Pair of proposed, low-income housing developments in Pleasant Grove "killed"

Developers withdraw one, City Council objects to the other

Developers who proposed a pair of low-income housing developments in Texarkana, Texas, "killed" one Monday, and the City Council "killed" the other.

MVAH Partners withdrew its request for support for an apartment complex at Galleria Oaks Drive and Cowhorn Creek Road. The council narrowly voted to object another complex planned for Clear Creek Drive and Summerhill Road, effectively ending the proposed project before it could begin.

After a resolution of support for the Summerhill complex failed on a tiebreaking vote from Mayor Bob Bruggeman, the council approved a resolution objecting to it. The second vote again came down to a tiebreaker cast by Bruggeman.

Council members Mary Hart, Jean Matlock and Christie Alcorn voted for supporting the project on the first vote, and Josh Davis, Bill Harp and Betty Williams voted to object on the second.

The votes came after about 20 residents made comments during a public hearing on the matter.

MVAH had requested the resolutions in an attempt to win low-income housing tax credits to help fund the complexes' construction. A state agency awards such tax credits on a competitive basis, and local support would have increased MVAH's chances of receiving them.

The vote to object to the project effectively "killed" it, MVAH executive Darren Smith said.

Look for complete coverage in Tuesday's print edition of the Gazette and on texarkanagazette.com.

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