A groundbreaking took place Thursday morning for Sawmill Landing, a development that will build 60 workforce housing units in Pembroke aimed toward providing affordable housing for working families.
The project is a result of the city being awarded federal housing tax credits by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Statewide, the $22.4 million in credits will be used to construct or rehabilitate 30 affordable rental housing properties in 30 locations.
The goal of the project is to create affordable housing for working families, veterans, people with special needs, seniors, teachers, nurses, firefighters and police.
Tiffany Walraven, Pembroke City Council member and chairman of the Pembroke Housing Team that initiated the project, discussed the value of the development to Pembroke and its citizens.
“Pembroke has a lack of housing stock as it is, so this is going to be extremely important in attracting workforce families especially for the development park and Interstate Centre at (U.S.) 280. It is important to be able to provide housing for the employees there as it also is for the employees here in Pembroke,” Walraven said.
These units will be available for rental only at below-market rate.
“It will be income based. The tenants have to qualify and show proof of employment,” Walraven said.
A second focus of the development is to prepare renters
for home ownership. Classes, mentoring and other steps will be available to help tenants take steps toward purchasing a home rather than renting.
“They will be evaluated on a yearly basis,” Walraven said. “This is a stepping program.”
When complete, Sawmill Landing will include 30 three-bedroom townhomes, 21 two-bedroom townhomes, and nine one-bedroom townhomes. The $9.5 million development will be located between Surrency and Clanton streets just south of U.S. 280. Sawmill Landing is slated for completion in 2016.
W. H. Gross Construction Co. in Kingsland is the project developer.