‘Stability, hope.’ Macon-Bibb County to build five new houses on Houston Avenue
Macon-Bibb County is continuing its efforts to strengthen the county’s neighborhoods by converting blighted houses into new homes on Houston Avenue.
The county and its Affordable Housing Fund established a new development on Villa Esta Avenue with five single-family homes across from Bruce Elementary School, they announced in a conference Tuesday morning and livestreamed on the Macon-Bibb County Facebook page.
The homes represent $1.2 million in funding from the county and “a lot of that money will come back to the fund once these homes are sold and reinvested into (other) areas,” according to Natalie Bouyett, the executive director of the Affordable Housing Fund.
“We’re not just recognizing these new homes. We’re celebrating what the homes represent,” Jerry Battle, the county’s neighborhood coordinator, said Tuesday. “(The new houses) represent stability, hope, foundation of stronger families and stronger neighborhoods.”
The houses will be completed within three months, according to Shawn Stafford, the contractor and owner of Stafford Builders and Consultants.
How it became possible
The Macon-Bibb County Land Bank Authority acquired dozens of lots on Houston Avenue to turn into “blank slates for housing development,” according to Bouyett.
They’ve developed the infrastructure and are “paving the way” for continued work, Bouyett said.
Stafford said the homes will include Hardie board siding (made of cement and designed to look like real wood), shingles with a 20-year warranty and vinyl plank flooring. Homeowners can customize the color of the house’s exterior, flooring, countertops, plumbing and electrical fixtures.
The homes also will come with a stove, a refrigerator and a microwave, which Stafford said will reduce costs for the owners.
“We have ensured that these affordable houses equate to quality housing,” Stafford said.
Miller speaks on the five-year ‘Blight Fight’
The Affordable Housing Fund was fueled by a $7.5 million investment from the American Rescue Plan Act to support Macon residents in establishing affordable housing, strengthening neighborhoods and supporting homeowners.
Since 2021, Mayor Lester Miller has tackled blighted houses under the “Blight Fight” initiative. He has removed 150 structures from Houston Avenue and created Cliffview Park and Frankie E. Lewis Park — which includes a playground, a pavilion, a trail and basketball courts — from formerly blighted structures.
Miller claimed that Macon is one of the most affordable places to live in the southeast, which he says is “something we can be proud about.”
“We’re going to continue to use every tool in the tool belt to make sure people get the housing they need,” Miller said.
