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New housing plan gets green light
Winnsboro's City Council embraced the concept of a new $7.2 million affordable housing subdivision development at its regular meeting Monday night and gave the developer the green light to continue with pre-construction plans.
New Horizons Group, a developer of about 25,000 housing units in southern states, must meet a deadline within a week of applying for tax credits as a condition of the development.
Although the new subdivision has been in planning and discussion stages for several months, the issue became time critical because of the deadline of June 22 to file credit applications with the Louisiana Housing Authority.
The housing plan dominated the council meeting, with the group going into executive session at the end of the regular meeting to discuss some of the legal questions raised.
The annual city budget, and an number of other topics, took a back seat to the housing proposal.
Local realtor Amy Middleton presented a broad picture of the development to the council.
Middleton said the subdivision will consist of 39 rental units which will be built on part of 65 acres between 8th Street and Riser Road in Winnsboro. The tract will allow future housing additions as needed.
"The estimate is the median income in the area is about $40,000," Middleton said, "and that is the market we're aiming for."
She said policemen, other civil employees including teachers, and single parents would be likely candidates for living in the new development.
She stressed to the council that the developers would complete all work, using local labor and materials, where possible.
Once complete, with underground utilities, streets, curbs and gutters, the developer would continue to be responsible for maintenance. The builder will also have property tax liability.
Most of the houses in the subdivision will be either two or three bedroom, with only a few four-bedroom houses in the mix.
While introducing Middleton to the aldermen, Mayor Jack Hammons said the New Horizons Group had been "most accommodating to the city and answered all our questions."
Middleton said the, "community will be a green community with open space and made with environmentally friendly products."
The fenced subdivision is proposed to have an entrance on Riser Road with easement for city needs.
Middleton said the company should know, "the results of our application to the Housing Authority."
Following the meeting, Hammons said he felt the background of the developer would be helpful in working through the tax credit process.
"They seem to know what they're doing," he said. |
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