ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Albany city leaders say one of the biggest local challenges is an aging housing stock, making it harder for families to find affordable homes.

Officials are working on several solutions, including plans to build 19 new homes on Cotton Avenue. Six of those homes are currently under construction.

“So we’re trying to do catalytic projects of that nature to stimulate housing,” City Manager Terrell Jacobs said. “But at the end of the day, you know, we have a need for more housing.”

City-owned land near Story Road

The city also owns approximately 400 parcels of land near Story Road, managed by the Department of Community and Economic Development. The land was acquired following the flood of 1994, and city leaders have been exploring how to develop it or make it available to those who want to purchase and build on it.

Planning and Development Director Paul Forgey said shifting flood maps are creating new opportunities for the parcels.

“People have the money to build. They’re going to build, generally speaking, outside of the floodplain,” Forgey said. “So we have a lot of properties and the flood maps are changing. So a lot of these properties are coming out of the floodplain, which is a great opportunity to develop on them.”

NACA partnership proposal

City leaders said they are also looking at a partnership with the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, a nonprofit that works to help people qualify for affordable mortgages. After a tornado struck Selma, Alabama, NACA helped rebuild the area by constructing new homes. The organization is now proposing a similar effort in Albany using some of the city-owned parcels.

“This land, both over here and on the other side, is owned by the city. It’s owned by the Community Development Department,” NACA CEO Bruce Marks said. “And what we’re saying is, they should give this over to home buyers, who will have beautiful homes, three bedrooms, two baths, nine-foot ceilings, highest quality homes that are affordable. And we want to do that this year.”

NACA plans to appear before the Albany City Commission to present its proposal.

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