Macon Magazine

62 maconmagazine.com | April/May 2025 "In today's market, prices are going up, and it's more expensive to build – well above what people can afford." ABOVE The Affordable Housing Fund held their first Developer's Summit in late March to encourage investment in affordable housing. Photo by Olivia Walter for Macon-Bibb County. 1996. There are many such authorities in Georgia, with others in Metro Atlanta, Columbus, and Savannah. Everett Verner presently leads the land bank. Verner, a native of Savannah, has been the executive director for nearly six years but has worked for the entity since 2007. A Mercer University graduate, he has resided in Macon since 2002. "We own 190 parcels and currently have 139 parcels available," Verner said in a phone interview. "Our main purpose is to assist in any way we can with the production of affordable housing and return those properties back to the tax rolls, ideally for the highest investor use." "Affordable housing is more of our mission than our main objective. We operate as [both] a government and a nonprofit," Verner added. "We'll hold properties for nonprofits until they are ready for them." The land bank controls properties spread throughout the county, including Lynmore Estates, Pleasant Hill, and Napier Heights. "If we're working in a neighborhood, ninety-nine percent of our inventory is vacant lots that used to have houses on them. We work with the county to acquire properties where blighted houses once existed," Verner said. "We are here to see critical mass, not just one house." Verner is one of a staff of three people working with the county to acquire vacant properties and lots that have either been demolished or foreclosed. F U N D I N G H O M E An exuberant advocate, Natalie Bouyett began serving as the executive director of the Macon-Bibb Affordable Housing Fund less than a year ago. She works closely with Verner and others to find not only accessible, but affordable housing. Just three cities in Georgia have an affordable housing fund – besides Macon, Atlanta and Savannah have utilized one. "Everett [Verner] is providing the land, but I'm providing the funding," said Bouyett, who oversees an account of $7.5 million through money from the county's American Rescue Plan allocation. She helps people seeking to purchase properties under the control of the Land Bank, but there are restrictions. Macon's Affordable Housing Fund offers people lower interest rates than banks. "We serve people who make up to 20 percent over the area median income," she said. This is approximately $76,000 annually for a family of three, $124,000 for families of four, and $50,000 for rental units. "In today's market, prices are going up, and it's more expensive to build," Bouyett said, which puts home prices "well above what people can afford." Affordability is an ongoing problem in Georgia and nationwide. The average home price in Macon is around $200,000, though a similar home in metro Atlanta costs about twice as much. Although her organization recently had three single-family homes for sale, "We are doing more rentals than home sales," she said. The current economic climate, especially recently imposed tariffs by the United States and other countries, will make building homes more difficult and expensive. "That's a scary thought," Bouyett said. "That's going to increase our cost. We'll find some creative ways [to finance construction]. We try to be optimistic, but I'm also a realist. Unless wages keep up with inflation, it will get harder. It's been tough." "Some help can be provided with down payment assistance for buyers and Section 8 vouchers for renters who qualify," Bouyett said. M O V I N G O N U P As special projects director for the Macon Housing Authority, Kathleen Mathews collaborates with other housing entities. She also works with In-Fill Housing Inc., an affiliate company that just began construction on 61 houses on Nisbet Drive in the Bloomfield district. The three- and four-bedroom homes will have separate driveways. There will also be a playground at the development, along with a picnic area and a gazebo. High-tech cameras will provide safety for the area. Another In-Fill project is a three-story Peake Point development underway near Zebulon Road for seniors 55 and older. It will have 64 units.

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