A PROPOSED tiny home community for veterans has encountered strong pushback — including from another veteran.
The Manatee County Commission put plans to construct a tiny home village for struggling veterans in Bradenton, Florida, on hold.
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Proposed by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the Bradenton tiny home village would have provided affordable housing for 130 at-risk veterans.
Although the County Commission initially seemed receptive to the idea, they ultimately punted on the decision of whether to give an 8.7 acre tract of land valued at nearly $9million to Tunnels to Towers for the project.
Instead, the board has delayed its hearing by up to six weeks and scheduled a townhall discussion for August 19 so that they can hear their constituents' concerns.
"My concern is for the neighborhood and businesses in the surrounding area," Kevin Van Ostenbridge, the chairman of the County Commission, told the Bradenton Herald.
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"I need some kind of proof in the pudding, assurances and recourse."
In particular, Van Ostenbridge was uneasy about the kind of residents that Tunnel to Towers would service.
“Let’s be straight up and quit pussyfooting around the issue," he continued. "We’re doing a homeless transition site.”
To wit, Van Ostenbridge referred to the project as a "West Bradenton homeless shelter" in an edition of his newsletter, seemingly in an attempt to influence his followers against the development.
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While Van Ostenbridge has been Tunnel To Towers' most forceful opponent, other commissioners are similarly apprehensive.
Commissioner Jason Bearden, a former Marine himself, also supported pushing back the hearing.
"I think, as a board, we have to do the due diligence, to shop around and get public comment on this,” Bearden said.
Despite Van Ostenbridge's opposition and Bearden's trepidation, Bradenton residents seem to be receptive to the proposal.
“I’m honestly genuinely confused,” one Facebook user commented on Van Ostenbridge's post about the issue. “I thought the proposal on the table was for affordable housing for our veterans, who certainly deserve our county’s thanks and support.”
"I am not sure why this is listed as a Town Hall for a West (Bradenton) Homeless Shelter,” another user wrote. “Isn’t this the program that Tunnels to Towers Foundation would be overseeing as transitional and affordable housing for Veterans?”
Even if the Florida proposal fails, Tunnels to Towers has already built similar developments in Arizona, California and Texas.
According to its website, the foundation currently houses 2,000 veterans.
The U.S. Sun has approached Tunnel to Towers Foundation for comment.
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