Apartment proposals stir opposition on north side of Lake Murray

Plans for two small apartment complexes for lower-income tenants are stirring opposition in Chapin and Ballentine.

Residents and community leaders on Wednesday called each a poor fit for the character of their areas on the north side of Lake Murray.

Density and traffic is an issue for neighbors. But neighbors also worry that the apartments, which would be financed by federal tax credits, would target lower-income residents, bring crime, graffiti and dropping property values.

Chapin has no apartment complexes. Ballentine does but not of this type.

The projects are among 42 proposals submitted by developers across South Carolina last month seeking the go-ahead from state officials to use the federal tax credits available each year. No decision on whether these two complexes qualify is expected before mid-summer.

Plans for the two-story, 48-unit complex in the center of Chapin drew fire from two dozen residents at a meeting convened by town leaders Wednesday.

“Once you let this in, anything can happen in Chapin,” homeowner David DeSousa said. “I hate to see it go downhill.”

Developer Chase Northcutt called the tax credits instrumental in building small complexes with rents from $440 to $700 monthly that he said will be affordable for many financially struggling families

“Working class folks – we’d like to give them a nice, decent, safe place to live,” he told a crowd of more than 125 residents and town officials.

He said the description of the credit for lower-income families is a “big hot button” that raises fears unnecessarily.

His plan didn’t allay concerns about traffic and the social change it would create in the Lexington County community of 1,900 residents.

“We have a small town community feel, and an apartment complex is going to be a step that just destroys that,” homeowner Melissa Hallbick said.

Rev. Kevin Sheppard, pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, warned residents against using “code words” in describing tenants.

“We have to be very careful we do not discriminate,” he told the crowd.

The skepticism didn’t cause Northcutt to back away from proceeding with the project on a 4.5-acre site in the center of town if tax credits are obtained.

“We’re willing to work with the community and make this happen,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents in the nearby Ballentine area are lining up against a similar proposal of 112 apartments for seniors and families on 7.4 acres on Ballentine Park Road.

“Our community does not have a need for these facilities nor do we have the current infrastructure in place to support it,” said state Rep. Nathan Ballentine, R-Richland. “We have a lot of growth as it is that goes unchecked or unquestioned.”

Developer Ken Blankenship could not be reached for comment. His application says the site is in a “desirable busy area” near major roads.

Leaders of the Ballentine-Dutch Fork Civic Association are raising many questions about the project, saying it is too far from public transportation and shopping.

“It would be a changer for the residents of our community,” association president Tom Callan said.

Last year, 20 of 42 developers who applied received credits through the South Carolina State Housing Finance & Development Authority.

Projects that qualify include new construction, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, officials said.

Owners and investors in qualifying developments can use credits to reduce federal income taxes, helping lower rents, officials said.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Apartment proposals stir opposition on north side of Lake Murray."