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Editorial: Myths, Misinformation and Propaganda
December 16th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: Will Park Closure Just Make Things Worse?
November 29th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: October and November Surprises
October 30th, 2008

Editorial: Is the Sky Falling?
September 24th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: Who Reads Cedar Key News?
September 19th, 2008

Editorial: The First Hurdle for Every Child
September 3rd, 2008

Editorial: A View of China from Cedar Key
August 18th, 2008

Editorial: Who Killed the Real Estate Market?
August 8th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: It`s Clamerica!
July 1st, 2008

Editorial: Can the City Commission Limit Noise?
June 6th, 2008

Editorial: Unintended Results Rock the Boat
May 29th, 2008

Editorial: Creeping Gas Prices
May 13th, 2008

Editorial: Cedar Key Election Soon
April 30th, 2008

Editorial: Questions fo the Candidates
April 2nd, 2008

Editorial: Coming Elections: National County and City
March 19th, 2008

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Affordable Housing in Cedar Key

Affordable Housing in Cedar Key

Editorial

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 လflipဝ 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.

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