Middle Housing: Any Questions?
'Affordable Housing' - Part 2: Can we vote on this?
Please read Part 1 of this two-part series here.
The American way is the Will to Work and an instinctive mistrust of ‘handouts’. Americans are not afraid to navigate the unknown and ‘take their lumps’, believing better times will come. To plan for emergencies they buy insurance and set up savings accounts. They applaud the ‘rainmakers’ who take sizable financial risks and create jobs for all.
When regulations, taxes and massive underwriting of favored, minority small business loans cause existing businesses to close, something un-American is afoot. What do you do?
Is justice served when your new neighbors get a free pass or giant discount to live next-door in a renovated structure or freshly built Middle Housing? Is that fair and equitable?
Remember, “redlining” is in the dark past. It cannot be used as a rationale for Middle Housing. It was superseded by Affirmative Action. Trying to make up for past injustices by lowering standards for mortgage loans led to the banking crisis of 2008. Millions of people lost their jobs though Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson made sure the banks and mortgage lenders were bailed out. That was unjust, too.
According to the 2024 Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) report, the percentage of people in Louisville who are spending 30% or more of their income on housing went down over the past five years from 29% to 25%. Greenberg admits that is good, but then says, “We need much, much more progress. Having that much of our population spending that much on their housing is simply unacceptable… The ‘unmet need’ has grown.” Why? And why is it urgent to move quickly? Ask questions.
The Courier-Journal reported the HNA information, but not the issues at stake:
The affordable housing shortage is getting worse for Louisville's lowest-income residents, despite an increase in available homes, according to a new report released Wednesday.
In fact, the city is now short about 36,000 units affordable to residents with extremely low incomes − an increase of about 5,000 homes since officials last studied the need.
… However, about 25% of all households remain cost burdened, meaning more than 30% of their incomes go toward housing expenses each month.
About 11% of all households are severely cost burdened, meaning more than 50% of their incomes go toward housing…
Between the 2019 and 2024 reports, Louisville saw a sharp rise in low-income households, while those in the middle income tiers shrank. (not surprising - ed)
At the April Louisville Forum
In April, ‘Affordable Housing in Louisville’ was the topic at the Louisville Forum, a civic club that features discussions and debates on hot topics affecting the community.
The speakers at the April Forum were Mayor Greenberg and his new director of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority, Elizabeth Strojan. There was no debate but only audience questions.
When asked what the Metro government is doing about the mandates of House Bill 388 that just became law in Kentucky, Greenberg stated, “We are making zoning changes despite HB 388. Some in our community don’t want change. We must be open-minded to change.” That is what our state legislators get in return for the $616 million they forked over to Louisville Metro— a slap in the face.
The Bill is 39 pages and has numerous sections that spell out requirements for the Metro government to respect small city rules and resources, and includes many other new statutes. It passed on an emergency basis, meaning this law is now in force. It calls for a year of review for zoning changes and mandates that the mayor report any significant input to the Legislative Research Commission by November 1, 2024. A bottom-line requirement is that the financial investment of property owners be enhanced— while the quality of life for all also be enhanced. (p. 39) But why would a home increase in value if ‘government housing’ is plopped next door?
Greenberg stated that the ‘negatives’ that are associated with introducing Middle Housing into small cities whose home rules restrict such rental arrangements, such as crime, disrepair and lower property values, just aren’t true. “It’s just housing— you would not know the difference.”
And it’s only right for us to help those who cannot afford housing! says Greenberg. “Everybody needs a safe, quality and affordable place to call home and I think we should do everything we can to support the individuals in our society who are most in need and we should be doing everything we can to support them, not make it more difficult than their life already is.”
But wait. Louisville’s population is shrinking according to the 2024 World Population Review:
Louisville/Jefferson County (balance) is currently declining at a rate of -0.64% annually and its population has decreased by -2.53% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 632,441 in 2020.
As noted in Part 1, we can’t count the illegal migrants, but with a shrinking population, who else could be causing the urgent need for new affordable housing?
So get ready
Small cities in Louisville that don’t have zoning authority will be targeted. Larger cities like J-town and St. Matthews have that authority, but will it matter? Attend a community meeting and ask questions:
Can a new regulation passed by the Metro Council really override my small city rules? Why?
Where will the multi-family house residents park?
What sewer and drainage problems have been known to occur? What if my property is adversely affected?
How will the added numbers in the large developments affect traffic conditions?
How are property values affected by Middle Housing and will property tax be lowered accordingly, quickly and urgently?
Do any who are provided the government assistance have criminal backgrounds?
Will my new neighbors speak English? Are they required to learn English?
Will my children be safe playing outdoors? How can I be assured of this?
Can we vote on this?
An example of a version of Middle Housing in a Shively neighborhood is shown in this news report. Residents are enraged. Watch!
Let’s face and manage societal change in a reasoned, deliberate, innovative and fair manner. If we will not stand up for the American Way, why should illegals respect our rights?