IS IT TRUE? Part 2 March 9, 2011: Readers Questions about $240K apartments

IS IT TRUE that the soon to be $239,915 per unit apartment building is owned by Robert L Hart III and Mary Hart according to the Vanderburgh County Assessor’s website?…that they have owned this building since before there was a website operated by the Assessor’s office?…that the assessed value of the entire property is less than the $239,915 that are proposed to be spent on each of the 32 units that are to be refurbished?…that Mary Hart is the Pigeon Township Trustee?…that the Mayor’s official press release does not state any specific value for the amount budgeted by the Evansville Housing Authority to purchase or lease this building?…that we are quite curious as to what the Hart’s will be receiving for the building that was previously deemed to be unfit for refurbishment?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville Housing Authority has a partner in this project?…that this partner is Aurora Incorporated that is located at 1100 Lincoln Avenue?…that the website with the staff, officers, and directors of Aurora Incorporated is at the following link?
www.auroraevansville.org

IS IT TRUE that there are many properties already owned by the Evansville Housing Authority or the Evansville Brownfields that could easily support a 32 unit apartment complex dedicated to homeless assistance?…that such a building could easily be built from scratch for substantially less than $239,915 per unit?…that the typical cost to build new habitat homes is closer to $50,000 or $1,600,000?…that is a full $6,077,308 less that is planned to be spent to create only 32 apartments in the Vision 1505 project?…that comparable existing apartments are on the market in Evansville for even less than that?…that an apartment building with 34 units is on the market in Evansville’s east side for $1,100,000?…that the Evansville Housing Authority should just take the money they have and buy existing properties rather than squandering over $6 Million to refurbish a supposed unrepairable building in a high crime neighborhood?

IS IT TRUE that sometimes common sense just seems to be missing in the public sector when it comes to spending decisions?…that for an 800% premium a slightly used car with a Kelly Blue Book value of $10,000 can be easily had for $76,000?…that buying a $10,000 car for $76,000 is just as insane as spending $7,677,308 of public money on a project that could be replaced with a purchase for $1,000,000 or less?…that squandering public money just needs to STOP?!!!!