City Council fails to override Mayor’s veto regarding proposed luxury student housing
First on the City Council’s agenda Tuesday night – the rezoning of four lots on the south side of Carter Hill Road, between West Haven Lane and Sanford Street. Local developers want to build luxury student apartments to provide more housing for Huntindon College and Alabama State University students. Developer Catherine Douglas said, “I want you to know that we are not implants or transplants. They may not know us, but we are from this city. My husband’s family, the Douglas family, has had seven graduates from Alabama State University.” Joe L. Reed, Sr. who lives in a nearby neighborhood and is Mayor Steven Reed’s father said, “It would be bad for our neighborhood and we’ve put a lot of effort into that neighborhood. And we’re trying to keep that neighborhood like it ought to be. A very good, a very strong neighborhood, a very beautiful neighborhood and all.”
The rezoning was approved by the city council on June 18 but Mayor Steven Reed – who lives two blocks from the site – then vetoed it. District 7 City Councilman Andrew Szymanski voiced his frustration saying, ” It’s a $3.8 million investment by a minority developer who has come to this city interested in putting money down. I counted on Carter Hill Road, Mr. Mayor, and there are at least four other R-60’s (zoning) three of which are within one block of this proposed site.” Mayor Steven Reed interjects, “None of them have student housing on Carter Hill Road.” Councilman Szymanski replies, “I understand that, but I’m still thinking that the idea of a high-quality student housing unit that’s going to bring new investment, new people spending money, we have a shopping center that people can walk to…” Mayor Reed interjects again, ” Mr. Szymanski you live in Cottage Hill.” Councilman Szymanski replies, ” I don’t live in Cottage Hill, I live in Cloverdale. And something I get complaints about pretty often is that college kids dispersed into the neighborhoods, buying low rent houses across our historic districts, cause similar problems.” When the council voted on whether or not to override the mayor’s veto, two voted against it, three abstained, and four voted to override it, but since five votes were needed, the mayor’s veto of the rezoning stood.
The Mayor also announced that a public safety recruiting firm has been hired to help find the city’s next police chief. Texas based Strategic Government Resources has already reached out to some citizens to get feedback, and the process is expected to take several months to complete.
Mayor Reed says,” They work with several hundred local government positions, and they provide the tools we need to recruit, assess, and secure the leader that the city needs with confidence. ”
An ordinance to pay the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office a monthly payment until MPD reaches 400 officers was not voted on. It was sent to a committee for further discussion.
