Chodo Fights On!
The court ruled in favor of the Community Housing Development Organization concerning the Linden Meadows project. The plaintiffs however are not satisfied and have filed an appeal.
The original suit has delayed project about a year and cost Chodo around $140,000 in court costs. The appeals process will likely increase that figure to near $250,000 in not only additional legal fees but also increases in the costs of materials to finish the project.
Pending court action makes it more difficult and expensive for the organization to borrow funds to replace that which has already gone to pay legal proceedings.
All the while, these homes could have been finished, sold, and occupied by people who live, work, spend money, and pay taxes here in New Albany! Not to mention the matching funds from the federal government that would result from these sales to build or replenish other homes to sell to still more taxpaying citizens!
Seems like a lot of wasted time and money just for the sake of a park when you look at the dollars that could go into the city coffiures once this project is finished.
Why don't we look into dedicating another of New Albany's green spaces in the name of the deceased person who left the city this land in the first place? I doubt seriously that they would mind if they were aware of the good that could result from Linden Meadows completion.
Thoughts?
posted by Highwayman @ 9:57 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Yet another ridiculous obstacle to rational, socially-responsible, economically sound and humanitarian progress.
Roz
1.) Lloyd from a non party point of view, whom do you really think is getting fat from this whole deal?
2.) If I missed it I stand down, but where is the State on all of this?
Ed,
To answer your questions, from the research I've done so far this appears to be a legitimate use of federal grant monies to help first time home buyers realize the American dream and clean up impoverished areas in the process.
For the city/county it puts people on the tax roles which should help solve some of our longstaning budget issues.
Is someone making a dollar out of it? Undoubtedly so. But to me it appears to be a better use of my tax dollars than many other welfare programs.
As for the State, unless it is an election year, Indianapolis could give a rat's less what happens anywhere south of Seymour. We are the red-headed step children and we are on our own!
The Linden Meadows project is one that I've been conflicted over. CHDO is a great organization, no doubt, and what they do is good for our community. But if my grandmother had donated land for a specific purpose, like a park, and it suddenly got turned into a subdivision, I would probably seek a legal opinion.
The actual ownership of the land wasn't clear initially, from the reports I read, so I can't fault the heirs and neighbors for wanting to clarify the matter. I prefer to think of it as people availing themselves of our legal system to protect their rights, as well as the wishes of a deceased relative, rather than a frivolous lawsuit.
That being said, if it can be established by the court that the land is indeed the property of the state/city due to eminent domain or the expiration of a deed, etc., then the group seeking relief must accept it and move on.
I have not heard anything that would lead me to think that the opponents of the development were opposed to CHDO or its efforts, but were seeking to clarify ownership of the land.
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