There has been a little bit of a stir around Mesa State College having a "body farm" located around the area of 29 and D roads. The placement of the body farm at that location will be temporary, according to Mesa State. The whole idea is kind of interesting to me for a couple of reasons. The main one being, that I live about 1 mile away.
Essentially a body farm is where they place human remains to study their decomposition for forensic and other reasons. From what I learn in the local news media, the folks in the neighborhood are kind of going "NIMBY" (Not in my back yard) on the project. They evidently don't like to have humans buried so close to thier homes. They are afraid of the smell, and the effect on their property values.
The piece of land they would like to have this body farm is in the neighborhood of 154 acres. I would think that Mesa State would not be placing the bodies right on the corner of 29 and D, so I doubt the smell would become an issue. As for the property values declining because there are dead people buried near their property, I think that the Veterans Cemetery right next door would have already made the property values decline, if they were going to decline.
Personally, I like the body farm idea, there are only five of these body farms in the country and the Grand Junction body farm would be the only one in a dry climate. Scientists might travel from all over the country to study at the body farm.
I am sure that Mesa State understands that once the new overpass opens up on 29 Road, that the corner of 29 and D becomes a lot more valuable piece of property. I am sure they won't be "farming" at that location for very long. If I lived in that area I don't believe I would complain too much, sounds like a good deal to me. A body farm would be a perfect neighbor. No traffic, no noise and no complaints.
On a side note...
I wonder what happened to the development project that was going to be at the 29 and D Road location? About a year a ago there were plans to have something like 1,000 housing units with commercial and industrial areas. That little plan must have went away with the energy jobs. I was actually hoping someone would add a grocery store to that development but it looks like the Pear Park area gets to stay "commercial free" for the time being.
Essentially a body farm is where they place human remains to study their decomposition for forensic and other reasons. From what I learn in the local news media, the folks in the neighborhood are kind of going "NIMBY" (Not in my back yard) on the project. They evidently don't like to have humans buried so close to thier homes. They are afraid of the smell, and the effect on their property values.
The piece of land they would like to have this body farm is in the neighborhood of 154 acres. I would think that Mesa State would not be placing the bodies right on the corner of 29 and D, so I doubt the smell would become an issue. As for the property values declining because there are dead people buried near their property, I think that the Veterans Cemetery right next door would have already made the property values decline, if they were going to decline.
Personally, I like the body farm idea, there are only five of these body farms in the country and the Grand Junction body farm would be the only one in a dry climate. Scientists might travel from all over the country to study at the body farm.
I am sure that Mesa State understands that once the new overpass opens up on 29 Road, that the corner of 29 and D becomes a lot more valuable piece of property. I am sure they won't be "farming" at that location for very long. If I lived in that area I don't believe I would complain too much, sounds like a good deal to me. A body farm would be a perfect neighbor. No traffic, no noise and no complaints.
On a side note...
I wonder what happened to the development project that was going to be at the 29 and D Road location? About a year a ago there were plans to have something like 1,000 housing units with commercial and industrial areas. That little plan must have went away with the energy jobs. I was actually hoping someone would add a grocery store to that development but it looks like the Pear Park area gets to stay "commercial free" for the time being.
i think the body farm will be a great opportunity for everyone to learn from. The students will benefit greatly from the hands on experience.
ReplyDelete