LR Neighbors Fight Group Home Zoning
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: July 18, 2012
Neighbors upset about a group home for recovering addicts are taking
their fight to city hall. The issue was removed from Tuesday's agenda
at the Little Rock Board of Director's meeting, but it remains at the
forefront of this community's concerns.
The home in question is part of the Oxford House network which houses men and women recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. By the city's municipal code, it is considered a group home but Oxford House directors consider it more of a self-run rent home and say this is one of the first times they've run into this many zoning problems and there are over a thousand Oxford Homes in the country.
Many are concerned about a home on the corner of Markham Avenue and Brookside Drive. On the outside, it appears to be a single family home, but inside up to six men live together as part of rehabilitation network, known as Oxford house.
"We have no objection to people recovering from drugs and from alcoholism we cheer when that happens," said neighbor George Irvin.
But it's how and where that recovery happens that have neighbors like Irvin and his some of his other neighbors upset.
"It's a matter of putting seven men in 1500 feet of space, we think it's unconscionable," said Irvin.
Part of the Oxford House mission is to put former addicts in self run rent houses where they can get back on their feet.
Directors wouldn't speak to us on camera, but say, they don't consider Oxford houses group homes, so they don't apply for zoning changes or announce openings they just move in, like any other resident would. Six months went by before many neighbors knew they were there.
Manuel Serbin lives a few doors down.
"I haven't seen anything really bad but I didn't know they had been there for a year," said Serbin.
The city's planning commission approved rezoning the home so it could remain in it's place and used as a halfway house, but neighbors are petitioning to have it rescinded.
"For me it's a bad example for kids, that's my concern about it," added Serbin.
Directors say keeping recovering addicts off the street is safer than shutting them out, but until the city decides whether the home fits proper zoning, some neighbors are considering moving out and others say they'll continue pushing to preserve the quality and safety of their neighborhood.
"It needs to be something we can live with and be supportive of," said Irvin.
The city is taking this issue up at it's next board meeting, August 7th.
The home in question is part of the Oxford House network which houses men and women recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. By the city's municipal code, it is considered a group home but Oxford House directors consider it more of a self-run rent home and say this is one of the first times they've run into this many zoning problems and there are over a thousand Oxford Homes in the country.
Many are concerned about a home on the corner of Markham Avenue and Brookside Drive. On the outside, it appears to be a single family home, but inside up to six men live together as part of rehabilitation network, known as Oxford house.
"We have no objection to people recovering from drugs and from alcoholism we cheer when that happens," said neighbor George Irvin.
But it's how and where that recovery happens that have neighbors like Irvin and his some of his other neighbors upset.
"It's a matter of putting seven men in 1500 feet of space, we think it's unconscionable," said Irvin.
Part of the Oxford House mission is to put former addicts in self run rent houses where they can get back on their feet.
Directors wouldn't speak to us on camera, but say, they don't consider Oxford houses group homes, so they don't apply for zoning changes or announce openings they just move in, like any other resident would. Six months went by before many neighbors knew they were there.
Manuel Serbin lives a few doors down.
"I haven't seen anything really bad but I didn't know they had been there for a year," said Serbin.
The city's planning commission approved rezoning the home so it could remain in it's place and used as a halfway house, but neighbors are petitioning to have it rescinded.
"For me it's a bad example for kids, that's my concern about it," added Serbin.
Directors say keeping recovering addicts off the street is safer than shutting them out, but until the city decides whether the home fits proper zoning, some neighbors are considering moving out and others say they'll continue pushing to preserve the quality and safety of their neighborhood.
"It needs to be something we can live with and be supportive of," said Irvin.
The city is taking this issue up at it's next board meeting, August 7th.
Comments
tell you what carla why dont you move out of the house your in and buy one of the houses that might be for sell and see how supportive you are then
lloyd b.
July 18, 2012 at 9:43 am
Really people are you listening to yourselves!! You didnt know they had been there for over a year... Obviously the whole idea of the house "rehabilitation" is working... as far as a bad example for your kids.. The good example would be that people can make a change if given the chance. Get off your soap box and find something to do with your nose in the air snobby attitudes. Use this as a positive experience for your kids so that they don't wind up in one of these houses someday or worse.. REally.. there is so much bad in society why mess with something that is working..
Carla H.
July 18, 2012 at 8:31 am
