Opinion: Orange-Brecken. project changes disturbing


by Elissa Yount

There is an important public hearing to be held on Monday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall concerning the Orange-Breckenridge Street Project Area.

The notice states: “As a result of the public hearings, substantial changes might be made in the proposals herein advertised reflecting objective, debate and discussion at the public hearings,” and “Persons interested are invited to attend and present their arguments relative to the proposed amendments, etc.”

What does this disturbing language mean?

The city provided all the pertinent material concerning this hearing, and that consisted entirely of the Mayor’s Task Force on Housing Plan approved by the City Council in April, 2006. No amendments or “etc.’s” to this plan, as mentioned in the public notice, were included.

Please take time to read just the first six pages of this plan. It is a thoughtful plan that will improve the quality of life in the neighborhood and enhance King Daughter’s Park, Elmwood Cemetery, the five churches in the area, and businesses. Much time, energy, and effort went into the plan with an estimated $100,000 of professional services contributed.

The City Council appointed a Redevelopment Commission to take over the job of redeveloping Orange-Breckenridge. Where is the documentation of this commission’s work to move this project forward? Also missing is the documentation of an earmark received from the General Assembly for $250,000 which was to be used exclusively to acquire properties in this area. My understanding is that this legislation specified that the money could never be diverted to another project. Missing, too, from the information supplied for the public hearing is any record on the progress that has been made in ridding this area of blight in the intervening years, especially the contribution of Spring Street Baptist Church.

It was very disheartening and disappointing for the Redevelopment Commission at one of their first meetings to designate Embassy Square as their first priority, with Zene Street next on the list. It was also very ironic, because the Redevelopment Commission was formed and assigned to the task of redeveloping Orange-Breckenridge. Don’t forget, all the planning had been done, and the money was in hand. So all they had to do was to take the ball and run, but it seems they fumbled. They backed using CDBG funds for building a new auditorium at Embassy Square and tied it into the completed David Street project in North Henderson. Politics ruled.

Why has the Redevelopment Commission delayed this project? Why is it taking so long to get something done? Have they alienated the neighborhood? Are they waiting for the properties to change hands or increase in value? Are they going to present excuses for disregarding this project so they can concentrate on building the next phase of Embassy? Or Zene Street?

This project could have been completed by now and a new project put on the drawing board for CDBG money. We crucially need these tax dollars coming back to Henderson to fight the overwhelming blight in our city the way other cities do it. Will the city government complete this project or allow all the work on Orange-Breckenridge to be lost? Get your opinions on the record.