PUBLISHED: May 24, 2017
BY: Shannon Hall, Courier & Press reporter
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke’s office received information on 17 Lincoln Estates residents who may need help after a recent ownership change at the complex.
Friends and families concerned about Lincoln Estates residents flooded the Potter’s Wheel and interrupted the mayor’s traveling town hall Wednesday night to voice concern about an ownership change at the complex.
Winnecke told the crowd he hopes to use $100,000 from the affordable housing trust fund to assist some who need help.
The low-income housing complex Lincoln Estates was recently sold and the new property owners are making some quick changes, such as increasing rent.
Lincoln Estates housed 44 families who use a government subsidized voucher program, and several are being relocated, according to the Evansville Housing Authority. New ownership also is requesting others not on the voucher program to leave in June.
“I know you’re heartbroken and disgusted,” said City Councilwoman Connie Robinson Wednesday night. “I am, too.”
Lincoln Estates was sold to a bank — Bayview Loaning Service LLC — in July 2016. The bank then sold the property to a newly formed business — City Pointe Evansville, LLC — in April.
City Pointe Evansville LLC already started installing privacy fences between buildings and a gated fence at both entrances off Lincoln Avenue and Canal Street.
George Zarris of Crown Point, Indiana is the registered agent of City Pointe Evansville, according to the Indiana Secretary of State office. When contacted Wednesday by the Courier & Press, a George Zarris of the same address listed with City Pointe said he didn’t know what City Pointe Evansville was.
The Evansville Housing Authority attempted to buy the property before it was sold to City Pointe Evansville, LLC.
“We made an offer, and they (the bank) turned it down,” Rick Moore, Evansville Housing Authority executive director, told the Courier & Press Wednesday.
Winnecke and Robinson, who’s the city council representative for Lincoln Estates residents, said they plan to contact the new owners and express the citizens’ concerns.
If people did not provide their information, they can contact the mayor’s office at mayor@evansville.in.gov. Some information the office would like included is number of people in the household, whether children or an elderly person lives there and if anyone or has a serious health issue.
People can also call the city’s Citizens Concern Hotline at 812-436-7999 and leave their name, address, eviction date and telephone number.
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Shannon Hall 