Livingston Aldermen will try to encourage affordable housing, by waiving the building permit fees for five houses set to be constructed.
Development Representative Ken Mayberry said his company is applying for a state grant that could provide five single family homes. Mayberry said the state wants to see applications for affordable housing options where the local community is also invested.
“You probably know a little bit about that application process, everything’s about scoring points,” Mayberry said. “On this application one of the big things that would get us ten points is having a public-private partnership and that’s like what brings us here with you today.”
The board approved the motion subject to review and approval from the city’s legal counsel. City Attorney Andre Greppin said he is unsure if the board can waive building permit fees on a case-by-case basis but he would look into the matter and make sure the decision is legal.
“To ease everybody’s mind, it’s actually stated in the application as one of the public-private partnership definitions by (Tennessee Housing Development Agency),” Mayberry said.
Mayberry said the houses will be built specifically to be sold to low-income families. Mayberry said the home ownership program could provide $1 million to build the houses if their application is selected.
“Once we get that money back from the sale we’ll turn around and build five, hopefully five more homes, maybe four,” Mayberry said.
Mayberry represents the Assurance Development And Management Corporation.
The post Livingston Waive Fees For Low-Income Housing appeared first on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.