Affordable housing, otherwise known as moderate-income housing, is a concept addressed in community comprehensive plans. Putting the concept into practice is the challenge. For communities like Cedar Key which have Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funds, providing affordable housing for young families is possible. The rationale for affordable housing programs is that where property values climb, fewer and fewer young families can be a part of the community. School enrollments shrink and service providers must make costly commutes if affordable homes are not available. Community Redevelopment funds have enriched Cedar Key greatly over the past six years. The volunteer fire department has gained a ladder truck, fire-rescue boat and additional equipment. Cedar Key, thanks to CRA funds, has a community center that will soon have state-of-the-art photovoltaic electricity production. Many streets have been paved, and more are soon to be paved with CRA funds. Sidewalks are being improved and expanded with CRA funds. Water and sewer lines, including a badly needed fire water supply to the Airport area will be paid for with CRA funds. City Park has been upgraded and Cemetery Point Park has become a reality, again thanks to CRA funds. The Cedar Key Historical Society Museum building was saved with CRA funds. And looking to the future, ten lots in the downtown area have been purchased with CRA funds. Those lots should be put to use. It is time to satisfy the need for affordable housing, planned for in the Comprehensive Plan, by using CRA funds to build three or four small homes for sale to young families that will agree not to áflipá the homes. That would allow teachers, police officers, service workers and their children to live on-island and be full community members. Qualified home buyers would get federally guaranteed loans and the money would return to the CRA fund for other projects or paying off CRA bonds. Furthermore, the new homes will add to the tax base rather than remain as City property off the tax roles. |
