It is past time to put the lights out for good at Beacon Light.
This housing development was neglected by the “Secret” Lodge that owned and managed it, by the federal agency (HUD) that financed it, and by the city that was supposed to inspect it. Every party failed miserably in their responsibility to that housing project. It was a horrible embarrassment. People were living with sewage bubbling up into their sinks and tubs and running down their walls. Carpets were spongy with foul wastewater, and yards were wet with raw sewage.
It was our tax money that was paying over $700 a month for one of these apartments to the “Secret” Lodge that managed it.
The city stepped in and finally closed and vacated that virulently unhealthy, racially unjust environment. The city then set up protective covenants with the approval of HUD so that that property would never become the cesspool that still remains there. That covenant simply said that home ownership was to replace Section 8 housing for the site.
Lonnie Davis, who is reported to be a member of the Lodge that received the rent from Beacon Light for all those years as it fell into such a disreputable state, and a member of the Vance County Housing Authority who is supposed to look after the housing needs of the poor, and a member of the Henderson City Council who votes on policy and codes, now says he is “50-50” on home ownership for that property. Could others on the council capitulate and delay and reverse the stand for home ownership they made on a committee level when this comes to a vote before the council? Why would they? Do they have information that shows the decision to only have home ownership to be a bad decision?
When the property was purchased, the new owner, Sharif Abdehalim, bought it knowing the stipulation of home ownership. That stipulation did not say that everything on the property had to be razed and that stick-built houses had to be constructed. That stipulation did not say that remodeling into condominiums was prohibited. That stipulation did not say that rent-to-own was prohibited. That stipulation simply said that future investment in the property had to be for the benefit of homeowners who would build wealth in the community. Simple, simple.
Simple.
But money talks. Almost immediately, the new owner started crying crocodile tears over his bad investment and cried that he could not make any money with the city holding him to home ownership. He then went and found Twin City, Inc. to take it off his hands after (among other titles) real estate agent Terry Garrison advertises that the city might change the stipulation of home ownership. How is Garrison privy to that information? How ethical is it to promote selling a property in this manner?
The property is on the market for $400,000. Garrison will make a nice commission if he can sell the property. There is nothing wrong with Garrison making money ethically, and certainly there is nothing wrong with Garrison looking after his client. But while Garrison, a Vance County Commissioner representing city residents, is looking after his client, who is looking out for all the citizens of Henderson?
Consider this deal: After the sale, Abdehalim can take his considerable profit and run, leaving the mess of working through all this to the new owner. Maybe Abdehalim is slick enough to have convinced HUD to partner with Twin City, Inc. just so they can save face about their past failure at Beacon Light. He does not mind what apple carts he upsets or what mess he leaves because he will be out of the picture, cash in hand. There are people who make their living off buying up HUD’s mistakes and messes and unloading them to walk away with great profits. Could this be the game plan here?
If the owner is betting on a weak, unthinking, pliable city council that can be manipulated with sob stories or worse, then past performances would say he has made a good bet. The previous council, which turned down Abdehalim when he first cried his crocodile tears had finally gotten to a place where the quality of life for all the people in and around Beacon Lights was improving. Just having the property vacant was a vast improvement, even though Abdehalim has done little during his ownership but allow blight to reign. He has shown his lack of regard for the citizens in our city. Do Henderson’s citizens want all the work and effort (and resources) to remove injustices to have been for nothing? Henderson needs a moratorium on Section 8 housing, and this is the place to start. Put out the lights at Beacon Light until homeowners can turn their lights on in their houses and in their yards.
Maybe this council will see the light and vote the responsible way on Monday evening. After all, it is election time.
Note: I have checked most council minutes and committee minutes for the four years I was on the council, and I cannot find anywhere that Lonnie Davis brought any concerns about the living conditions at Beacon Light to the council. He did bring concerns about the grass that grew at the entrance and the condition of the road at the entrance. These things were the responsibility of the city, not the managing company. If Mr. Davis finds that my research is incorrect, I will apologize.