Letter to the Editor: Let’s stand up for affordable housing

This letter was sent to Yellow Scene Magazine. As with all Letters to the Editor, the views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication. We value providing space for community voices

Let’s stand up for affordable housing in Louisville 

Are Louisville city leaders and developers aware of what a well-balanced, socioeconomically diverse community looks like? Do they want to inundate our town with the  super elite? Are they concerned at all about our teachers, policemen, nurses, and firefighters  who deserve to live here?  

The city of Louisville is planning to rezone large parcels from commercial to residential (Redtail Ridge and McCaslin Corridor). If this happens, developers will build thousands of new housing units. Will those new units be affordable to most people who live and work in Louisville? Highly unlikely. Case in point: the least expensive  townhouse in the new East Street Village is priced at $1.175 million. Louisville is a desirable  place to live; developers can build and sell very expensive luxury properties. Ballot measure  300 will require developers to include 30% affordable housing in these rezoned areas. 

Opponents say that developers can’t meet the 30% threshold, so they won’t build any housing  at all. Ballot question 300 doesn’t require deep affordability, just affordability for regular working  families. To qualify, you’ll have to earn 80% of the area median income. A family of four would  qualify if they earn $120,480 a year; their mortgage would be a monthly payment of  approximately $3,000. If developers can’t build homes for them, who are they building for? 

Also, let’s remember that there are plenty of opportunities to build housing in Louisville on land  that’s currently zoned residential. This measure only applies to rezoned land, not to the whole  city. 

In 2021, Louisville passed an ordinance requiring residential developments to include 12%  affordable housing. However, since this ordinance was passed, no affordable housing has been  built. Instead, developers opt to pay a fee in lieu of $9.24/sq. ft. With today’s high cost to build,  the paltry fee is great for developers but will do little to bring any affordable housing to  Louisville. 

Opponents say that Ballot Measure 300 “will likely cancel affordable housing projects in the pipeline” at the McCaslin corridor and Redtail Ridge. There are no affordable housing projects in the pipeline in these areas. 

That’s why ballot measure 300 has been presented; to ensure some affordable housing is included. Without ballot question 300, developers will be free to build only market-rate and high-profit luxury units. 

Vote Yes on 300 for a community that will help Louisville meet the housing needs of regular, hard-working families. Let’s build a future for our city that is judiciously planned for diversified housing that includes more than just the super rich. 

Janette Kotichas 

Registered Agent 

Ballot questions 300 & 301 

Louisville