There is a case to be made both for and against a proposed housing project on North Main and Spring streets.

One can make a strong case for the project. Eight dilapidated homes will be demolished at no cost to the city. In their place will be two complexes. One building will have 36 units, with 28 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom apartments. Across the street will be the second complex, which will be seven town houses, five with two bedrooms and two with three bedrooms. The new housing complex, if approved, will also be the new location for Southwestern Independent Living Center and CODE will be working with the Chautauqua Blind Association to assist the visually impaired. The private housing market has struggled to provide enough housing for people with mobility problems, a problem Citizen’s Opportunity for Development & Equality Inc. and The NRP Group hope to alleviate with the Jackson Spring project.

The organizations’ funding request to the state Department of Housing and Community Renewal wasn’t approved last year. Plans are being made to change the design and resubmit the plan this year. Pat Morris, CODE executive director, has said several times that neighbors who were initially opposed to the project have come around as it has been explained to them. One Post-Journal reader wasn’t convinced however, asking the question, “Who in the community actually supports these projects? There isn’t a housing shortage in the area and taxpayers already subsidize their rent. Why give them housing accommodations 4.5 (times) better than the median household?”

There is a pretty obvious division in the Jamestown area about subsidized housing in the city. Such projects shouldn’t generate vitriol on their face, but obviously the construction of subsidized housing over the years has left a bad taste in many city residents’ mouths. We’re interested to hear what city residents think. Anyone with an opinion can send them as letters to The Reader’s Forum by emailing them to jwhittaker@post-journal.com or send hard copies to The Post-Journal, 15 W. Second St., Jamestown, NY 14701.