Mercy Housing raises concerns and a turndown vote
City planning commissioners view an affordable workforce housing project an inappropriate fit on Seneca’s EN 1st Street. And, after a city hall hearing last night, the commission voted 5-0 against a zoning change sought by Mercy Housing Southeast. A Mercy Housing representative from Atlanta appealed for a residential zone on what’s zoned general commercial to allow 74 units designed, she said, for professionals such as teachers and fire fighters, segments of the workforce in need of affordable homes. Mercy Housing’s Ronit Hoffer said the project would not be housing for the homeless. Yet concerns and questions were raised from a few members of the public, as well as commission members. From the commission, Chairman Barry Duvall said he believes the apartment homes would be a wrong fit for 450 feet of EN 1st Street frontage, an entryway to the downtown. Duvall, along with Commissioner Matthew Durham, said they recognize that affordable housing is needed in their city. But, as Durham said, not for EN 1st. Although the vote was a setback to Mercy Housing, it’s not necessarily a death knell. Chairman Duvall said the vote is advisory only and, at city level, the final decision rests with city council during meetings in both March and April.