similar apartment building may be constructed next door to him. Those who can, sell out or move away and rent their homes for any purpose or use that offers.

Apartment houses are needed but is it necessary to permit them to scatter indiscriminately throughout the private home sections? If Atlanta is to be preserved as a city of homes we must protect the home owner by establishing definite limits beyond which the apartment house may not spread

​source​

So, what is this document? It's a marketing document, advocating that the city agree to adopting the very first zoning code ever enacted in the nation.

The very first words in the document are:

Introduction: Purpose of Zoning

Zoning will prevent the destruction of the comfort and value of your home through the erection nearby of a:

Public garage

Oil filling station

Grocery store

Steam Laundry

Sanatorium

Ice plant

Foundry

In the same document, the same person, the mayor of Atlanta wrote this:

The residence districts are further subdivided into three race districts:

- R1 or white residence district.

- R2 or colored residence district.

- R3 or undetermined race district.

In the white residence districts no house not occupied by a colored family at the time of the passage of the zoning ordinance can be thereafter occupied by a colored family. [...]

[...] The above race zoning is essential in the in interest of the public peace, order and security and will promote the welfare and prosperity of both the white and colored race. Care has been taken to prevent discrimination and to provide adequate space for the expansion of the housing areas of each race without encroaching on the areas now occupied by the other.

​Here's a link to the section of the document containing the above text​

I invite you to read the document, and if you really want to go down a rabbit hole, read the embedded twitter threads, and the other documents I linked to.

Regardless of if you read the linked documents or not, if you're reading this sentence, I've got some questions for you. Feel free to answer any of

⁉️ Questions and Requests

Feel free to answer any of these questions, if you want to answer all three, that's great, but no need. I'll be thankful for you answering just one!

1. How do you feel about the word "spread" in "the spread of apartment buildings". What does that mean to you?

2. Do you see the similarity in the language between the Atlanta-in-1922 "prevent encroachment/spread of black people into white neighborhoods" document, and the 1975 Minneapolis city council ruling?

3. If you lived in Minneapolis in 1975, would you be willing to go to the city council meeting and oppose this measure? Why or why not?

I'll report next week on what I learn. I won't quote anyone without permission, so please hit the reply button and let me know what you think!

-Josh

PS I've been climbing with some regularity at Earth Treks Englewood and Earth Treks Golden. I messed my back up something fierce 4 months ago, and climbing nearly always helps it feel way better, as long as I'm careful when coming off the walls. My mental state, on the otherhand, is always improved. A little exercise is good for the soul. Say hello if you see me around! Those of you I've been climbing with: 👋

I still need to figure out how to get in shape for a climbing trip in April. My back injury has been a real downer, in that reguard. I'll be able to climb, I'm just struggling to train well at all.

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