LIMA — Lima mayoral candidate Keith Cheney is continuing to press the city’s current administration on its plans for the National Bank building on Town Square.
A week ago, Mayor David Berger and Community Development Director Susan Crotty joined with members of the Woda Group, a Westerville-based property management firm, to announce the beginning of renovations at the 91-year-old building, which has been vacant for 28 years. The renovation will include the creation of 47 apartments, with 10 of those to be rented at market rates and the rest to be rented to low to moderate-income renters.
Speaking Friday at the Allen County Republican Women’s luncheon, Cheney said the city core is not an ideal place to house families with children and bringing what would essentially be government housing into Town Square is not the best way to use such a prominent city landmark.
“Government subsidized housing is Section 8 housing,” he said. “I’m convinced of that. Why? Because I understand federal law. I read it and research it.”
The term “Section 8” refers to the Housing Choice Voucher Program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program involves paying a subsidy to landlords on behalf of low-income, elderly or disabled residents, allowing those residents to pay a lower rate.
Cheney went on to say, despite assertions by the Woda Group to the contrary, Section 8 dollars have been attached to this project.
“If you look at the income tax credit that they’re taking to invest in that facility, it says right in there, ‘attached to federal government Section 8 housing,’” Cheney said. “When do the false promises ever end?”
Berger stood by what Woda Group Vice President of Development Joseph McCabe said during the announcement, saying there are no Section 8 vouchers involved.
“I think Mr. McCabe is the expert, and he was definitive in declaring the fact that no Section 8 housing certificates are involved in this project,” he said. “There are a variety of tax credits that are involved, but no Section 8 housing certificates.”
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