Beshear announces plans for about 200 homes in Eastern Kentucky a year after flooding
A development planned for Knott County is projected to provide about 200 houses for people whose homes were destroyed or damaged in flooding a year ago in Eastern Kentucky.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced the Chestnut Ridge high-ground development on Friday.
The plan is for the state to buy more than 100 acres just off KY 80 near the Sportsplex, a recreation facility. The site is a reclaimed surface coal mine.
The development would be adjacent to 22 acres donated to the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky by Western Pocahontas Properties earlier this year to use for houses for flood victims.
Coal executive Joe Craft and his wife Kelly, who ran unsuccessfully this year for the Republican nomination for governor, donated $4 million to the foundation to support that project.
The land for the project announced Friday would cost $2.37 million, according to Beshear’s office.
The two projects together are expected to have about 200 houses and may include multifamily apartments as well, according to the release.
The development announced Friday would include walking trails and outdoor recreation areas, according to Beshear’s office.
Western Pocahontas will donate the right of way for the access road, Beshear’s office said.
Beshear said that before the deal can close, federal authorities will have to do an environmental review to make sure the development qualifies to use federal disaster relief funding to build the houses.
But Beshear said the state anticipates breaking ground on the development in the fall.
“One year ago, when the floods hit, we promised each other that we would be there for one another until every life and structure is rebuilt,” Beshear said. “Today we get to announce plans for a new, safe and resilient high-ground community in Knott County that will lift up this entire region.”
Flooding hit more than a dozen counties in Eastern Kentucky late July 27 and early July 28 last year.
The death toll was 45, according to state officials, and the flood caused widespread destruction and damage to homes and infrastructure.
Using data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Ohio River Valley Institute calculated the number of homes that were destroyed, or sustained major or substantial damage, totaled more than 4,700 in the four counties hit the hardest — Knott, Breathitt, Perry and Letcher.
Knott County Attorney Tim Bates applauded Friday’s announcement.
“That’s a good development,” he said.
The county needs more space for homes, however, and may need to acquire space on higher ground to rebuild a community pool and the senior citizens center, Bates said.
That may still necessitate filing a condemnation lawsuit to get additional land at the Western Pocahontas site for public purposes, Bates said.
Beshear announced several other projects to build homes on higher ground in the counties had the most flood damage, including one near the Knott — Perry County line; one near Hazard; and one in Letcher County.
This story was originally published July 28, 2023 at 4:44 PM.
