Etowah Terrace Walking Tour, SET Fundraiser Planned For Sunday
Save Etowah Terrace, the group of Romans opposed to a $10.5 million apartment complex project planned for the small road and property across from Myrtle Hill Cemetery, are hosting a fundraising dinner and walking tour of the property Sunday evening.
The event will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday at the loft and garden of Rodger Wade, located at 120 Broad St.Following dinner, a walking tour will take guests to Etowah Terrace, where guides will share information about the history of the property and the proposed project (a shuttle will be provided for anyone unable to walk the few blocks). Dessert and coffee will be served at 106 Etowah Terrace, a home owned and being renovated by Randoff and Rhonda Michaels.
Chad Johnfroe, one of the many unofficial spokesmen for those opposed to the project, said anyone is welcome to attend regardless of their position on the planned development and noted that City Manager John Bennet and members of the Rome City Commissioners have been invited.
“We just want people to be informed and make up their own minds,” he said.
At the heart of this ongoing debate is a four-story, 77-unit apartment complex planned by the South Rome Redevelopment Agency to provided affordable housing for senior citizens. The complex, which would be built by Mercy Housing Southeast of Atlanta, would provide what some say is needed housing for low-income citizens 55 years old or older and their families.
Opponents argue that the project was fast-tracked without taking the proper rezoning steps and without keeping residents in the loop. They also say the proposal is in direct constrast to the mission of the SRRA.
The request to rezone more than 20 parcels from H-TR (High Density Traditional) and C-C (Community Commercial) to U-M-U (Urban Mixed Use) received the City Commission stamp of approval by a 6-1 vote in April. However, after Save Etowah Terrace filed a lawsuit alleging several missteps by the city and the SRRA, the rezoning process was started over in May.
The Planning Commission recommended denial of the request earlier this month, but that commission recommended denial the first time around, only to be ignored. More recently, the City Commission place the request on first reading. Their public hearing about the zoning request will be July 6 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
A stroll down Etowah Terrace today reveals a series of shuttered houses, with boards covering most windows and many doors standing open. Johnfroe said the houses were boarded up to protect them from futher damage until they could be saved.
“They do need some work,” he said.
Johnfroe said that any donations, regardless of amount, will be accepted Sunday and that the money will be used to cover the fees of the lawyer representing SET.
See “Related Entries” below this post for more coverage about the Etowah Terrace issue.
