Sorta good news for Highland (unless you’re a slumlord)
July 7th, 2006 by Atomictumor
The Oak Ridger is talking about a North Carolina company expressing interest in building some townhouses and apartments on the site that two of the dilapidated Applewood apartments stand now. Now, its not in the bag yet, but they’ve secured low-income housing tax approvals from the state, and have stated they’ll work with current tenants on finding places for them to move during the construction period, but theres a snag, that the Oak Ridger didn’t run with:
“As proposed, the new housing, designed for families who make up to 60 percent of area median income, will include one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
Rents will range from $400 to $650…”
And theres the rub. $400 for a one bedroom ain’t cheap. It ain’t low income. I haven’t been apartment hunting for some time, but talking to people I know, its about what non-low income complexes like British Wood or Castlewood (isn’t that the one on the far east end?) charge. Hell, our mortgage payment falls within that range for a 3 bedroom house.
Sure, its not the high end that Oak Ridge has been in heat for, and its not going to cost four digits a month like these apartments being built as we speak at the corner of Emory Valley and Lafayette (seriously, luxury apartments across busy streets from small industrial shops, brilliant), but its still priced too high for struggling single moms, or disabled folks to live in. Sure, there’s federal assistance (one of the moms on our street get housing assistance in renting her place, which is cool), but its a step that some people can’t get off work long enough to jump through, what with all of the meeting impassionate (i.e. brutish asshole) social workers and going through all the impenetrable forms.
Its hard work being poor.
July 7th, 2006 at 11:12 am
The article mentions THDA (Tennessee Housing Development Agency). If they are to use the area median income as identified by THDA, then 60% would equal $32,880 for a family of four - nearly $13,000 more than the federal poverty level of $20,000 for a family of four.
Part of the problem here is the terminology. Terms like “low-income” and “poverty level” are often mistakenly used interchangeably, even though there are large discrepancies between their definitions. In order to qualify for the low income tax credits mentioned in the article, a certain percentage of the units have to be made available to low-income families. And while 60% of the AMI is technically considered “low-income,” the terminology and numbers don’t tell the whole story. Families whose last housing resort is Applewood will simply not be able to afford these new developments.
On the other hand, our close proximity to several of the Applewood buildings gives us a bird’s eye view of the deteriorating conditions. It truly is awful, and I’d like nothing better than to see every building torn down. My fear is that current tenants (poverty level) will be swept under the rug as the developers market the new apartments to the low-income population.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
Thanks for the info, Eaves.
I feel that something has to be done about Applewood, because its darn near singlehandly bringing down an entire part of town. O.R. has enough shitty parts of town, so it really doesn’t need anymore. Does this mean these families living there are getting priced out of this town, and all it entails (no busses)?
July 7th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again here.
What needs to happen is an agency (ADFAC if they handle such things, other social worker-type agencies otherwise) needs to go to the tenants of those buildings and educate them about their options. Many of the people would qualify for gov. funded housing, be it HUD or other subsidized housing. Help them fill out forms and get into contact with whatever agencies they would qualify with. Most if not all of those tenants could find better housing at the same rates, but just aren’t aware of their options.
One problem is that OR doesn’t seem to have much in the way of housing developments (gov. or otherwise) that are in an affordable bracket for these people. Many would have to move out of the OR area if suitable housing doesn’t come available some way or another.
Excuse the rambling nature of the comment… just got out of class.
July 7th, 2006 at 8:35 pm
There are a few newer subsidized housing developments that don’t look like subsidized housing, so many people may not recognize them as such. One is on Tuskeegee, very nice and very new, even with a pool. Another is on the turnpike near Robertsville Middle School — they’re all ground-level and handicap accessible.
One of the agencies that most people don’t even know about is the Housing Development Corporation of the Clinch Valley, which is not a government agency, but a private entity. See www.hdcclinchvalley.org for more detail: one of their misisons is to move people into home ownership, but they do assist with finding appropriate rentals as they help people move toward ownership.
Home ownership is important, because it tends to keep the neighborhood property values higher. Folks tend to take better care of something that is their own, just like you do.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:52 pm
“Folks tend to take better care of something that is their own, just like you do.”
You’ve got to be kidding NetMom. Don’t you remember the pics of AT and GAC’s house with all those redneck signs out front? Gees.
July 8th, 2006 at 7:44 am
“Don’t you remember the pics of AT and GAC’s house with all those redneck signs out front? Gees.”
Nah, those pictures were faked. The house was just photoshopped in.
July 8th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
I guess you had to actually see the tongue in my cheek to know that I was joking Joel.
July 8th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
GAC brings up a good point about nonprofits stepping in to assist. One problem, however, is that nonprofits often face inadequate funding and barebones staffing. If the City were to persue something along those lines, I would hope that funding for housing counseling for those leaving Applewood would be included in the budget somewhere.
Netmom, thanks for bringing up HDC. I think that area housing/social service nonprofits such as HDC, ADFAC and AC Habitat for Humanity could each offer something valuable to the relocation process. They each serve unique populations with different services and go could a long way to making sure that folks don’t fall through the cracks.
July 8th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
“I guess you had to actually see the tongue in my cheek to know that I was joking Joel.”
Uh, no, daco. I guess you had to actually read my post to know that I was joking.
I knew you were joking by alluding to the photoshopped signs in front of a photo of their actual house. My joke was that it was the house that was photoshopped in, implying that the signs were actually real.
It’s not so funny when I have to explain it to you.
July 8th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Evidently one issue I’ve heard of with Habitat for Humanity is that the only place they’re interested in building houses is a subdivision in Scarboro, which (understandably) has some people turned off.
July 9th, 2006 at 7:05 am
Habitat recently finished or is in the process of finishing several homes in the Highland View neighborhood. I know they’re proposing to do quite a few in Scarboro, but I don’t think they’re limiting themselves to that area. Habitat’s main roadblock for constructing in Oak Ridge is limited land available.
July 9th, 2006 at 11:55 am
Sorry Joel…(feeling 3ft tall)