Lincoln Heights council votes 5–2 to suspend CRA project until governance is in place

The Lincoln Heights Village Council voted 5–2 on Dec. 8 to suspend the village's Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) project "until further notice," following a recommendation from the Economic and Development Committee and a clarification from Village Manager Gaines Brown.

Gaines Brown told the council that the CRA, as previously legislated, requires a tax incentive review council and a housing council, both of which "have never been filled," and that the village had been without a housing officer since the recent retirement of Mike Lemon. Brown said the suspension is intended to ensure the village has the appropriate governing bodies in place to oversee any sale of village property under the CRA.

Council members pressed for clarity about the scope and consequences of suspension. Councilwoman Laverne Mitchell said properties sold under the CRA could require further review and that the council should be cautious about past sales: "We should not have moved forward on selling any properties until we have all those pieces in place," Mitchell said.

A resident asked what would happen to people who already purchased properties under the CRA; the mayor and other council members responded that they did not have that information at the meeting and that the manager would research and report back.

On the roll call, Councilwoman Phyllis Baber voted no; Councilwoman Nona Calhoun Moomia, Councilwoman Tanya Key, Councilwoman Laverne Mitchell, Vice Mayor Linda Childs Jeter and Mayor Ruby Kinsey Mumphrey voted yes; Councilman Duron Daniels voted no. The motion passed with five yes and two no votes.

The vote placed the CRA project on hold pending appointment of the required oversight councils and clarification of past property transactions; the manager said he would investigate the status of properties sold under the CRA and return with more information to council.