By Nicole James Scott, NDG Contributing Writer
The City of Irving’s Tudor Lane Housing Project has become one embattled, tangled web of confusion, from complaints by rejected applicants to misspoken words between realtors, community activists and public officials. What began as a noble idea three years ago has seemingly lost course in aiding the very recipients it was intended to benefit. It is not completely clear whether the situation is a result of poor planning, mishandling or flat out discrimination as alleged by many.
Background on Tudor Lane Project
In 2011 the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), in conjunction with private investors, the Community Development Block Grant and the Home Investment Partnership program allocated $5 million in funds to construct 27 new, energy efficient homes between Crandall and Claude streets, the Tudor Lane area. The initiative was an effort to take a crime-ridden area and transform it into a sustainable and safe community for lower income families.
The price of the homes ranges from $110,000 to $120,000. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has made a maximum of $30,000 for down payment assistance available for eligible applicants. According to TDHCA’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program 25 percent of the homes must be sold to families whose income is less than 50 percent of the city’s median income. It is a federal regulation under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 to revitalize dilapidated communities while providing its inhabitants affordable housing.
According to the City of Irving Housing and Human Services Board meeting agenda dated August 20, 2014 the city has requested a partial waiver for this requirement. However, the Director of the NSP, Marni Holloway says they have not received an actual request from the city for the waiver. They have, Holloway says inquired about the process for requesting the waiver.
Were the city to move forward with a written request for the waiver they would have to first provide reasoning behind their request then proof they were genuinely incapable of recruiting enough applicants that met the federal income guidelines. Holloway says waiving the income requirements would not hinder applicant’s opportunities, but acknowledged it would in fact broaden the pool of applicants. So, instead of families with an income below $50,000, eligible applicants for the Tudor Lane Project could have an income that exceeds $50,000.
Allegations of Discrimination
“There is fair housing discrimination,” Realtor and Owner of iRealty, LLC Lisette Caraballo said emphatically. “This is nothing new. It’s been going on for years,” she added and has the proof and documentation to validate the current complaints against the City of Irving’s Housing department.
Contrary to the accusations against her and charge of “witch hunting” Caraballo states the individuals who have filed complaints against the city sought her out. But she was more than willing to educate them on their rights and legal recourse, which she says is the only thing she is guilty of. Caraballo went on to state her only desire is that the City of Irving be held accountable for its mistreatment of those who are voiceless and powerless.
Irving housing director Chris Hooper has publicly rejected the claims against the city of discrimination although he did not respond to our several inquiries to get the city’s side of the story.
We asked Holloway if she felt the complaints were valid or without warrant. She responded she was not able to comment nor was it her role to remark on anything the City of Irving would have to say about the complaints.
“We are hopeful through the HUD process we can come to a resolution,” Holloway said. Regarding the accusation of Caraballo being on a “witch hunt,” Holloway responded, “It was an unfortunate quote that was taken from internal communication.” She acknowledged she had not personally met, had neither any dealings with Caraballo nor any reason to have any disparaging feelings toward her.
Future of Tudor Lane
Reportedly, Irving Community Development Corporation has completed all construction of 23 homes but one. Bear Creek Development Corporation is building the remaining four. Of the 27 units 12 have been closed on and an additional two are expected to be occupied by the end of this month. Perhaps that number will increase.
Holloway says thus far they (NSP) have received eight applications from the City of Irving. Carrabalo says more than 400 applications were submitted. That means if Carrabalo’s numbers are correct, not even 5% of the applicants were deemed eligible according to the city.
Once the applications reach the NSP it’s pretty much a done deal. According to Holloway the city only forwards applicants that have a 90% chance of approval. So the question remains what will become of the remaining units? What suitable applicants will fit the bill of just the right income, right family size and right credit score?
The more pressing question, will Tudor Lane transform its appeal to more moderate-income occupants from low income ones targeting a different demographic of homeowner? Perhaps Caraballo’s assertion Irving has always been against low-income housing is not too far fetched.
Time will tell.
