Fight brewing over fate of Memphis housing project - Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - In 2008, Memphis published a $1 billion plan to renovate an area south of Beale Street and FedExForum.

It involved tearing down Foote Homes, a public housing project where more than 400 poor families live.

Some Foote Homes residents took their concerns to a local Catholic priest who involved Ken Reardon, director of a University of Memphis City and Regional Planning program.

The Commercial Appeal reports (http://bit.ly/Q9nnn4) Reardon's team came up with a neighborhood improvement plan that includes keeping the projects.

Robert Lipscomb, who directs the city's Housing and Community Development Division, has rejected that plan and is moving forward with a grant application to demolish Foote Homes.

Community members plan to fight the demolition. They have scheduled meetings with City Council members and plan to hold a press conference.

Information from: The Commercial Appeal, http://www.commercialappeal.com

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