One Westside surveys residents ahead of grant application
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – One Westside is heading toward grant application.
“This opportunity for the choice neighborhood grant coupled with the TIF coupled with the ability to get low-income tax credits is really almost a once in a lifetime opportunity. We are trying to pull together all of the necessary patterns to be able to apply and be successful in this grant application,” Betsy McCright, the Executive director Chattanooga Housing Authority said.
After city council, a new survey went out to the residents.
“After the council meeting last week, our staff, Columbia residential, a development partner and I met with Chairwoman Dotley and she identified four questions that she wanted asked. We provided those questions, and she approved them, and then we hit the ground running on Friday morning,” said McCright.
Residents will have a choice when it comes time for construction.
McCright said, “What is extremely important for everyone to know is that every resident that is here has the right to return. Let’s say someone elects to get a voucher, within that 8-year period if they say they aren’t liking the voucher that they are in, they can elect to come back, and we are required to reserve a unit for them families.”
One resident is looking forward to the change.
Regina Robinson said, “Change is always good and this will be great for the kids and the elderly people with so many of the new programs we are going to have like places they can sit outside and congregate. It’s going to be really good.”
Although some people are concerned about the plan, she is not.
“Maybe some of the people are older and they have been, in their minds, tricked before or something and they believed and put their hopes and their family’s energy and they didn’t get exactly what they wanted. This isn’t one of those projects, that’s not going to happen. We are going to see a brand-new Westside,” Robinson said.
The Housing Authority plans to submit their choice grant application in December.
