We were pleased to see Treesdale Park as the subject of a front-page article (“Housing project denied tax help,” The Daily Progress, June 10), but were dismayed by the gloomy impression it left on readers.
Citing unnamed officials who described Treesdale only as expensive and difficult, and echoing vague claims of poor design put forth by residents, make it sound as if the project were “denied federal help” based on the quality of the project. This is not so, and I wanted to outline a few key points:
l Affordable housing projects are inherently challenging. Land costs here are high, and a nonprofit housing operator cannot recoup costs by charging higher rents, as a for-profit developer could do.
l Experts contend that building “green” does not have to increase costs. The article stated that our plans to build an environmentally sustainable project were driving costs way up, but this is not the case. And sustainable construction today means lower utility costs tomorrow.
l Tax credits are extremely competitive. There is a fixed amount each year and a point-based, comparative ranking system. Of the 68 statewide applicants this year, only 34 received tax credits and many, including the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program, will reapply in 2009.
Treesdale Park will be home to households with a range of incomes, backgrounds and family sizes. Given the merciless strain from the mortgage mess and skyrocketing food and fuel costs, the need for close-in, affordable rental housing will only grow.
But just because affordable housing is a necessity does not mean that we get to slap together cheap or ill-designed housing. AHIP has been working on Treesdale Park for nearly 10 years, with an array of community partners — peer nonprofits, local architects and planners committed to excellence in their own backyards, “green” consultants, county planners and a variety of regional and national funders.
We are working together to guarantee a beautiful, high-quality and well-managed community that is a model of community respect, partnership, success and pride. It will cost, yes, but the costs of doing it cheaply or haphazardly — or worse, ignoring the rental needs of more than 50 percent of our population — would be far greater.
Theresa L. Tapscott
Albemarle County
Theresa L. Tapscott is executive director of the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Results Loading...