John Coffelt, Editor

A rezoning request by the Manchester Housing Authority for over 35 parcels on Woodrow Street passed its second reading by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Aug. 5 to allow duplexes for the elderly and disabled.

The rezoning for the wooded terrain in Grindstone Hollow adjacent to the Manchester Waste Water Treatment Plant comes amid objections from neighbors who voiced concerns that an R-4 high density zoning from R-2 low density would destroy the nature of their quiet neighborhood.

Neighboring landowner Dana Archer said one of the reasons her family bought property in the area was because it is a quiet cul-de-sac.

“We are concerned about the construction of the housing, what is the plan and what is going in there,” Archer said.

Manchester Housing Authority Executive Director Nancy Huddleston said the grant-funded development will provide housing for the elderly and disabled who in the area face a long waiting list for housing.

Planned initially are five duplexes for a total of 10 family dwellings similar to the Justin’s Place duplexes on Oakdale Street.

“We will maintain the property,” Huddleston said. “If any of you know our property, we take highest regards to what we do there.”

Huddleston said that many of the local complexes that have provided housing to the elderly have been sold to large agency who have increased rent beyond the means of those on Social Security and disability checks.

“Their rent is going to from $900 to $1300 and these elderly people  are living on Social Security and a small retirement and it’s very difficult for them to survive,” Huddleston said.

Concerns by residents included fears that the property would be sold to developers if federal housing grants fell through, while other neighbors complained that previous plans for development of the area have fallen through due to the terrain and the flood zones in the area. Several neighbors voiced concerns about sewer problems in the area, and one voiced  concerns of the unsightly impact a development would have to wilderness along the Little Duck River.

Manchester Housing Authority Board Member Jessica Jernigan said that as a young single woman, living in public housing allowed her to work and attend college.  

“I think those opportunities are going away,” Jernigan said. “These are seniors who worked their whole life who got hurt or just aged out of the work force and they just can’t afford any other place to live.”

Jernigan said the Manchester Housing Authority is meticulous in its upkeep of their properties.

“I am a neighbor of Riverdale. I’m happy to share my neighborhood. It their neighborhood and their place too,” she said.

Jernigan rejected the common stigma of low income housing and “those people.” “Those are our neighbors. They are community members and members of our community.”

The second reading rezoning the property passed 4-2 with Aldermen Julie Anderson and Donny Parsley voting no. Anderson said that she was concerned after the flooding in Texas that the area was not suitable for vulnerable residents.  

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.