Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 16, 1993 TAG: 9310160284
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But Roanoke already is providing most of the low-income housing in the Roanoke Valley, Harvey said.
The councilman said he wasn't criticizing the volunteer organization earlier this week when he got City Council to table action on changing a land title to allow Habitat to build on property donated to the city.
Harvey said he has no problem with Habitat's request to use the land, which was donated for use as a park. But he is concerned about the growing financial strain of more low-income housing.
But Harvey said he will continue trying to get the city to formally encourage the construction of more middle-income and upper-income houses, which will attract residents who can pay taxes to finance city services.
Council postponed the Habitat action, saying it wanted to know how many houses Habitat had built in Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke County.
A spokesperson for Habitat said the group has built 30 houses in Roanoke but none in Salem or Roanoke County, where it has been unable to find sites. Herbert said he believes there are sites.
The 1990 census showed the number of rental housing units increasing in Roanoke and the number of owner-occupied units decreasing.
If the city keeps adding low-income housing, Harvey said, soon there will be no one to pay the cost of government.
"One of these days, we are going to be in serious trouble," he said.
Harvey asked last year for a plan for middle-income and upper-income housing. He said he knows the city has been busy with the Hotel Roanoke project, but he still wants a plan.
by CNB