City of Macon Unveils New Housing Developments

Photo credit: David Collins, River Edge

Photo credit: David Collins, River Edge

Photo credit: David Collins, River Edge

Recently, the City of Macon unveiled two new housing developments in East Macon celebrating the transformation of a formerly blighted, foreclosed or abandoned block of the community. These two new housing developments are part of the total of three new housing developments positively impacting the city.

This three year effort and $4.9 million revitalization and redevelopment of Fort Hill resulted in 38 new units of affordable housing. The new affordable permanent independent rental housing units will serve those who were homeless with special needs.

The "First Neighborhood" as it is called includes 18 units of Permanent Supportive Housing built with $2.3 million HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program 1 funds and was awarded by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The "Second Neighborhood" is a 10-unit complex of affordable housing for individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness and who have special needs. HUD awarded a $1.1 million Section 811 Capital Advancement Grant to build the homes. The "Third Neighborhood", a mixed income development, is a 10-unit complex built with $1.5 million HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program 3 funds made available to the City of Macon.

"Through the collaborative effort of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, City of Macon and River Edge Behavioral Health Center working with HUD we clearly see that affordable housing can and does serve as a platform of stability and hope for our brothers and sisters in need and we are seeing the fruits of that responsibility and labor here in East Macon," said Sharon Swain, HUD Southeast Regional Counsel.

"By working closely with partners like River Edge and focusing on making improvements block to block and neighborhood to neighborhood, we are having a significant and sustainable impact on our entire community," said Macon Mayor Robert Reichert (www.cityofmacon.net/mayor).

Shannon Harvey (www.river-edge.org/about-ceo.da), River Edge (www.river-edge.org/) Chief Executive Officer, said, "These two new housing developments, along with First Neighborhood, have transformed a blighted block into a beautiful, stable community where formerly homeless individuals now live."

River Edge has provided comprehensive mental health, addictive disease, and developmental disabilities services and supports in Central Georgia since 1950.

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