Developers of a proposed low-income housing project that became part of Elberta’s mayoral contest have received the approval they need under local zoning laws to move forward, but not the state financing help they sought, officials said.
The Palms at Lavinia is a proposed 72-unit apartment complex on 6.3 acres on Alabama Street in Elberta. It became an issue in the August town government elections in which Marvin Williams was elected mayor over incumbent Clark Cathey.
Williams said he spoke out against the project while campaigning and, once in office, sent a letter to state housing authority officials opposing it. He said he is exercising the same right as his predecessor, Cathey, who wrote in support of the project.
Williams said he was speaking only for himself as mayor, not for the Town Council, and said he has not taken action to block the project. “The only thing I did was state the will of the people on the issue. They voted for me to represent them. I have done nothing to inhibit its progress.”
Housing project remains hot topic in Elberta
If the mayor ran on the platform of stopping this housing project and he believes the project is against the will of the people then why is he claiming he’s not inhibiting its progress?
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Perhaps he is being wary of potential legal claims agains the town if the project falls through….
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