West Columbia chicken plant was there first

So, after over a half century on U.S. 378 in West Columbia, the chicken plant is now a problem? When it was surrounded by lower-middle class and the poor, it was just fine — nary a peep from the powers that be. Did the plant magically begin to smell?

Developers purchased the land around the plant at less than prime prices precisely due to the plant. Then they built swanky apartment houses to sell at prime prices: river view! Folks purchased these prime properties without a thought of the plant. They only wanted to flaunt their purchase on the river or in the Vista.

The price of their hoity-toity poor decisions is the smell. Just as living at the lake means a long commute, and near the airport, low-flying aircraft. Nowhere is perfect, so they should deal with it.

The attempts to get rid of the plant are nothing but harassment. If the city or developers had a “vision” for the area, did they attempt to work something out to the the benefit of all concerned before proceeding? If the plant refused, then the plans should have been scrapped or adjusted. What’s next? Snakes? Sorry folks, they’ve have been there longer than the city and will be there afterward as well.

I can see it now: The chicken plant is bulldozed and city workers are spreading deodorant on all the snakes, fish, opossums, etc. Can’t have it smell.

The next time you munch on a chicken sandwich, wing, or chicken salad, look up to U.S. 378 and thank those folks for the work they do. You didn’t have to get your fingers dirty.

This story was originally published September 10, 2017 at 6:00 PM with the headline "West Columbia chicken plant was there first."