Council debates abandonment of city streets to Clarksville Housing Authority for Lincoln Homes redevelopment

Council took up a deferred resolution on Jan. 6 that would abandon portions of the city road network and turn them over to the Clarksville Housing Authority to facilitate redevelopment of Lincoln Homes. Staff said the matter had been deferred to allow additional review with the city attorney; council members exchanged sharply different views about timing and oversight.

Councilman Marquis said he would bring an amendment and would provide contractor information to council members; staff replied that the information would be emailed. Councilman Smith argued the properties needed to be transferred so the housing authority could meet grant conditions tied to a $35 million award; other council members said they were not comfortable with abandoning public streets without more details because abandonment is effectively permanent and places maintenance responsibility onto the housing authority. Councilman McLaughlin said he had observed procedural shortcomings at recent Housing Authority meetings and asked for full information before a "one and done" vote.

City staff explained that abandoning city streets would transfer maintenance responsibility to the Housing Authority and that if the redevelopment project did not proceed, the properties would remain under the Housing Authority’s ownership. Several council members urged that the public and council be provided fuller documentation about the grant conditions and the proposed schedule before a final vote.

The item remained under discussion and was slated for amendment and further consideration at the upcoming council meeting.