Rockdale’s Larry Blevins has a building and a dream for that building. He wants to turn the building that used to house Renaissance Villa into a center for military veterans, but there is a matter of zoning change for his vision to become a reality.
The city will hold a public hearing on the matter at its meeting Jan.
11 where citizens can speak whether they are in favor or not of the plan to have a veterans help center on Dyer Street in a residential area.
Blevins’ vision went before the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission at its meeting Dec. 15
Some residents of the area that spoke at the meeting voiced numerous concerns they had about having the multiresidential facility in their single-family zoned neighborhood.
Their worries ranged from a lack of parking space, to drug use, to leaving trash in yards and the condition of the building in question.
“I have had people sitting on my curb and leaving trash and those were the employees (of the care facility that used to operate in the building in question). I think it needs to be torn down and the property sold,” said a female resident of the area.
“Is this where we want to put our veterans in a building that is dilapidated,” another area resident said.
“I don’t think this belongs in a residential area. I’m worried about traffic and the number of people who are going to be in there,” another one said.
Blevins addressed some of the concerns mentioned by those against the center in their neighborhood.
However he expressed surprise over the dilapidated comment.
“There are some minor things wrong. There is one bathroom that needs to be fixed, but it can be fixed. I heard someone mention it is out of code. It was up to code when I got it. I would like to know what they meant by that. I did talk to the fire chief and he said it was up to date.
“My program is going to be very strict,” he said, adding that the veterans admitted to his Redemption House would be vetted and could not be drug addicts, “I did go around that neighborhood and got mostly positive responses.”
There has been a board for the Redemption House since 2012, Blevins said.
One man spoke in favor of the zoning change at the hearing.
“I speak behind the idea of what Mr. Blevins is trying to do. Let Rockdale reach out and show the world we truly care about veterans,” he said.
Barbara Holly, Rockdale City Manager, said, “This is an excellent thing. We should help our veterans, but not at the expense of the neighborhood.
She also pointed out that spot zoning such as this could lead to a legal challenge from anyone in the neighborhood. Years ago the City Council approved spot zoning which is how the Renaissance Villa was allowed at the present location.
The commission voted to recommend the City Council deny the zoning change.
Blevins received the building from the owners of Renaissance Villa.
“It was a blessing for us. I would hate to see another abandoned building,” he said. “Serving veterans is close to my heart.
“I don’t think it would fail,” he said. “I think we would have the support of the city and county and we would do something great.”
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