Not so Goodyear

Enquirer photographer E. Coleman and I took a spin out to the Reds' proposed spring home today. Kinda looks like a nuclear test site.

Goodyear is one of those new suburbs where they have lots of land and nothing else. It has to be a developer's dream. Completely flat, so no 'dozing. No trees to have to knock down. Cheap land, as far as you can see. They've already plunked a few developments down (you can get any exterior color you want, as long as it's tan) and, of course, a few strip malls. You can be a million miles from civilization, but you're never more than a couple minutes from a Starbuck's. At a time when gas costs the rent money, we keep building places like Goodyear that are 20 miles from anything and there is no mass transit in sight.

No town center, no sense of place. Soulless. Community is your family room, watching ESPN.

The Reds' portion of the place is just dirt. The Indians part had light towers up and cinderblock skeletons of administration buildings. The Tribe is relocating here next Feb, the Reds the year after, if everything goes well, which I hope it doesn't.

Other than that, can't wait for Spring 2010.