Senior complex draws fire from neighborhood
By Elizabeth Billips lizbillips@yahoo.com

An Atlanta company wants to develop a senior citizen apartment complex on the old Waynesboro Elementary School site - but city councilmen must first decide whether they'll change the zoning to allow it.

The project has already riled up surrounding homeowners who say the 57 units and 86 parking spaces could ruin their historic neighborhood.

But Hammond Development, the company that's also behind the recently developed Pecan Grove subdivision, jumped through the first hoop March 20 with unanimous rec- ommendation from the city's planning commission.

According to city administrator Jerry Coalson, the proposed complex would consist of two separate structures - the existing historic two-story building, which currently belongs to New Birth Missionary Church, and then a new two-story building that would be built right next to it.

In order for the developers to receive tax credits to help pay for construction, at least 10 percent of the apartments must be leased to low-income residents for reduced rent. The others would go for market rate.

Besides the two buildings, the site would include a courtyard and 43 parking slots.

The developers requested that 43 additional off-site (street) spaces be permitted to help meet building requirements.

Those numbers turned out to be the sticking point for a number of homeowners who say their quiet streets can't handle the kind of density created by that many people and vehicles on a 2.2 acre site.

They also fear the senior citizen apartments will end up housing much larger families if the residents allow their children and grandchildren to move in with them.

The planning commission's recommendation stipulates that residents must be 55 or older and that only disabled children can live with them - but residents say they still question the developer's ability to police it.

Before councilmen vote, they'll weigh neighbors' concerns and the commission's recommendation during a public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 7.

Mayor George DeLoach is expected to back the development, based on letters he sent to every commission member prior to their meeting.

"I expect little to no negative impact," he wrote, pointing out the city's lack of housing for the elderly. "I believe the senior housing requirement will maintain the integrity of the existing historic neighborhood."

Less than two years ago, city councilmen shot down DeLoach's own plan to convert a Liberty Street house into smaller rental units after a large group of neighbors complained about noise, late night comings-and-goings and parking problems caused by six units already on his half-acre lot.

Many homeowners around the newly proposed project say they, too, plan to join together to protest the zoning change.