Subsidized development may not help victims

On Aug. 26, the city council voted 5-4 to approve a development of 81 single-family homes. Identified as a “flood” item on the agenda, the proposed Sugar Creek development in northwest Cedar Rapids requires city financial subsidies before the altruistic developers can help the flood victims, and is being billed as “affordable housing.”

Unfortunately, in their zeal to pass an affordable housing project and silence critics who accuse them of inaction when it comes to flood remedies, the five who voted “aye” refuse to listen to others on the council who argue that the funding strings of the city's assistance package lack the criteria that guarantees the housing would go to those of lower income who truly need the assistance. Thus the potential of this project actually going to displaced flood victims from the Time Check area is highly doubtful.

Given that four of the five “aye” vote council members are up for re-election this November, their need to get some flood-related action on their resumes is understandable. However, city taxpayers must pay $931,500 for infrastructure improvements as the city's share of the needed subsidies. The “ayes” hope that federal block grant funds can pay for the rest some day.

The proposed development isn't near anything other than Ellis Park. It won't replace the neighborhood and amenities Time Check residents have grown attached to. Why isn't taxpayer money being used to help build truly infill house-by-house replacement housing in the Time Check area like Skogman is already doing in the Oak Hill-Jackson neighborhood?

Jim Vacherlon

Cedar Rapids