I attended my first neighborhood meeting, last evening July 10th. I came to hear about the Senior Development. I came away very confused about this issue. I needed more time to digest all the information.
I was very appalled at the behavior of some residents, the name calling, the disorganized dialogue, and I am not sure that I understand the issue.
Can somebody out there explain?

Neighborhood Meeting

I hope that you were able to attend last night's meeting (July 19). I think that several of us here in the neighborhood have a great mistrust in our city government and developers after watching the eastside become a center for subsidized housing. I am one of those who believe we should try as best we can to prevent any further multi-family housing from being placed in or around our neighborhood. Federal funding is just too tempting for the city not to pursue, but Federal Funding means we homeowners suffer a loss in the investment we have made in Fort Worth and the eastside. (Hence, some of the anger you heard expressed on July 10).

In favor voter

After the meeting last night, there were a few things that stood out that convinced me to vote in favor of the project.
#1- It will be a property which appears to have the desire to be a very good neighbor to White Lake Hills. Mr. Barr stated that they were even willing to put in writing that the lake will remain basically intact. Something that cannot be said about the next unknown developer that buys the land.
#2- Market Value, if market value means getting apt's with the same types of residents as the apt complex's in Woodhaven, why would anyone want that? Would you park your car overnight in the parking lot of ANY apt complex in Woodhaven? How about walk through one of those complex's after dark? I'm thinking the same apprehension is not a factor at this proposed senior citizen complex.
#3 Mr. Barr at one point in the evening responded to a statement by the opposition that some individuals at the city said they didn't know that this property was available and promised to, ''put it on the front burner''. To some degree swaying the opposition's opinion. Mr. Barr (somewhat under his breath) stated that he knew for a fact that some of these same individuals were in a discussion about this property over a year ago. In reading between the lines on what Mr. Barr said, my impression is that this person has information that he/she is not sharing with the WLHNA committee. A ''sweetheart'' deal between the city official(s) and a friendly, campaign contributing developer maybe?
These items and the fact that the WLHNA opposition only had speculation that we can do better swayed my vote.

Reply

After a 30 year career as a telephone man, most in the poorer areas of town; going in out of houses and apts I can assure you NEVER in my time as a phone man did I ever see subsidised housing be anything other than a slum within 5 years of opening.

Telephone men are like postmen...we go everywhere, all the time, day in and day out. The above statement I stand by. I ran into a retired co-worker at the meeting, we agreed.

Barr is a politician and he could care less about us. I wonder what his consulting fee is to guide this pig through conformation.

Hobart Huffines