Shanna Flowers -The poor are always with you, Roanoke County
I've been quiet too long. And Im not picking on you Shanna, but this whole San Souci/Mews low income apartment deal is asinine.
First off, for those who can't meet the guidlines for income, I say - look around. I can tell you for a fact that the apartments which Im living in are cheaper than the new prices in the Villages at Garst Creek. Im not in a low income housing development. Actually Im in a prime location, probably far better than that of the Villages.
Between the convient location to everything, and I mean - it just does not get any more convienient, the wonderful buildings, the pool, the view from the pool. And Im not paying what they will be at the Villages.
Well, actually I might be paying close to it, but I have 2 dogs, and I opted for the Washer-Dryer in the apartment. So it adds a little. Still not what the Villages allegedly will charge.
This hubbub over the Villages tho comes down to 2 words that have the locals up in arms. "Low Income"
Granted, the government of Roanoke County really can do nothing about it - so stop pestering them. The citizens cannot do anything either. Such is the way of private property.
But Shanna, please. Show some understanding of this issue. Find me where Roanoke County has legislated the non-development of affordable housing? And Roanoke County itself, not being a landlord, has no responsibility towards those with lower incomes. Just like Roanoke County does not see the validity in having a public transit system, or funding one.
There is no requirement for them to have one, its just an nice thing to have.
But seriously Shanna, you found some numbers to back up your point about Roanoke City's housing situation, but still revert to baseless critisims of the residents of the county. You will not change a mindset by pointing out the fears that cause it.
The neighbors are giving voice to their worst fears, and what else could you think when you hear of the crime and drug hotspots in Roanoke. Now I understand that it is not solely attributable to low income housing, but they do seem to be a hotspot for it. There are several reasons for this, of course.
Similar arguments are tried in NYC, with crime rates in housing projects being double what they are in similar income neighborhoods, and people say there is no correlation. Well there is, sad to say, and for whatever reasons there continues to be.
Shanna, I think you need to realize the story from all angles, and stop attempting to portray the residents of Roanoke County as elitist. Maybe some of them are, but they don't have an option - so let them vent, ignore them, and wait for them to quiet down.
But remember that the perception will not change until change occurs within the community itself. And no opinion piece will change that.
2 comments:
The prices at Garst Creek have gone up from where they were last year. As far as low income and maximum earning you can have to live there it works out to spending about 33 percent of your pretax check on rent then add your utilities to it. There are no deals there for low income families all there doing is going to up the vacancy rate there. If they had 20% vacency rate before the new rent hike then with the price hike whats it going to be 50%. I own a business on Brambleton and have seen any of our customers disapear because they have been displaced and no one new is moving in yet. Great Job Virginia and the Feds are doing now. Wouldnt it have been smarter to take the 20 million and help low income families own there own homes?? I think former president Carter had it right Habitate for Humanity. Take the 20 million and help families build there homes, pay for there homes own there homes and be proud of there homes. I think 150 to 200 owned new homes would have been better then lining some fat cats pocket. Lets be real this guy from out of state is not doing this because he cares about low income families. Hes doing it because hes involved with a big government scam to line his pockets. You buy property to make money not lose it. I hope they dont fill the apartments up and lose there shirts on the deal.
I'll put it to you this way. Roanoke City has several programs available for lower-income families to purchase and repair an old home. Im sure that $20 million would be better spent in helping to rebuild some of Roanoke's older homes, and helping Roanoke's citizens afford them.
Roanoke county is going to reach a critical maximum with new housing developments, having just allotted 350+ acres off Rutrough and the Blue Ridge for a "golf course" community. The County is swimming in its tax base, the city is barely dipping its toes. And yet without the city, there would be no county.
Eventually, there will either be a war against the county, or the two will have to work together.
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