Edison Neighborhood Association promoted the city of kalamazoo's expansion of the DDRD/downtown design review district against the overwhelming rejection by the citizens. Apparently, 2 board members of ENA may have received city HUD grants of over $18,000 each, just prior to their support of the measure, The ddrd negatively impacted existing owners of older commercial buildings. While residential and multifamily properties were exempt from the burdens of the new restrictions, existing owners of commercial buildings were refused a partial exemption or grandfathering which would have allowed the usual maintenance that older commercial buildings require. The Edison Neighborhood Association participated in this Gentrification against lines of people opposed to the measure and acted in bad faith. HUD should investigate the HUD grants given directly to board members of the ENA by the City of Kalamazoo.
Review from Guidestar