The Montgomery City Council approved a warrant to authorize up to $25 million for the financially troubled Jackson Hospital.
The city’s funding for the hospital has been in the works since last year. The state invested $40 million into Jackson Hospital in February.
In other business, the city council is considering a rezoning request that would clear the way for housing for homeless veterans in west Montgomery.
Barbara Clark, executive director of Sweetpea Homes, requested a zoning change on 1678 Oak Street from B-2, which allows commercial use such as gas stations, to R-60-a, which is for residential apartments.
The property is located in District 4, represented by Councilor Franetta Delayne Riley.
Riley said she wanted to research the project further, saying that she received emails from residents who requested more information.
“I would like to do a little bit of community engagement with those people, so we can make sure that everybody’s on one accord,” she said.
The council agreed to delay a vote on the project until March 24.
Clark said the property in question has been vacant since 1988. “For nearly 40 years this building has contributed to the blight instead of opportunity,” she said. “We are working to change that.”
She stated that rezoning has added to an approximately three-month delay on the project.
“Removing blight is not just improving a structure,” she said. "It’s about restoring confidence in the neighborhood. When residents see responsible development, they see that someone believes in their community again.”
The project calls for six town-home units. Clark said Sweetpea Homes will apply for housing trust fund financing that ties them to the property for at least 30 years.
“That means accountability. That means stability, and that means stewardship,” she said. “Since opening our doors three years ago, Sweetpea Homes has assisted 44 veterans and provided 6,361 bed nights of safe housing across our two existing homes. Today we are at capacity. The need is real.”
“This rezoning does not introduce something harmful to the area,” she told the council. “It replaces the potential for commercial uses with residential housing. It replaces vacancy with stability. It replaces blight with investment.”
Land Use Control Administrator Warren Adams said the department supports the request.
The Montgomery City Council meets at 5 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month at City Hall on 103 North Perry Street. Recordings of meetings can be found on YouTube and Facebook.
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