Flooded Homeowners Decide to Stay or Go as Buyout Deadline Looms

Nashville homeowners hit hardest by May’s flooding must decide this week whether or not to rebuild. A deadline comes Sunday for the largest home buyout program in Nashville’s history. It’s meant to demolish flood-prone homes, but it’s purely voluntary. A few are saying no. Others are waiting to see exactly how much the city’s willing to pay.

Doris Waddy of Delray Ct has chosen to reject a buyout offer.

Of the 300 buyout offers, the highest concentration is along Richland Creek in West Nashville. Doris Waddy is working in her backyard, putting a coat of paint on some lattice work.

WADDY: “It’s such a mess.”

The 76-year-old is nearly done rebuilding. She’s one of 15 homeowners who have rejected a buyout.

 

WADDY: “This has been my home for 38 years. I lost my husband four years ago and everywhere I look, I see Mickey. That was my husband. Mickey and I planted the hedge. We did these privacy fences. We built the barn…It’s just home.”

 

That home is going to be isolated. The neighbors on both sides and across Delray Court are selling out. The yards are already overgrown and windows boarded up.

James Williams of Delray Dr is waiting to see if the city will pay pre-flood values.

68-year-old James Williams says he can’t afford to make any repairs. Still, he’s living in his two-bedroom house, sleeping on a cot in the front room. The doors that swelled with flood water have now dried enough to shut.

WILLIAMS: “Since the house has dried out, or whatever, they work just great.”

While in need of major repairs, Williams says he’s not willing to just take whatever the city will give him and get out. This house has been in his family for three generations. Williams agreed to move forward with a buyout but says he’ll wait to see if the city will really pay “pre-flood” values.

WILLIAMS: “I’ll stay right here – excuse me – till hell freezes over. I’ll either move out if they offer a good price or I’ll stay here.”

Staying, he says, might not be so bad if the rest of the houses on Delray Drive are going to be bulldozed to make a greenway.

Metro officials still haven’t heard from some 75 people who were sent letters of interest for the city to purchase their home. Even after this weekend’s deadline, the transactions will take more than a year to complete.