The City of Hinesville’s plan to provide some affordable housing is on the clock.
City council members unanimously approved rezoning two acres near downtown from multi-family residential to planned development district, with the plans calling for 31 detached units to be built.
City Manager Kenneth Howard said the city hopes to start work within the next five months.
“We have until December 2026 to complete all of those units,” he said. “We’re very excited about the project because it allows us to affect affordable housing in Hinesville.”
With the help from the DCA OneGeorgia grant, that takes away some of the infrastructure costs usually borne by the developer, Howard noted.
“As a result, the price points are lowered,” he added.
Without the backing from the state and the city, those units could cost up to $270,000. Instead, the price is going to be closer to $216,000. The homes will be for those who make no more than 80% of the area’s median income. There is state workforce management grant of up to $15,000 that could be used as a down payment to further lower the price point, Council member Jason Floyd pointed out.
There may be other eligibility requirements, such as credit score and employment, for purchasing one of the homes. Also, owners can not own more than one of the homes at a time, to discourage speculators or other developers from coming in and buying multiple homes for resale.
Three houses, all in various states of disrepair, are on the tract. The tract encompasses seven parcels, bordered by Martin Luther King Drive, Ashmore Street, Welborn Street and West Court Street.
“There is some blight on the property this project will take care of,” Ricketson said. “I think it will be a real asset to the city.”
As part of the assistance from the state, there is a $1.1 million Department of Community Affairs grant to help improve the infrastructure in the area. The city is chipping in $651,000 toward the project cost.
City engineer Paul Simonton said the infrastructure upgrade includes replacing a section of concrete sewer pipe underneath Court Street.
“This project has some other benefits. DCA was very excited about this project going in and removing the blighted area,” he said.
There will be two driveways off Welborn coming into the property. There will not be driveways off Ashmore, Court and MLK Jr. Drive. Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission executive director Jeff Ricketson said they will attempt to preserve the large live oak trees on the tract.
The units will look similar to the Bradwell Row townhomes along Bradwell Street near Olvey Field.
“We hope this will lead to other projects like this in downtown,” Ricketson said.