Residents oppose pair of developments

Abby Place, townhomes on Lincoln survive remonstrance to advance

Residents near a pair of proposed developments said “no thank you” last week at the Kokomo Plan Commission meeting. Concerns about, crime, noise, and falling property values were rolled out in an effort to halt the projects with no success.

At issue were an expansion of the Abby Place subdivision and a proposed townhome development along West Lincoln Road. While both measures passed on July 12, one did so with some reservations from board members.

The land planned for a new 41-lot extension of the Abby Place subdivision.

First up was the long-intended Section 2 development of the Abby Place subdivision on the city’s far north side. Originally constructed in 2002, the housing development is ready for an addition of 41 lots, according to Jim Hickey of Premier Land Development.

“I’ve been around for a long time; developed at least five subdivisions in Kokomo,” said Hickey. “All have been very good additions to the city.”

Krystyl Coffman, a resident at 216 Luke Court whose property adjoins the proposed extension, spoke strongly against the new construction. She contended that the subdivision already is low-quality and worried the addition will make matters worse.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” said Coffman. “The neighborhood itself is not a good neighborhood. There is a handful of people who are good and take care of their houses. The other houses in my group that did not sell had their prices lowered extremely. It attracted the wrong buyers.

“The majority of those houses you can tell right away they don’t take care of their yards or their houses. Therefore, the ones of us who do take care of our properties, I feel like that will bring our value down. I don’t have the biggest, best house, but we do what we can.”