The New York Times, November 14, 2018: Whitaker’s failed renovation missed affordable housing goal
A failed apartment-rehabilitation project by acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker was a missed opportunity to preserve affordable housing in a rapidly gentrifying Des Moines neighborhood.
Whitaker abandoned the project in 2016 after 3 ½ years of cost overruns, delays and other problems, said Chris Johansen, the city’s community development director. The developer who took over the project from Whitaker ultimately pulled out of the affordable housing agreement and fully refunded the city for its $165,000 loan.
Whitaker’s abandonment of the project is the latest concern about his record that has arisen since his appointment by President Donald Trump last week.
Documents released Wednesday show that city officials tried to work with Whitaker throughout 2015 to finish the project but were unsuccessful. The city in October 2015 obtained a one-year extension from HUD that pushed the completion deadline back to December 2016.
Senior city planner Mary Neiderbach warned Whitaker at that time that the city wanted to see progress in the coming months. The city pulled the plug on the loan in April 2016 after the building appeared to be abandoned and was suffering additional water damage.
