Lauren Johnson

Roadmap for Success

Creating Great Neighborhoods: A Focus on Affordable Housing

BY LAUREN JOHNSON

Creating great neighborhoods is one of Canton’s eight tenets in its Roadmap for Success. While the recent Canton Housing Study indicated the need to add multiple housing types, affordable housing seems to be the most talked about topic when it comes to housing discussions. With skyrocketing home prices and rent, and increasing mortgage interest rates, there seems to be a perfect storm brewing.

One of the obstacles to creating affordable housing is the stigma associated with it. When some hear the words “affordable housing,” they tend to think negatively and associate it with circumstances such as a decline in property values, increased crime, unkempt buildings and other notions that would be an overall detriment to communities.

However, many of the critiques surrounding affordable housing are related to how those properties are managed and how the programs that support the development of affordable housing are administered. When the affordable housing industry has the right people at the table, these developments can be transformative and end up becoming an integral part of the communities they serve.

“We owe it to our residents to encourage and incentivize developers to develop affordable housing in Canton,” said Shawn Tolan, Councilor of Ward 2 and Housing Committee chair. “The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC) is a federal tax program that incentivizes private companies to invest in new construction development and the preservation of existing affordable housing for low-income households.”

The LIHTC program’s purpose is to create more affordable housing, but the vehicle that brings that purpose to life is the development community. Without the subsidy, these investments would not be financially feasible for developers. Total development costs are similar to market-rate developments, and the LIHTC allows developers to build the exceptional quality housing that residents deserve, while also being able to offer affordable rent.

“To produce affordable housing that is high quality and safe, all parties involved must believe in the necessity of creating opportunities for households that are rent-burdened,” Tolan said. “Recognizing that housing is dignity, and that people deserve a place to call home they can be proud to live in, is how great communities get built.”

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “rent-burdened” is defined as spending more than 30% of your income on rent, while “severely rent-burdened” is defined as spending more than 50% of your income on rent. According to the Canton Housing Study, “Almost half of households earn between $25,000 and $75,000, indicating a significant portion of the population is at risk of being cost-burdened by housing costs.” Given the large percentage of residents in Canton who fall within this income band, it is important to utilize the LIHTC program, or other incentives, to build quality housing within the city.

There are ways that developing affordable housing also can be important to communities in the short

term, by enhancing the quality of life for rent-burdened households. Many affordable-housing developers offer programs at their properties that go beyond what an affordable home can provide. Programs centered around economic mobility, financial literacy, expanding educational opportunity, feeding the less fortunate, and engaging with local community organizations are all examples of different areas of focus that affordable-housing developers have emphasized to add benefit to the communities they serve.

“That benefit also extends to senior populations, who often are forgotten when we think about those who need access to affordable housing,” said Tolan, who recently started the Facebook group, Cherokee Senior Roommate Connect, which is dedicated to finding affordable housing for seniors. “While there is still demand for assisted-living facilities, there are several reasons why certain seniors want to transition out of their single-family home into something smaller and more manageable.”

As an example, Dominium, a residential developer, recently came before the City Council and, after receiving feedback on changes that were needed, the council approved a 251-unit affordable senior apartment project in the Bluffs. New, affordable senior apartments open up the small- to medium-sized single-family housing stock; as it is more profitable to build higher-end homes, these single-family homes are seldom built, limiting the new supply.

Increasing the supply of housing typically creates downward pressure on overall housing prices, and the increase in the supply of available housing will allow for economic expansion, such as the addition of new medical offices, hospitals, grocers and retail in Canton. Residents of affordable developments can spend closer to 30% of their income on rent, allowing for a larger amount of disposable income to be spent within the Canton economy. Currently, only around 800 residents live and work in Canton, while more than 9,500 need to commute to the city every day. Increasing the affordable-housing supply will have a great economic impact, in that it will enable residents to live, work and play within the city of Canton.

Municipal leaders have one of the most important roles in bringing affordable housing to a community. The stigma associated with affordable housing makes the topic a politically contentious one, but despite the controversy surrounding affordable housing, there are leaders who understand the severe need and will work with developers to create a project that fits the vision for the community. Some leaders have even gone the extra mile and engaged in active planning to help spur development of affordable housing through various means.

“An elected leader in a municipality is the bridge between their constituents and those looking to involve themselves in their communities,” Tolan said. “And when each stakeholder, i.e., elected leaders, developers, financial institutions and community members, plays his or her role, rent-burdened families can find affordable, quality and safe places to call home, changing outcomes for families. Because, for the first time in their lives, their future isn’t dictated by their ZIP code.”

Lauren Johnson is the marketing and communications specialist for the city of Canton.

COUNCILOR SPOTLIGHT

Shawn Tolan is city councilor for Ward 2.

Approved Residential Development

• Bluffs at Technology Park, 172 units

• Canton Place, 204 attached single-family units • Canyon Ridge, 160 detached single-family units • Etowah Shoals, 1,200 detached and attached units

• Great Sky, 1,225 units • Laurel Canyon, 353 detached and attached single-family units • 1010 Marietta Road, 154 townhome units

• Park Village, 60 single-family units • River Green, 309 detached and attached single-family units • Riverstone, 765 detached and attached single-family units • Summer Walk, 134 attached single-family units • Towne Mill, 95 detached single-family units • Hospital Road, 260 multifamily units • Jackie Moore Lane, 252 multifamily units • Solis Canton, 250 multifamily units • The Mill on Etowah, 280 multifamily units • Arris at Canton, 168 multifamily units

Creating a Legacy and Serving the Community

Strong Ties to Fire and Emergency Services Connect the Townsend Family

Each year, the third Sunday in June is dedicated to showing love for our dads. There are countless ways to celebrate and make them feel special. But can you think of a better way to honor your father than following in his footsteps? Meet the Townsends — Woodstock residents — whose family includes five current, retired and in-training firefighters, spanning three generations. This line of firemen begins with Jimmy Townsend, who started working for Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services in 1968. His sons, Freddie and Scott followed suit, and both retired from Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services within the past four years. Freddie’s 20-year-old twin sons, Hayden and Hunter, are continuing the tradition. Hayden worked his first shift March 6, and Hunter began his 10-month training program with Cherokee County in April.

Creating a Legacy and Serving the Community

Jimmy

“I was a Cobb County firefighter, and I retired in 1999. I worked for 31 years, and the most memorable experiences were when I was able to save lives and help those in need.

“I actually originally applied for the police department, but there were no openings at the time. So the county manager told me about some job openings in the fire department, which I decided to take. When an opening came for the police department, I was called, but I told them that I actually liked it a lot more on the fire side.

“It makes me extremely proud to have watched my sons and, now, grandsons serve their community.”

Freddie

“I retired from Cherokee County as a captain in April 2018. I am currently driving a bus for Cobb County Senior Services.

“I worked 30 years, and over those 30 years, there are many memorable experiences, such as training for fire suppressions, auto extrications and emergency medical training. I got to help teach fire safety at the elementary schools in the county, and having parents stop by the station to let their children see where we work and live for a third of our lives [is memorable].

“It means a lot to serve our community. But when you grow up around the fire station visiting your dad and being able to sit in the fire engine, that probably was the main reason that got me interested in the fire service.”

Scott

“I was a sergeant paramedic, and I retired from Cherokee County in 2020. I currently work for the city of Woodstock as a code enforcement officer.

“I worked for 25 years at Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services. My best memories involved any time I was able to assist someone in their time of need.

“I am proud that several family members have served their community selflessly, and I am honored that I was able to continue this legacy.”

Hayden

“I graduated from Cherokee County Recruit School in March and am now in the field. It’s going great so far; I really enjoy it.

“The main reason I decided to go into fire and emergency services is because I grew up around it, and hearing all of the stories really influenced me. My goal is to serve my community and have a long and successful career.”

Hunter

“Training is hard work, but also a lot of fun. I’m excited to keep progressing and eventually graduate. I want to be able to help everyone I possibly can and make an impact in the fire department and community.

“[Strong family ties] greatly influenced my decision to join. I grew up hanging out at the fire station, listening to stories, which made me realize that I wanted to be a part of that.”