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Florence approves Housing Authority request to dispose of 59 properties; council and residents press for relocation safeguards
Summary
Council approved a resolution allowing the Housing Authority of Florence to dispose of 59 properties as part of a plan to replace aging units; Housing Authority officials said no residents will be left without housing and described vouchers and homeownership options, while some council members urged caution to avoid displacement.
The Florence City Council voted to approve Resolution 2025-24, which authorizes the Housing Authority of Florence to dispose of 59 parcels of real property as part of a plan to construct new units and modernize the authority's housing stock.
City staff told council that 7 of the 59 properties are vacant and 52 are currently occupied. Council members raised concerns about displacement and affordability during discussion; Councilman Neesmith said he worried the plan could exacerbate a local housing shortage and displace families in low-income neighborhoods.
Housing Authority representatives responded that they do not plan to put existing residents "out on the street." The authority said it will offer multiple relocation options including moving residents into other public-housing units as vacancies arise, providing housing choice vouchers to allow tenants to seek units on the private market, and offering a homeownership program to qualifying residents. The authority also said it will hold required resident meetings and follow HUD's process for property disposition.
Staff reminded council that the authority must also secure approval from its board of commissioners and HUD before finalizing sales. The council member who supported the transfer said the properties were purchased by the city to remove blight and that a planned redevelopment could include community spaces, an art gallery and a community room.
Ending: The resolution passed after council discussion; the Housing Authority and HUD must complete their review and resident consultations before properties can be transferred or repurposed.
