More low income housing is not needed anywhere in this County. We have a glut of empty housing everywhere yet government continues to approve further developments, tax incentives, and funds for such projects that undermine other housing and destroy neighborhoods. When properties sit empty they deteriorate and bring down values of all surrounding housing. Taxes continue to go up for the rest of us and neighborhood homes end up as rentals as their values go so low that they are snapped up by investors.
Agree with John and Mike a quick check on realtor.com shows houses in the city for under 50K. Seems like we already have enough low income housing in the city.
I agree there doesn't seem to be any shortage of low-income housing. As usual if government would stay out of it, the housing market will correct itself. I'd ask the developer this: "If you were not receiving any government subsidies, would you still build this development?" I think we can accurately guess the answer.
Is it because if the title low income --- perhaps you people don't know low income -- real estate for under 50K -- oh my what a deal --if you can afford the payments -- not everyone has a 50K yearly job -- low income shouldn't mean low housing standards -- come on be real
How is the market for high income housing in Batavia? They can't build enough of that stuff in Austin right now because it is Austin. Rick Perry is as anti-Austin as they come and Batavia is trending liberal. I love that!
I voted yes. A land owner should be able to do anything on their property that is A PERMITTED USE.
We sold about 65 acres in Darien a few years back. The new owners wanted to put in a campground [which has since been approved] IS A PERMITTED USE.
Here was just some of the opposition from some of the neighbors:
"I want a fence around it. I don't want campers wandering onto my property." [This from people caught stealing from us.]
"I want big lights on the campground, but I don't want to see them from my house. And if I catch campers stealing firewood from my property, I'll have them arrested for a felony. Stealing firewood is a felony." [Campers would have to walk past ACRES of fallen wood to steal wood from them.]
"I want you to put up posted signs on MY property. But I still want to be able to hunt on YOUR property. After the town meeting, the wife of that person was in such a rage she came up to my husband and said [screamed] "I'd like to punch you in the face."
"l want to look out my window at the field across the road and just see the deer and wildflowers." [I told them they should have bought the property and they could do anything they wanted to.]
One neighbor who had run a bulldozer down the creek on OUR property wanted an EPA study done to see if there were any endangered species in the creek. He tried everything he could think of to obstruct the new owners from going ahead with something that was a permitted use.
Another wanted a study of the trees to see which ones could and should not be removed. I finally said, as the new property owners, they could CLEAR CUT the land if they wanted to.
This is my point. If your neighbor has land for sale, BUY IT if you don't want it developed, or if you are worried what another owner might do to it. Land has permitted uses that are governed by law and the owner can do ANYTHING they want on that land IF it is a permitted use or a variance can be obtained.
Why is it that people think that open land is for everyone's use and enjoyment? People had actually cut trails for riding dirt bikes and ATVs on OUR property. People hunted on our property without our permission and built tree stands, even though it was posted for no trespassing and no hunting.
More low income housing? Isn't there enough landlords in Batavia that collect welfare payments from tenants? Batavia is being overtaken with "low income" citizens as it is now-
Janice, I would tend to agree with you. However, I do not believe this land was ever for sale. I contacted Mr. Stringham about 5 years ago and asked if I could buy a lot or land on Violet Ln. I was flat out told, "No". He said he had no plans to sell any land nor expand the subdivision. Additionally, I think if he offered the land for sale now at it's assessed value, surrounding land owners would pony up and buy it. Moreover, if public funds are being used, he's got little or no right to do what he wants without public input.
Mark makes a good point about public input needing to be considered when a project is funded largely if not entirely by taxpayers' money. The land was probably sold in a deal no one had any clue about until it was done and over. And my sense is not that they are building "Garden Estates," a rather pretentious name, for local people, rather for clients in their area where there's a lack of such housing or???
Obviously there is a disconnect here. Some people feel there is no need for low income housing, and then they cite properties for 50K, people in low income housing tend to be renters. Low rent doesnt have to mean slum thats the attitude of the property owner. The housing I see around town that is empty, (and that I have had a chance to look in) is so for a reason, it is poorly maintained and just barely fit for shelter.
From what I have seen there is a need for decent low income housing. However no one wants it in their back yard, as the statements from Janice show, but in the rest of the comments here I see a gross generalization on people requiring low income housing. That is as unfair as my calling some of the commenters here snobs.... In our current economic situation it's more likely that some of you will end up requiring low income housing than not, due to age.....retirement.....games banks play with mortgages...businesses downsizing etc. Then what? Maybe if instead of treating these people with distain and apathy, you communicate and see that they are as diverse and varied as your own friends and aquaintences are you'd see things differently.
As far as supporting low income housing, I do support it as long as it's done to genuinely help house people with low incomes and within the regulatory requirements that the city, state and federal govt give for such. If you dont like what is happening in a neighborhood get involved with whats happening, talk to your neighbors dont be so snobbish, or move to somewhere that fits your particular standards as progress and development are gonna happen eventually wether you like it or not.
Remember most of those low income people are working at your local stores and fast food places so you (others) can shop and eat -- lol even welfare collectors keep your economy going -- where would all those county workers go ??? take a break get your latte from a low income worker and rethink life.
The big problem with low income housing is that its a trap for its victims. So the family moves in at a reduced rent but as there income increases there rent jumps imeaditaly, most times even higher than it would be if they rented from private landlord. And to what end? Tempory housing becomes permanent so the need for more.Job security for some,tons of goverment money for others and the people that we are suppose to be helping get traped. We need to wake up as a country and realize that we want to give people a hand up but not carry them for there whole lives.
Doesn't more low income housing attract people from out side of Genesse County...Won't this then put more of a burden on the tax payers of this county...More of these low income people will be in need of social services which we all have to pay for.....
I don't know about others here, but when we were first married and for a good 5 years thereafter, my husband and I were "low income." That didn't mean we were low classed, criminal, in need of social services, or a disturbance to our neighbors.
I dreamed of a day when I could afford to live in a new home. Well, we are retired now, and we still have never owned a new home. Instead, we learned everything we could about the building trades and renovated 3 properties during our working years. Two of those properties contained 6 rental units. I swore that I wouldn't rent anything out that I wouldn't live in myself.
I think it is unfair to lump all low income people and landlords into the same category. Few people want to be low income. I bet many of the people posting here have been or will be "poor" at some time in their life.
Hmmm Mark interesting question, however the generalization and limited view of people who utilize low income housing still screamsfrom your statement about the "drain" on us through social services. However let me counter the point your making.
Wouldnt these "low income housing" people brought to this county still be contibuting by: Shopping locally adding to the demand and variety as well as sales tax base, they would be using services like gas, electric and water and sewer that if they dont pay themselves still gets paid by landlord which spreads out the costs of increases and improvement fees which cause our utilitiy bills to increase.
Those lucky enough to have a car will still be buying gas and repairing the cars locally wich increases local spending. And so on and so forth, There is just as much addition to the local tax base as there is a burden so I still dont see why people focus on one negative and use that as a tool to denigrate and discriminate.
As Janice so eloquently pointed out not all people using low income housing are the stereotype that other want them to be.
Congrats Janice your definately the type of landlord this community needs so much :)
There is nothihg wrong with being low income. Most of us srarted out that way and if lucky, made it to middle income and maybe better.
The problem is taking my money to give it to somebody else to buy a house. It might even be a better house and in a better neighborhood then mine. How is that fair?
John I can see your point but, this is money that the Govt takes from you. Its not the fault of the people collecting it thru the Govt. However be realistic if the Govt didnt use it for this particular purpose, do you think you'd get it back? Nothing we give the Govt ever gets returned they will find a use to put it to. The people we need to complain to are our reps, if they dont listen then end their careers and get someone in office that does listen.
Kyle,
That's just one reason the Tea Party has its supporters. Taking my money to give it away so somebody else can buy house, when the project is not even needed, has got to stop. And this project is as good as any place to start.
More low income housing is
More low income housing is not needed anywhere in this County. We have a glut of empty housing everywhere yet government continues to approve further developments, tax incentives, and funds for such projects that undermine other housing and destroy neighborhoods. When properties sit empty they deteriorate and bring down values of all surrounding housing. Taxes continue to go up for the rest of us and neighborhood homes end up as rentals as their values go so low that they are snapped up by investors.
I think Mike Pullinzi is dead
I think Mike Pullinzi is dead on. There is enough low income housing here now. The Batavia Housing Authority does not support this either.
Agree with John and Mike a
Agree with John and Mike a quick check on realtor.com shows houses in the city for under 50K. Seems like we already have enough low income housing in the city.
I agree there doesn't seem to
I agree there doesn't seem to be any shortage of low-income housing. As usual if government would stay out of it, the housing market will correct itself. I'd ask the developer this: "If you were not receiving any government subsidies, would you still build this development?" I think we can accurately guess the answer.
Is it because if the title
Is it because if the title low income --- perhaps you people don't know low income -- real estate for under 50K -- oh my what a deal --if you can afford the payments -- not everyone has a 50K yearly job -- low income shouldn't mean low housing standards -- come on be real
How is the market for high
How is the market for high income housing in Batavia? They can't build enough of that stuff in Austin right now because it is Austin. Rick Perry is as anti-Austin as they come and Batavia is trending liberal. I love that!
I voted yes. A land owner
I voted yes. A land owner should be able to do anything on their property that is A PERMITTED USE.
We sold about 65 acres in Darien a few years back. The new owners wanted to put in a campground [which has since been approved] IS A PERMITTED USE.
Here was just some of the opposition from some of the neighbors:
"I want a fence around it. I don't want campers wandering onto my property." [This from people caught stealing from us.]
"I want big lights on the campground, but I don't want to see them from my house. And if I catch campers stealing firewood from my property, I'll have them arrested for a felony. Stealing firewood is a felony." [Campers would have to walk past ACRES of fallen wood to steal wood from them.]
"I want you to put up posted signs on MY property. But I still want to be able to hunt on YOUR property. After the town meeting, the wife of that person was in such a rage she came up to my husband and said [screamed] "I'd like to punch you in the face."
"l want to look out my window at the field across the road and just see the deer and wildflowers." [I told them they should have bought the property and they could do anything they wanted to.]
One neighbor who had run a bulldozer down the creek on OUR property wanted an EPA study done to see if there were any endangered species in the creek. He tried everything he could think of to obstruct the new owners from going ahead with something that was a permitted use.
Another wanted a study of the trees to see which ones could and should not be removed. I finally said, as the new property owners, they could CLEAR CUT the land if they wanted to.
This is my point. If your neighbor has land for sale, BUY IT if you don't want it developed, or if you are worried what another owner might do to it. Land has permitted uses that are governed by law and the owner can do ANYTHING they want on that land IF it is a permitted use or a variance can be obtained.
Why is it that people think that open land is for everyone's use and enjoyment? People had actually cut trails for riding dirt bikes and ATVs on OUR property. People hunted on our property without our permission and built tree stands, even though it was posted for no trespassing and no hunting.
More low income housing?
More low income housing? Isn't there enough landlords in Batavia that collect welfare payments from tenants? Batavia is being overtaken with "low income" citizens as it is now-
Janice, I would tend to agree
Janice, I would tend to agree with you. However, I do not believe this land was ever for sale. I contacted Mr. Stringham about 5 years ago and asked if I could buy a lot or land on Violet Ln. I was flat out told, "No". He said he had no plans to sell any land nor expand the subdivision. Additionally, I think if he offered the land for sale now at it's assessed value, surrounding land owners would pony up and buy it. Moreover, if public funds are being used, he's got little or no right to do what he wants without public input.
Mark makes a good point about
Mark makes a good point about public input needing to be considered when a project is funded largely if not entirely by taxpayers' money. The land was probably sold in a deal no one had any clue about until it was done and over. And my sense is not that they are building "Garden Estates," a rather pretentious name, for local people, rather for clients in their area where there's a lack of such housing or???
Obviously there is a
Obviously there is a disconnect here. Some people feel there is no need for low income housing, and then they cite properties for 50K, people in low income housing tend to be renters. Low rent doesnt have to mean slum thats the attitude of the property owner. The housing I see around town that is empty, (and that I have had a chance to look in) is so for a reason, it is poorly maintained and just barely fit for shelter.
From what I have seen there is a need for decent low income housing. However no one wants it in their back yard, as the statements from Janice show, but in the rest of the comments here I see a gross generalization on people requiring low income housing. That is as unfair as my calling some of the commenters here snobs.... In our current economic situation it's more likely that some of you will end up requiring low income housing than not, due to age.....retirement.....games banks play with mortgages...businesses downsizing etc. Then what? Maybe if instead of treating these people with distain and apathy, you communicate and see that they are as diverse and varied as your own friends and aquaintences are you'd see things differently.
As far as supporting low income housing, I do support it as long as it's done to genuinely help house people with low incomes and within the regulatory requirements that the city, state and federal govt give for such. If you dont like what is happening in a neighborhood get involved with whats happening, talk to your neighbors dont be so snobbish, or move to somewhere that fits your particular standards as progress and development are gonna happen eventually wether you like it or not.
Remember most of those low
Remember most of those low income people are working at your local stores and fast food places so you (others) can shop and eat -- lol even welfare collectors keep your economy going -- where would all those county workers go ??? take a break get your latte from a low income worker and rethink life.
The big problem with low
The big problem with low income housing is that its a trap for its victims. So the family moves in at a reduced rent but as there income increases there rent jumps imeaditaly, most times even higher than it would be if they rented from private landlord. And to what end? Tempory housing becomes permanent so the need for more.Job security for some,tons of goverment money for others and the people that we are suppose to be helping get traped. We need to wake up as a country and realize that we want to give people a hand up but not carry them for there whole lives.
Doesn't more low income
Doesn't more low income housing attract people from out side of Genesse County...Won't this then put more of a burden on the tax payers of this county...More of these low income people will be in need of social services which we all have to pay for.....
I don't know about others
I don't know about others here, but when we were first married and for a good 5 years thereafter, my husband and I were "low income." That didn't mean we were low classed, criminal, in need of social services, or a disturbance to our neighbors.
I dreamed of a day when I could afford to live in a new home. Well, we are retired now, and we still have never owned a new home. Instead, we learned everything we could about the building trades and renovated 3 properties during our working years. Two of those properties contained 6 rental units. I swore that I wouldn't rent anything out that I wouldn't live in myself.
I think it is unfair to lump all low income people and landlords into the same category. Few people want to be low income. I bet many of the people posting here have been or will be "poor" at some time in their life.
All a lot of low income people need is a break!
Hmmm Mark interesting
Hmmm Mark interesting question, however the generalization and limited view of people who utilize low income housing still screamsfrom your statement about the "drain" on us through social services. However let me counter the point your making.
Wouldnt these "low income housing" people brought to this county still be contibuting by: Shopping locally adding to the demand and variety as well as sales tax base, they would be using services like gas, electric and water and sewer that if they dont pay themselves still gets paid by landlord which spreads out the costs of increases and improvement fees which cause our utilitiy bills to increase.
Those lucky enough to have a car will still be buying gas and repairing the cars locally wich increases local spending. And so on and so forth, There is just as much addition to the local tax base as there is a burden so I still dont see why people focus on one negative and use that as a tool to denigrate and discriminate.
As Janice so eloquently pointed out not all people using low income housing are the stereotype that other want them to be.
Congrats Janice your definately the type of landlord this community needs so much :)
There is nothihg wrong with
There is nothihg wrong with being low income. Most of us srarted out that way and if lucky, made it to middle income and maybe better.
The problem is taking my money to give it to somebody else to buy a house. It might even be a better house and in a better neighborhood then mine. How is that fair?
John I can see your point
John I can see your point but, this is money that the Govt takes from you. Its not the fault of the people collecting it thru the Govt. However be realistic if the Govt didnt use it for this particular purpose, do you think you'd get it back? Nothing we give the Govt ever gets returned they will find a use to put it to. The people we need to complain to are our reps, if they dont listen then end their careers and get someone in office that does listen.
Kyle, That's just one reason
Kyle,
That's just one reason the Tea Party has its supporters. Taking my money to give it away so somebody else can buy house, when the project is not even needed, has got to stop. And this project is as good as any place to start.
Congrats to the residents, it
Congrats to the residents, it is officially a dead issue. This was not needed and the residents proved their case. Good for you!