There’s a rule experienced journalists know to follow – look beyond the face value of anything you are told. “Caldwell going green” was the lead story in last Tuesday’s Evansville Courier & Press. This story announced to its readers that the Evansville Housing Authority was undergoing a renovation project at the Caldwell Homes development.
On the surface, renovating these homes to allow low-income residents seems like a great idea. In fact, no one is questioning the complex’s need for updating. Residents relish the idea of newer décor and amenities, but they are befuddled by some of the comments made by Mildred Motley, Executive Director of the Evansville Housing Authority.
In the article mentioned above, Motley reportedly told staff writer Jared Council, “Just because you’re low-income doesn’t mean you should be warehoused on a little bit of land…You should be able to have green space, larger units and amenities…We’re trying to make it more livable…where people would be proud to live.”
Last Thursday, a revealing trip was made to the Caldwell Homes housing development. Upon entering the complex from Sweetser Ave. on the right, two fenced areas with rubble and remnants of what people used to call home were noted in fenced in areas. Across the street were apartment buildings, some with people, others waiting for the wrecking ball and backhoes. Beyond the buildings was a fenced in area with a space that looked like a picnic shelter.
A stroll between two buildings, one set for demolition and the other for renovation, revealed a large park. This park had basketball goals with bleachers in place (which were missing nets), a backstop for a baseball diamond with concrete bleachers already in place, a large open area for virtually any type of activity and multiple picnic shelters with grills. The park also has swing sets that have no swings. Isn’t that green space?
According to Council’s article, “In their place [the demolished buildings] will be green space, trees and two playgrounds. The changes are being made to improve the quality of the development and to reduce density, said Motley.”
When asked why green space was more important than people having a place to live, Motley responded, “Green space is not more important but [it] is a component to make a better place for our families to live.”
Sondra Matthews, Publisher of Our Times Newspaper, wrote an article last week titled, “Political, Social, and Economical Upheaval: Urban renewal by another name: re-gentrification.” In this editorial, she stated, “The whole notion of Oakdale, or Caldwell Homes, especially the family units of 10 buildings being torn down to make way for ‘green space’ and ‘two playgrounds’ is suspicious, regardless of the rationale…if this a new national policy? Or is this Weinzapfel’s appointed EHA Board of Commissioners acquiescing with the city’s longstanding policy of displacement…because families didn’t just become human beings with children needing green space to play and develop!”
Each building has a grassy area with trees that appear to be at least as wide as the apartment buildings separating the housing units. At the back of one buildings near the park, was a former CAPE office. The doors of which are missing and spray paint is on the walls. A playground with equipment that did not appear to be more than a few years old was in a fenced area behind the CAPE office. It was overgrown and had not been maintained. It looked almost deliberate, which was confirmed by residents that curiously watched.
“I’ll talk to you if you promise not to use my name. I don’t need to lose my home. They just let this area go. Nobody understands why they didn’t take care of them buildings or mow that grass. My kids used to play back there. I got friends on the waiting list to get in here. We were going to help take of each other’s kids, so we can get out and look for jobs,” said one mother with a small boy tugging her arm.
Another resident chose to talk economics. “We only pay $50 month to live here. Utilities are included. The rent goes up based on your income. These apartments need some updating, but I don’t get the whole green space thing. We have that huge park. We don’t feel cramped here, at least the people I’ve talked to don’t feel cramped.”
Motley stated that Caldwell Homes is public housing and is not funded by Section 8. She noted that rent is “based on income for all of our developments, not on the renovation costs.”
When asked about the logic for this project, Motley replied, “We assessed the viability of all of our existing public housing, as Caldwell is the oldest site in our inventory, it is in need of renovation. Based on the existing regulations regarding asset management, every public housing authority needs to evaluate their existing housing stock and determine if it is viable, including financially as well as structurally.”
Money for this project came from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Capital Funds. The projected cost of the renovations and demolition is approximated at $1 million. Motley said she would not be asking any local boards or commissions for additional funds.
The executive director also said, “We needed to make the entire development viable. We don’t have sufficient funds to renovate the entire development nor is that feasible given the developments dynamics.”
According to Motley, the Evansville Housing Authority is demolishing 10 buildings, which equals 62 units. Buildings to be demolished are scattered throughout the site.
But Matthews went on to say in her editorial what many residents within the complex are thinking, “It makes one wonder, who are they waiting to move so Erie Homes’ replacement can begin construction. Is it Rev. Adrian Brooks and Memorial Community Development Corp., who have proposed redeveloping the area?”
To some that comment may seem a bit off the cuff, but after a drive through the Caldwell Homes development, one can hardly miss the Memorial Townhouses II development across South Garvin Street from the complex. Upon researching, Memorial Development Corp. has built already housing complexes of their own.
Motley said that no residents of Caldwell Homes will be displaced. She has acknowledged that a waiting list for people hoping to move to this complex exists, but no details are given for privacy reasons.
