The City of Auburn will receive an award for its 28-lot public housing subdivision that has recently been opened for occupancy. The Alabama League of Municipalities will present the award at its annual conference in May.
“We realized the award was to recognize municipalities like our own,” said Sharon Tolbert, Auburn director of community development. “The application that we applied for recognizes economic development that includes community development programs.”
This program is unique for citizens in Alabama.
There is a non-profit funding source in the form of a block grant. Tolbert said the North Alabama Development Corporation was created as the non-profit administrator for the project.
“The key was 12 years ago when we purchased the land in northwest Auburn for a reasonable price,” said Mayor Bill Ham. “We were able to hold the land through different banks around the city to decrease equity.”
Phillip Dunlap, economic development director for the City of Auburn, said the project has taken many years.
“This is certainly an innovative process,” Ham said. “Through the economic development department, it has become a real project to help the community.”
In 2004, the project was set in motion with the non-profit developers using federal funds allocated by the city to create the subdivision.
Tolbert said everything was in order to actually start building by 2007.
Dunlap, who has been working with projects similar to this since the 1980s, said this program addresses some of the problems with owning a home.
“Some people have good credit,” Dunlap said. “It can still be hard to make payments due to income. We help lower closing costs and monthly payments for families that need it.”
Auburn is an entitlement community, meaning once every five years, it creates a plan that addresses the needs of the community. Tolbert said the board creates a road map, so available resources go where they are needed most.
Tolbert said finding qualified applicants and making sure there is adequate funding are two main challenges for this project.
The city is working on the fourth house in the subdivision. Three residents have already been able to move in.
“This is certainly a plus for the community,” Ham said. “It’s great that we can provide affordable housing for members of the community.”
