Things You Can Buy For a Dollar: There's a cup of coffee, a pack of looseleaf paper, a few bouncy balls. Or, if the time is right, a 1-acre tract of land in the middle of the Cleveland-Holloway neighborhood on the lip of downtown Durham.

I grew up here, and have spent many mornings exploring the surrounding rows of Quicky marts, giant oak trees and storefront churches.

I am passionate about this part of Durham, although some folks prefer the polished homogeneity of suburban neighborhoods and use sensationalist news stories to justify their fears of living in a diverse one. Despite its beautiful historic homes and its solid community of residents, our neighborhood is feared, neglected and misunderstood. From an outsider's perspective, it is possibly an appropriate location to put social service agencies that are not desired in "nicer" neighborhoods.

Although 10 social service agencies now function within my neighborhood, the city is in the process of selling two more plots in Cleveland-Holloway. One of these is going to Housing for New Hope to shelter formerly homeless and drug-addicted people; the other is going to Dominion Ministries to become a lock-down facility for youth with "severe behavioral and emotional problems." These plots of land, bursting with potential and surrounded by a thriving community, went for a dollar each.

Affordable housing and social support systems are crucial elements to a thriving community, but shouldn't they be distributed evenly throughout the city? Emotionally disturbed youth would surely benefit more in an environment that fosters rehabilitation and growth.

The people who live here truly define our rising city; we are creative, culturally rich and our houses hold the history of a beautiful town. Such history, such culture, such land is certainly worth more than a dollar, and our voices are worth being heard. Please join us before city council on Aug. 9 and Aug. 20 to help stop the transfer of land, and to preserve our neighborhood.

-- Catherine Edgerton, Durham