5 days ago
Proposed Little Rock affordable housing project sparks parking concerns
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – An affordable housing proposal set for a vote before the Little Rock City Council to bring four new mini-homes to the Pettigrew area has been deferred by the developer for a later date.
The developer, Mike Orndorff, said the decision to defer bringing this proposal before the Little Rock City Council to a later date is because he didn't believe he had the votes from city leaders to get the four proposed mini homes approved.
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Orndorff says the city's planning commission had recommended denial of the initial application because the homes did not have driveways and would not provide any off-street parking.
Orndorff said the vice chairman of the planning commission has since publicly voiced his support for the project.
Orndorff said if approved, he'd plan to list the mini homes for $100,000 a piece, giving priority to homeowners and not investors looking to rent them out.
But residents on Hanger Street say it will only make a crowded street with limited street parking and few driveways more difficult to navigate.
'Just being more congested around here. More cars on the street, up and down the street. It's up and down the street now, there's too many cars,' Hanger Street resident Cleo Berry said. 'Everybody moved around here, after school they're flying up and down the street. It's hectic around here and adding more homes like that around here it's not going to do anything but make it that much more congested.'
Orndorff said interior designs have not been created yet. The homes do not have driveways, which was a major area of contention for residents like Berry.
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Orndorff said there are three board members who have voiced their support of his application, but he would still need three more votes in favor for the proposal to move forward.
The city council will next discuss Orndorff's application during their meeting on June 15.
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