A Lexington City Council Committee Tuesday reviewed plans to establish a new Housing Advocacy and Community Development Department. A call for the new entity came from the Mayor’s Commission on Racial Justice and Equality.
Council Member James Brown said the housing umbrella type department would focus on more than gentrification issues and include items like zone changes, in-fill, and general development. “It’s an opportunity for us to actually take a look and make decisions collaboratively about how we develop, design, and continue to build our city,” said Brown.
Council Member Fred Brown called it, quote, “a big change,” one that he said deserves citizen input and close examination. Vice Mayor Steve Kay indicated there would be further discussions before firm decisions are made. He envisions the new department having a point person. “One person who is really tasked, I don’t want to, kind of sounds negative but basically tasked with making sure that LFUCG does what it says it’s going to do and what it’s committed to doing in the area of housing, especially as it affects the low-income community,” explained Kay.
The programmatic facets of the new department include homelessness assistance, incentives for development of affordable housing, code enforcement, and emergency financial assistance. Funding for the initiative could be included in the mayor’s budget to be unveiled later this spring.
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