Before the Henderson City Council began its discussion on the fate of the Beacon Light property during its Monday evening short regular session meeting, local real estate agent and Vance County Commissioner Terry Garrison spoke regarding the controversial former apartment complex.
Stating that he was speaking on behalf of owner Sharif Abdehalim, Garrison admitted that there has not been much progress in developing the property. He said that the owner “is faced with a huge dilemma trying to finance development”. Garrison also claimed that there is a great need for housing in Henderson and Vance County, and that the current economic climate has made people unable to provide for themselves as they normally would.
Garrison went on to say that he hopes there is some evidence to justify the home ownership requirement, indicating that it is “not realistic”.
When asked by Henderson City Council member Mary Emma Evans what he was asking for, Garrison replied that he was asking the council if it is “realistic” to keep the requirement that the property be developed for home ownership, and also what the city can do to help [Abdehalim]. He indicated that the city could help with stimulus funds, a public-private partnership, or more time for the owner to act in good faith.
“Be considerate and compassionate,” Garrison exhorted the council.
Immediately following Garrison’s public comment, the council turned its attention to the Beacon Light agenda item, a resolution that would allow Code Compliance Director Corey Williams to proceed with the enforcement of the council’s August resolution to demolish the property. That resolution was accompanied by another resolution which stayed enforcement of the demolition order for 45 days to give Abdehalim a chance to present a plan along with a letter of credit for the cost of demolition. That 45 day stay expired on October 1, 2009 with no agreement reached.
City Manager Ray Griffin reported that Abdehalim had requested that the council continue the discussion until the next meeting, as he was called away on a business emergency to Mississippi and could not attend the council session.
Griffin also reported that the Beacon Light owner had stated that he could not provide a letter of credit.
Williams reported on a recent conversation with the owner. He said that during the talk he encouraged Abdehalim to provide the council with the information that it requested during its last meeting. During that meeting, the council had sought more detailed plans, proof that financing had been obtained for the project, and information as to what had become of fire insurance proceeds paid to Abdehalim.
The code enforcement officer noted that Abdehalim is to appear before the Zoning Board of Adjustment on November 3, 2009 to apply for variances and/or special use permits. Williams said that there are 21 items that need to be addressed on the property, including additional plans, firewalls, sprinkler systems, and individual [electric] meters.
Griffin told members that the development of the property for home ownership was a fundamental part of the deed of sale to Abdehalim in November of 2007. Reminding members that the owner had requested a reconsideration of the requirement in 2008 and again this year, he told members that the current council had “reaffirmed” the previous council’s position that the requirement would be retained.
Griffin pointed out that Abdehalim himself had confirmed a commitment to ownership at the last meeting as well.
Stating that the economy was stronger when the property was sold, Griffin observed that “movement” on the property did not begin until minimum housing code was enforced. In seeming reply to Garrison’s earlier remarks, Griffin said that it is not in the city’s purview to allocate stimulus money, but rather than of state and federal agencies.
The city manager went on to say that one of the city’s key strategic goals is to increase home ownership, and that the city has several ongoing initiatives to do this, citing the Carey Chapel Crossing project in which the city is cooperating with local developer Dennis Tharrington, as well as the A.L. Harris subdivision in north Henderson.
Griffin stated that since the city has “not had an opportunity to have a plan [from Abdehalim] so we could pursue a plan of action in that regard”.
Noting that the Zoning Board of Adjustment is the only entity that has the power to grant variances and special use permits, he said their decision would determine the direction in which the property would go. If the Zoning Board of Adjustment chooses not to make the concessions, Abdehalim will be unable to do the rehabilitation work using the current configuration of the property. The original construction of the complex pre-dates current city codes, and the variance that the complex enjoyed was lost because it has not been continuously inhabited.
Evans stated that she has been in favor of home ownership since the Beacon Light issue came up, but that she has received a lot of calls from residents asking that she ask the council to “take a second or third look at the economic situation and dire need for housing for our citizens”. She said that she had visited a home on Monday that had three additional families living in it without jobs or a place to work.
The Ward 1 representative said that she was swaying because of the Section 8 professional who had presented to the council a few weeks ago. She cited a discussion of diversity and stereotypes during that presentation, one that she claimed was not “put into the report that I read”.
Evans said that she was not promoting Section 8, but rather promoting a “suitable place for our people to live”.
Member Lonnie Davis asked the question of why Section 8 houses are discussed when [the council] talks about rental houses. Davis went on to question how many stick-built homes had been constructed in Vance County lately.
Council member Garry Daeke said that to question the commitment to home ownership at Beacon Light “is moving us back”. Opining contrary to Evans that there are “plenty of rentals in town”, he said that there has been no progress on the Beacon Light issue.
Daeke questioned what Abdehalim has done with insurance proceeds collected from the fires at Beacon Light buildings. He noted that the owner had refused to answer questions about the insurance during the last council meeting.
Abdehalim’s deed from HUD requires that insurance proceeds be used to redevelop the property.
Member Mike Rainey pointed out that those who are forced to stay with friends or relatives are doing so out of financial hardship, not because of a housing shortage. He said that the council should encourage home ownership “instead of looking for ways to put a band-aid on the problem”. He indicated that two problems, income and availability of housing, were being conflated. He went on to express a fear that the situation that led to the original condemnation of Beacon Light would occur again.
Council member Brenda Peace said that she did not see how anyone could allow “going back to what we had”.
Member Mike Inscoe noted for the council that Abdehalim has not provided information demonstrating that he has secured permanent financing for the renovations, has not provided a letter of credit, and has not answered the council’s questions regarding insurance proceeds from the fires as the complex.
Despite the apparent division on the issue between members Davis, Daye, Evans, and Peace versus members Daeke, Inscoe, and Rainey (with Bernard Alston again absent), members voted unanimously to allow Williams to continue with the enforcement of the demolition order.