City leaders give OK to build more affordable housing in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The plan is to construct extra houses within the Laney Walker neighborhood.

The brand new houses might be along with some reasonably priced choices already below building.

The efforts in Laney Walker proceed, however housing is a necessity county-wide. Now, new federal funding might be a approach to deliver extra {dollars} elsewhere.

“We’ve 1100 acres situated within the space. majority of it’s blighted,” mentioned Shanna Carkhum, improvement supervisor, Housing & Growth.

For years now, homes have been popping up in Laney Walker.

“It’s actually been a rising expertise for myself to look at mixed-use improvement happen on what’s known as the opposite facet of the tracks,” she mentioned.

Carkhum is the event supervisor for the venture. The plan is to revitalize the world by creating reasonably priced workforce housing.

It will increase the world’s revenue sufficient to draw extra folks and extra improvement.

The objective is 100 houses by the top of the 12 months if funding permits.

“It’s essential proper now, , we’re in a categorized meals desert. With out the family incomes, there aren’t any grocery shops,” she mentioned.

Housing is a necessity exterior of Laney Walker, too.

Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. mentioned: “Simply even in our multifamily. We’re pricing folks out of that.”

Augusta will obtain $3.8 million in federal funding for housing because of Senators Ossoff and Warnock. Davis want to see the cash invested in a single space, just like the southside.

“These have to be focused {dollars} that actually broaden a neighborhood of curiosity, the place there have been underserved folks for much too lengthy.”

The cash is separated into particular housing wants. Together with constructing low to moderate-income housing, and serving to these and the verge of homelessness. It’ll be as much as the fee to resolve how and the place the cash might be spent.

Davis says they’re nonetheless within the early levels of planning what to do with the cash. However as quickly as they determine all of it out, we’ll deliver you the updates.

Carkhum mentioned: “Any greenback to assist construct extra houses for the neighborhood is important.”

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