OUR TURN: Marble Falls affordable housing a good plan
A tax-credit package valued at $1 million is just the boost the city of Marble Falls needs to keep building affordable housing.
Marble Falls has much to offer — natural beauty, a generally agreeable climate, a central location, good schools and pleasant neighbors.
But it has only been recently that local agencies have made significant strides to add another jewel to the crown — affordable housing.
The concept, by the way, should not be confused with loaded terms such as government housing or Section 8 homes.
Affordable housing means providing reasonably priced lodging to the labor force that makes up the backbone of the community — teachers, police officers, firefighters, waiters, medical assistants and so on.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs recently announced the approval of an application from the Marble Falls-based Texas Housing Foundation for the package, which will be used to build Oak Creek Townhomes, a new multiple-family complex.
The foundation, based at 1110 Broadway, plans to spend the $1 million to build 80 new one-, two-and three-bedroom apartments on property the foundation owns between Sixth and Seventh streets and Avenues J and L.
The foundation will construct the complex in an area where 66 obsolete rental units were recently demolished.
Meanwhile, with the help of the Marble Falls Housing Authority, the foundation has helped create 500 affordable housing units in the city during the past 10 years.
The new town homes are in line with the city’s comprehensive plan, which calls for domiciles that can be provided to a workforce that will add to the community’s vitality.
The new units also will provide affordable housing in an older section of town, which only improves the area.
The stagnant economy will not always be in the doldrums, and at some point the high unemployment rate will begin to decline. The promised Scott & White hospital will at some point also be built south of the city, bringing more jobs.
When those things happen, Marble Falls will only become more attractive to promising professionals just starting out, as well as their families.
By building affordable housing now, the community will be ready to accommodate these new residents, as well as take care of the current workforce, and ensure the continued betterment of Marble Falls.
The River Cities Daily Tribune editorial board includes Dan Alvey, Amber Weems, Thomas Edwards and Daniel Clifton.