Mount Pleasant Explores Creation of Attainable Housing District for Affordable Living
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is working on a plan to bring more affordable housing options to the region. The Town Council, led by Councilman Daniel Brownstein, passed the first reading to rezone a 12.64-acre parcel off Park Avenue Boulevard in the Carolina Park Neighborhood. The land, currently zoned for industrial and commercial use, is under consideration for residential use.
This move is an effort to utilize land efficiently and provide affordable homeownership opportunities for diverse income groups within the city.
A Community Effort Towards Affordable Housing
The land parcel, currently owned by Seacoast Church, is being sold to a developer specializing in affordable housing projects. The Church sees this as an opportunity to give back to the community. Glenn Wood, a Seacoast Church administrator, expressed that this initiative would potentially allow their staff and others to live and work in the same town, reinforcing community ties.
Upon approval, the project plans to construct 100 homes that will cater to families with household incomes ranging between $77,000 and $145,000. These houses will be for purchase, not short-term rentals, and are expected to sell for approximately $300,000 to $400,000.
Addressing the Housing Needs of Local Service Personnel
The primary aim of this endeavor is to create affordable housing for service employees, such as police officers, firefighters, nurses, and teachers. Brownstein highlights that the escalating cost of housing has pushed these essential workers further out of town, exacerbating the town’s traffic issues.
Local Concerns And Steps Moving Forward
While this initiative has gained some support, the residents have valid concerns about its impact on local traffic conditions and schools. Brownstein assures that these critical issues will be reviewed thoroughly by the town’s transportation and education committees before any final vote is taken.
Councilman Brownstein, appreciative of the community’s inputs, hopes for their continued participation in the meetings to understand the project details further and provide useful suggestions for better refinement).
The concerns will be deliberated upon by committees on April 1, with the final Town Council voting scheduled for April 9th.
This step towards creating an Attainable Housing District is a promising development addressing the affordable housing woes of Mount Pleasant while ensuring a balanced lifestyle for all income brackets.
