Comedian Dave Chappelle threatened to pull $65 million worth of investments in his Ohio hometown, Yellow Springs, if it allowed affordable housing to be built.
He and many other local citizens opposed the issue. Chappelle showed up in person when they convened on Monday to vote.
He was visibly annoyed as he spoke:
“I cannot believe you would make me audition for you. You look like clowns. I am not bluffing. I will take it all off the table.”
Chappelle’s investments include a plan for a restaurant called “Firehouse Eatery” and a comedy club called “Live from YS.”
In December, the Yellow Springs Village Council began discussing plans to rezone over 50 acres of property located north of East Hyde Road and West of Spillan Road. The plan was to build a housing development of single-family duplexes and townhomes executed by Oberer Land Developers.
Chappelle’s sister, Felicia, penned a letter to the council citing all the reasons they are against the housing development built at this time.
She stated that the builder, Oberer, had faced serious litigation in the past, calling it a “red flag.” She also pointed out that the cost of construction increased by 33% and supply chain issues would cause severe delays in the construction itself.
She explained that the existing problems with traffic flow the city faces will be exacerbated by the construction.
According to Dayton Daily News, other villagers agree, citing concerns with traffic flow, problems with a proposed homeowner’s association, and issues with water management. Several villagers said they also felt that the council had not included them in the process with Oberer.
The council voted 2-2 on the matter, with one member recusing himself on the revised “planned unit development” zoning. The vote eliminated the affordable housing clause and approved its original development plan to build 143 single-family homes with a starting price of about $300,000.
Chappelle’s spokeswoman, Carla Sims, said the plan itself needed improvements:
“Dave Chappelle didn’t kill affordable housing. Concerned residents and a responding Village Council ‘killed’ a half-baked plan which never actually offered affordable housing.”
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Yellow springs turned into Brown springs after the #2 offer to pull out 65 million
Some things don’t add up. Since they still approved a development, just at a higher cost, they really didn’t alleviate the potential traffic problems cited as a primary concern for blocking it. It is unclear whether the same developer will build the more expensive home, but if they own the land I assume so. It seems like the “red flags” cited are also irrelevant. It really does just seem like a NIMBY situation.
They may already have the supplies for the housing they want; and, it is probably in an area where it won’t impede traffic flow.