Halfway houses at center of storm in southeast LV

Kris Hill

Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000 | 11:24 a.m.

Residents of the Hazelcrest neighborhood lashed out at the owners of three halfway houses in their area Tuesday night, while county officials and Commissioner Dario Herrera tried to control the frustrated crowd.

At issue for most residents of the southeast Las Vegas neighborhood was the number of halfway houses that cater to recovering alcohol and drug addicts, lack of government oversight, as well as concerns about property values and safety of the neighborhood's children.

Tensions rose almost immediately after the meeting got under way in the library at Woodbury Middle School, 3875 E. Harmon Ave. More than 100 people crowded into the library to voice their opinions, and often did so loudly.

Halfway house owners Lorri Ahlm, her brother, Phillip Ahlm, and their mother, Judy Nelson, were prepared to defend their businesses. The three houses are within a half-mile radius.

Lorri Ahlm answered only a few questions, and her brother, who was armed with several pages of notes, did not speak. However, after the meeting, Phillip Ahlm talked at length with a resident, explaining the family's position.

"I understand the density issue, but we don't know what the law is," he said.

County zoning and business license experts were at the meeting to answer questions and clarify the law -- but residents were not happy with what they had to say.

Neighbors were told that despite county zoning laws that exist to prevent halfway houses from operating within 660 feet of one another, the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 supercedes state or local laws.

County officials did not say whether the houses violated that ordinance.

Many residents questioned how the halfway houses could operate without business licenses. One of the houses has operated almost two years and another one almost a year without business licenses. The third has been open about six weeks.

Herrera didn't have an answer.

All three houses are in the final stages of the business application process, according to county records. All three will be licensed by Friday, Lorri Ahlm said.

All three have been inspected by the state Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, state records show.

Plans to open two more halfway houses in the neighborhood by the end of next month were met with more concern from residents.

"We have no problem with the women's homes," Beverly Braunstein said. Two of the existing halfway houses are for women. "But five, six or more is too much."

Braunstein's husband, Todd, was also concerned that no one bothered to let residents know that halfway houses were opening in the neighborhood.

"If they have to notify you about sex offenders," Todd Braunstein said, "they should have to notify you about halfway houses." The couple said they just want to know what's going on in their neighborhood.

Other residents were concerned about the disruptive nature of the halfway houses.

"All the traffic is very disruptive," Alan Reitman said. He echoed the sentiment of many of his neighbors, saying that he would like to see the houses spread out.

Another issue was the houses' effect on neighboring home values.

Realtors are required by law to disclose to potential buyers that there are halfway houses in a neighborhood, Herrera said, noting that he asked an economics expert about the effect.

"The presence and clustering does affect the ability of owners to protect their property rights," Herrera said the expert told him.

But not every resident at the meeting was a detractor, support that surprised Phillip Ahlm.

"I thought it was going to be a crucifixion," he said.

Debbie Connelly defended the halfway houses, reminding her neighbors that such housing helps recovering addicts.

"You people act like this is a witch hunt," Connelly said. "But there are a lot of people who need this program."

The halfway houses have helped a lot of people, neighbor Scott Heathman said -- including him.

Herrera laid out some of the options residents have. The licensing issue can be pursued, and if the owners don't have the proper licenses, they could be fined by the county or the state. Residents also could sue the owners. Or they can call their elected representatives, he suggested.

"I will be calling the state legislators," Herrera said. "But I am only one constituent." He encouraged the residents to join him in calling their state senators to voice their concerns and seek to get state regulations changed.