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Dr. Jeanelle Norman, President of the NAACP, was present and spoke against the petition stating <br /> that it appears the purpose for the rezoning is to allow the developer to obtain tax credits without <br /> regard of the impact on the neighborhood. She stated that this perpetuates the stacking of <br /> housing with apartments one on top of the other. Dr. Norman stated that the trend is to not stack <br /> housing with HOPE VI and there are three stories in Roosevelt School. She stated that there <br /> would be a great increase in density in the neighborhood. She asked if the neighbors had been <br /> contacted. <br /> Ms. Elma Donaldson, 1337 North Maple, was present and spoke against the petition stating that <br /> she lives around the corner from the subject property and there would be too many people in one <br /> space. Ms. Donaldson expressed concern for a decrease in property values and asked the <br /> Commission not to approve the request. <br /> Ms. Rachael Joy, Chairperson of the Fair Housing Committee, was present and spoke against the <br /> petition stating that the committee is addressing ways to provide affordable housing and to <br /> discontinue the stigma of stacking. Ms. Joy stated this project would be Longview moved to <br /> Roosevelt. <br /> Mr. Heavner stated that this is not a high density housing project. The 33 units are townhomes <br /> with garages underneath and not at all similar to Longview. Mr. Heavner stated that he had not <br /> heard from any of the objectors prior to the meeting but would be better able to share the <br /> drawings when the Planned Unit Development is presented. Costs of the units are from $372 up <br /> to $550. Tenants must qualify financially and the rent is not subsidized. <br /> Mr. Heavner stated that the property is over four acres and there was more traffic when it was a <br /> school than it would have with the proposed development. His clients build high quality housing <br /> and insist on following the rules. It is felt that this development will be a plus for the City, for the <br /> School District and for the developer. The developer has a contract for one of the adjacent single <br /> family homes and hopes to have two more. <br /> Mrs. Washington asked if persons with a Section 8 voucher could live at this development. Mr. <br /> Heavner stated that he didn't believe that they could as the development would not be state or <br /> federally subsidized. Mrs. Washington asked if programs would be provided for the low to I <br /> moderate income tenants. Mr. Heavner stated that he thought that was why the developer was <br /> working with Illinois Housing Development. I <br /> Mr. Setina asked if the property were not rezoned would petitioner bow out. Mr. Heavner <br /> answered yes and stated if the property is not rezoned then the project would not be done. He <br /> expressed concern that the building would sit vacant and then go into a state of disrepair. <br /> Mr. Schiller stated that Roach School is stagnant and going downhill, surrounded by weeds and <br /> has boarded up windows. <br /> Mr. Heavner stated that petitioner had wanted to request B-2 zoning and have the Residential <br /> Development Plan ready for presentation. The architect, who is out of state, dropped the ball and <br />