Highview residents strongly oppose low income apartment complex

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LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – The people of Highview did not hold back in Monday's meeting. They made sure the developers knew that they do not want an affordable housing complex moving in next door.

It's a proposed apartment complex that brought more than 300 people to Moore Traditional School on Monday night. "We've seen your property, it doesn't match with our area," said one Highview resident.

It's a fight residents are use to. Back in 2009, a similar project was proposed, but eventually shot down. In this proposal the Frontgate Apartments would be located on the Outer Loop next to the Valumarket shopping center. The buildings would be three stories tall with 212 units.

"The development itself, the pictures look beautiful, but it is the residents that are going to be attracted to that type of development," said Kathy Conley, Highview resident.

Many at Monday's meeting believe low income housing means the crime rate will go up. "When I moved there seven years ago, my daughter said to me mom I think this is a safe place for you to live, but I don't think it will continue to be a safe place for me to live," said Pat Byrd, Highview resident.

Others fear property values will go down and traffic will increase. Mayor Greg Fischer wrote a letter saying he supported developer LDG Development applying for tax credit to get this project going.

Fischer was not at Monday's meeting, but several elected state and local officials showed up to voice their opposition. "It's government subsidized housing, tax payers are paying for a lot of the procedures that they are using to build this thing and I don't think it's right and I think it's time to shut this down," Kevin Bratcher, District 29 State Representative.

Co-owner of LDG Development Chris Dischinger doesn't agree. "It basically limits how much money somebody living there can make, but it is not a government subsidized housing project, it is not government owned, it is not government housing," said Dischinger.

"Ford workers aren't going to live there, GE workers aren't going to live there, teachers aren't going to live there," urged a Highview resident.

"Our residents deserve a good quality place to live and that's what we provide," said Dischinger.

If you are single your salary must be $26,000 or less to live in Frontgate. Highview residents say this fight isn't over. They started a petition and plan to appeal.