Council approves affordable housing development in Radcliffe-Marlboro neighborhood
A portion of the development plan for the proposed affordable housing complex located on Haggard Lane. Source: Accela.
After a five and a five-and-a-half-hour public hearing last Tuesday night, Council voted to approve a zone change for a 234-unit affordable housing complex in the Radcliffe-Marlboro neighborhood, on the site of the former Transylvania University baseball field.
The new development — comprised of a partnership between Winterwood Properties, AU Associates, the Urban League of Lexington, and Habitat for Humanity — will consist of 26 single-family detached homes, 29 townhomes, and 179 apartment units spread across four buildings, with one of those apartment buildings being reserved for senior residents.
The single-family detached homes and the townhomes will be available for purchase through Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program for residents who make between 30% and 60% AMI, and the rental apartment units will be reserved for those who make 80% or lower AMI.
Neighborhood residents overwhelmingly opposed the development, citing fears that the development would increase traffic, crime rates, and would worsen longstanding flooding issues in the neighborhood. Some neighbors claimed they would support the development if it was exclusively composed of single-family detached homes and townhomes.
John Woodall, the attorney representing the development team, argued that the development would not increase flooding and drainage issues because the layout of the site sends water runoff away from the neighborhood and toward I-75. The development team also conducted a traffic study reporting that the development would increase traffic wait times at the intersection of Haggard Lane and North Broadway by three seconds.
While Councilmembers said they were sympathetic to the neighborhood’s concerns, the development was ultimately approved. Council also voted to place a density cap on the development. The development cannot have more than 234 total units, which is the number proposed in the current plan.
Sometimes a final development plan will increase or decrease the number of units by a small amount after the zone change is granted. Council’s step ensures that no additional units will be added as the plan is revised in the coming months.
District 1 Councilmember Tyler Morton, who represents the neighborhood and the development site, was the sole Councilmember in attendance to vote against the development, citing neighborhood and community engagement concerns.
