By Gabriel Tynes gtynes@link.freedom.com
Walton County?s workforce housing project took another step toward realization Tuesday when the Board of County Commissioners entered into an agreement with the nonprofit, private corporation controlling the project.
The Property Transfer and Use Agreement assures land formerly owned by Regional Utilities east of Freeport is now entitled to the Workforce Housing Corporation. The exchange will allow the corporation to seek the grants necessary for keeping housing costs low in the development, which could break ground as early as January.
In a plan originally approved by the county Sept. 13, the WHC will initially develop 73 acres of the parcel on J.W. Hollington Road for homes expected to cost less than $150,000.
Expenses may be offset by the allocation of funds from the state?s Community Workforce Housing Innovation Program (CWHIP), which recently added Walton County to its? top priority list. The 500-home project could be eligible for up to $10 million in grants.
Developer Lloyd Blue said a final PUD would be submitted to the board Dec. 12, and applications for grants would be fi led with the state Dec. 15.
?We?ve finally gotten to the point where we will see some progress,? Blue said. ?If it goes as expected, we will be able to offer 100 percent financed homes to qualifi ed people.?
Qualified individuals and families will be determined by income level and occupation, and may apply for housing from the WHC.
Walton County?s workforce housing project took another step toward realization Tuesday when the Board of County Commissioners entered into an agreement with the nonprofit, private corporation controlling the project.
The Property Transfer and Use Agreement assures land formerly owned by Regional Utilities east of Freeport is now entitled to the Workforce Housing Corporation. The exchange will allow the corporation to seek the grants necessary for keeping housing costs low in the development, which could break ground as early as January.
In a plan originally approved by the county Sept. 13, the WHC will initially develop 73 acres of the parcel on J.W. Hollington Road for homes expected to cost less than $150,000.
Expenses may be offset by the allocation of funds from the state?s Community Workforce Housing Innovation Program (CWHIP), which recently added Walton County to its? top priority list. The 500-home project could be eligible for up to $10 million in grants.
Developer Lloyd Blue said a final PUD would be submitted to the board Dec. 12, and applications for grants would be fi led with the state Dec. 15.
?We?ve finally gotten to the point where we will see some progress,? Blue said. ?If it goes as expected, we will be able to offer 100 percent financed homes to qualifi ed people.?
Qualified individuals and families will be determined by income level and occupation, and may apply for housing from the WHC.