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MONROE — The Planning and Zoning Commission approved an application at its meeting on Thursday, August 24, by 255 Monroe Turnpike LLC for the creation of a special development district
Less demolitions, more renovations this year
Oakridger
The city of Oak Ridge plans to spend less this year on demolishing houses considered “blighted” and more on renovation of older housing districts than in previous years.
“We’ve gotten a lot of the most egregious ones (demolished). They’re behind us,” Community Development Director Wayne Blasius said. He was responding to questions posed by City Council member Derrick Hammond at a December Council meeting regarding the change of focus away from demolitions. Also, Blasius said “the private sector is a lot more active” in renovating blighted lots. He said often someone from the private sector will take a house the city’s considering demolishing even before the city gets to it.
Oakridger
Oak Ridge City Council members and staff expressed concern recently about homelessness in Oak Ridge and problems with finding affordable housing.
“It’s going to take all of us as a community to address this particular situation,” City Council member Derrick Hammond said.
The discussion of homelessness came up prior to the vote on the Community Development Block Grant plan on Dec. 14. City Community Development Director Wayne Blasius said the measure Council approved includes the city’s plans for using the CDBG, including some CARES Act funding this year and over the next three years.
As explained in the meeting agenda, $236,872 is the amount the city will get from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development while an additional $232,681 will be from CARES Act funding to prevent, prepare and respond to COVID-19. Together they total of $469,553 for activities in the proposed Consolidated Plan.