OLD
LAW PREVENTS HOMEOWNERS FROM IMPROVING PROPERTY |
|
|
|
Denver City Council took steps
Tuesday to end decades of discriminatory practices that have prevented more
than 370 homeowners in the Globeville and Sun Valley neighbourhoods from taking
full advantage of their property rights. |
|
Council voted 13-0 to approve a
measure on first reading to amend zoning laws that prevented homeowners in
these predominantly Hispanic, working-class neighbourhoods from making
modifications to their homes. |
|
"This is simply
environmental injustice," said Michael Hancock. "This is about a
homeowner's basic right to enjoy the full advantages of their property. It's
designed to remove the shackles placed on homeowners because of where their
home is located." |
|
More than a dozen homeowners
complained about a city zoning law dating back five decades that designated
their homes as non-conforming uses because they sit in areas zoned specifically
for industrial uses. |
|
Residents and Realtors said the
zoning restrictions have made it difficult to attain low-interest loans, sell
their homes for fair-market value and make needed repairs to homes that have
languished in a state of disrepair. |
|
One by one, the residents told
tales of how they've become the targets of economic discrimination and
"redlining" by insurance companies. Some said they pay double for
homeowner's insurance simply because of where they live. |
|
"My family has owned our
home on Holden Place since 1938," said Paul Bobian. "The roof needs
replacing. But all I can do is make repairs. I pay more than $1,200 a year in
homeowner's insurance. But the kicker is if it burns down, all I can do is take
the insurance payoff and walk away from my family heritage and history." |
|
City staff estimated that
zoning restrictions affected more than 500 homes sitting within areas primarily
zoned for industrial uses. More than 374 homeowners within the Globeville and
Sun Valley neighbourhoods in northwest Denver were prevented from making major
renovations or modifications to their property. The previous zoning rules
prevented homeowners from rebuilding if their homes were more than 70 percent
damaged from fires or other incidents. |
|
Some property owners of
industrial buildings opposed the zoning changes, arguing it would prevent
business owners from expanding. |
|
Other homeowners argued the
zoning changes don't go far enough to address pollution and other problems. |
|
John Zapien, a Globeville
resident, argued the changes would do little to prevent discrimination by
lenders because the area is in a flood plain and overwhelmed by pollution
problems. |
|
Councilwoman Judy Montero said
the time has come to end the disparity and discrimination. |
"We have a great
injustice. What the city did was cap people's quality of life."
|
|
|
