Housing plans stir debate
Some say north-side proposals would create 'ghetto'
A barrage of applications to build affordable housing
complexes in Lafayette is creating concern that the proposed concentration of
low-income apartments in north Lafayette will create a "ghetto" in
that part of the city.
During the month of April alone, 11
developers are asking the City-Parish Council to support their applications for
government funds to build affordable housing complexes in Lafayette.
The developers are applying for government
assistance, including Gulf Opportunity Zone Act financing, which is a
government assistance program providing federal money to encourage economic
development in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
A council endorsement means additional
points in favor of the development winning federal support.
The council on April 4 approved
resolutions supporting two applications. Tonight, nine others are on the
council's agenda, six in north Lafayette and three elsewhere in the city and
parish.
The proposed developments are raising
concerns, particularly on the north side, where most of the housing complexes
are proposed.
Resident and north side business owner
Karl Breaux called the plans "carpetbagging" by developers from out
of town trying to take advantage of federal money available to help Louisiana
recover from the hurricanes.
Lafayette is beginning to consider smart
growth initiatives, but these companies want to build apartment complexes
adding hundreds of apartments without building the roads needed to access them
properly, Breaux said.
"I intend to fight it," he said.
Planning Commissioner Fred Prejean has
asked the commission's housing advisory committee to look into the matter.
"There are people who are afraid of
the number of these that might appear on the northside and might one day turn
into low-income housing," Prejean said. "And there goes the beginning
of the ghetto."
City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams said
he will support the affordable housing developments because they will allow
lower income residents to afford quality housing. Few homes are available in
Lafayette that are under $100,000, leaving moderate and low-income workers
forgotten, he said.
"A lot of our people live in
deplorable conditions," Williams said. "There are over 800 people on
the waiting list for Section 8 (government assisted) housing."
Prejean said he will ask the Planning
Commission's housing advisory committee to see how the planned affordable
housing developments mesh with the commission's housing plans for Lafayette.
"I think people are interested in
having these developments spread throughout the parish, not just centered in
Lafayette, particularly on only one side of town," Prejean said.
Article published Apr 18, 2006