Reported in the Courier-Journal:
“A proposal from Goodwill Industries of Kentucky to have the West End Opportunity Partnership (WEOP) buy the Nia Center in West Louisville — a move designed to unlock millions in federal tax credits for a new affordable housing project — failed to win support from the WEOP board.
“The finance committee of the West End Opportunity Partnership (WEOP) had forwarded the proposal to the full board without a recommendation. But during a special board meeting on June 12, the measure ended in a 9-9 tie vote, halting its progress.
“Goodwill asked the partnership to purchase the Nia Center, a resource hub located at 2900 W. Broadway and owned by the Transit Authority of River City (TARC), for just over $2 million. It proposed leasing the property back for $1 a month for 99 years, allowing the organization to take advantage of expiring New Markets Tax Credits.
“Goodwill and its co-developer, Columbus, Ohio-based Woda Cooper Companies Inc., had planned to transform the 3-acre site into Goodwill Opportunity Village — a $21.5 million, 76-unit affordable housing complex offering transitional and recovery services adjacent to the nearby Opportunity Campus.
“‘Little did we know the West End is formally being used as a dumping ground for every type of drug addict, sexual predators and any other illicit activity other communities reject. Look at how many recovery/ transitional home applications are currently in the West End and how more are being submitted. I feel like I’m Julia Roberts in The Pelican Brief. We need help down here... we are a neighborhood that needs protection from destruction.’” (ibid)
The WEOP-NIA story has taken up a lot of conversation in the news, with no conclusions yet drawn as of the last week of June. The significant aspect is the objection to 'affordable housing' among those who own homes and pay taxes in the area.
If a citizen speaks out against 'financing' homes for people without adequate resources, they are framed as 'uncaring'. And who gets the thanks when affordable housing is constructed with tax dollars? The Mayor, HUD, etc, are thanked, NOT the taxpayers. More to come...
The below video describes Louisville Metro's latest affordable housing.