Note: This was first penned on August 21st, but a technical error prevented it from publishing.
It feels like housing returns again and again in these little updates of mine, but without housing, there is no community. There is no Athens. With that heavy on my heart, here’s a quick update on three upcoming meetings I’d love to see you at.
As you likely have heard, out-of-state investors have been aggressively acquiring low-income housing across the city, triggering an unprecedented wave of displacement. Lexington Heights, which intersects Lexington Road, is one such development. You can read more about the situation here.
I extend my thanks to my fellow commissioners, community advocates, and Living Hope Church for their work to abate this heartbreaking situation.
I and others have been working with tenant advocates and attorneys on legal strategy and canvassing the neighborhood to solicit direction from residents. I have also written to the developer asking for reconsideration of the rent hikes and Section 8 bans and asked my fellow commissioners and local leaders of faith to do the same. At our first neighborhood meeting on August 15, representatives from Athenian First Development Corporation identified Fair Housing Law as a potential legal violation to take to court, which is promising, given how little legal remedy exists.
Follow up strategy session will take place, Monday, August 29th, at 7pm. Organizers need help providing rides to tenants so please reach out at the number below if you’re available to help. (Note: the flyer is from this week’s meeting, but the number to call remains the same).
At our last voting meeting, The Mayor & Commission tabled the vote on this development until our September 6th. Over this time I had facilitated discussion on using our inclusionary zoning ordinance as a framework for affordable housing, but this ultimately was not feasible to implement, for reasons you can read about here. All this delayed the town halls I’d had in mind, but they are finally here!
Two town halls on the issue will take place in the coming two weeks. The first was planned for tonight at 6:30, but given my error with publishing this earlier in the week, I'm pushing it back to Monday, August 23rd, same time. All are invited to join me on Zoom for a presentation and discussion on the proposal. As well, we will meet again Tuesday, August 23rd at 6:30pm. This will be in-person at a location to be decided. I hope multiple chances to meet will allow folks with varied needs and schedules to participate.
Here’s the Zoom link again for your convenience: click here.
One last general update:
Athens Pride & Queer Collective is conducting a community survey to better understand the needs, experiences, and how they can better serve LGBTQ+ folks in our region. Please take their quick 30 minute survey if you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, and/or you identify under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. If not, we’d love if you shared this survey with any person who identifies as such and lives in the Northeast Georgia region. All surveys can be anonymous unless you add your name and contact information so that they can send you a gift card as a thank you for participating.
Survey here: https://bit.ly/3c2BTzI
Okay, that’s it!
Have a great week!
We'd be happy to host the town meeting if you still need a location!