Quincy City Council supports housing project

QUINCY - Three Quincy councilmembers questioned a Catholic Charities housing project planned for the city.

The questions came during a discussion of a resolution supporting the 51-unit project planned for the north end of Central Drive across from H Street Northeast.

The resolution is aimed at supporting a Community Development Block Grant. The grant will be used for infrastructure improvements such as extending water and sewer pipes, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, Development Manager John Probst said.

Councilmember Jose Saldana said the city needs some more low-income housing, but the apartment complexes seem to have a lot of problems associated with them.

"I know they built one in George, but you don't compare George with a city like Quincy," he said. "I think you have a lot of people together in big apartments, there are always problems."

Saldana wanted to know what other cities had experience with similar projects. He supported smaller two- or four-unit buildings rather than having 10 or 15 apartments next to each other, he said.

"It's just too many apartments together, 51 is a lot," he said. "People that live (in the newer complexes the charity has built) they say, 'Well, there is drinking and loud music until 2 or 3 a.m., and it's next door and we can't sleep.' People will stay there because the arrangements will be lower than anywhere else."

Councilmember Scott Lybbert echoed Saldana, saying he wants to know how the complexes work in cities similar to Quincy's size.

"Let our chief maybe communicate with their police chief, just get a report on how successful it's been," he said. "I compliment you on the projects that you have done. I think it's wonderful ... It sounds like you guys have done some neat things with some smaller areas. I think you guys will probably stick to your standards a little better than some."

Councilmember Jeremy McCreary also was concerned about the proposal, saying the project could have a huge impact on a small city.

"What have you guys seen from other communities when you put that many families into a small area?" he asked charity representatives. "What do you guys get for gang conflict?"

Probst said he couldn't deny with the amount of people living together can create problems, but in the charity's 13 complexes, they have fewer calls to the police department than the general population.

"There's also no denying that there is a growing gang issue across the territory that we operate in," he said. "We've had issues that we've dealt with in Warden. We've had issues that we've dealt with in Royal City, and you deal with it by evicting the problem people and you move forward."

If any member of the family is involved in gang activity, the entire family is evicted, Probst said.

"We don't tolerate it," he said. "Sometimes the problem is getting people to say, 'I saw so and so do such and such,' and file a signed police report. They'll tell us there is a problem, but if you ask them to sign something, they won't."

Intimidation does stop some people from reporting problems, but the charity employs site managers, who are responsible for securing the peace and safety of the residents, Probst said.

"If we start to detect a problem with the unit, we approach those folks and say, 'These are the reports,' ... We have a pretty short leash that we try to keep on people."

The group also plans to work with the police department, Probst said. They like to have police come and present issues to the residents, and conduct neighborhood watch programs.

The charity also does criminal background checks on anyone moving into one of its apartments, Probst said. If the applicant has a felony conviction they aren't allowed to move in.

He added a site plan hasn't been approved since police and fire agencies haven't reviewed it.

"Every step of the way, we're going to be working with city staff in whatever form it needs to take," Probst said. "We don't cut corners. We do things right the first time ... We don't try to bully our way through or cut any corners."

Mayor Jim Hemberry pointed out the building was allowed in the area the charity planned to build it.

"As long as they want to build this facility in a zone that is set for that, we're not at a point where we can tell you, 'You can't build it,'" he said. "Now the thing we can do is work with the developer to discuss some of the concerns we have."

Probst also pointed out the funding sources from the state want the group to build 12 units per acre.

"So the good news is your code permits 12 units per acre, that is your maximum," he said. "So we will not exceed that density."

Councilmembers Paul Worley, Manuel Guerrero, Tony Gonzalez, Travis Wittman and Lybbert approved the resolution. McCreary opposed and Saldana abstained.