The Creative Coasts blogspot is Savannahs sounding board for local thinkers, innovators, wanderers and wonderers. Guest bloggers share their thoughts, opinions and creative noodling from all over the map. This weeks blog is from Suzanne Donovan, communications director for Step Up Savannah, a local not-for-profit organization bringing together business, community and goverment leaders to address poverty in our area. Read on for Suzanne’s insights on how Savannah is stepping up to the plate …
I hate ribbon cuttings. But the recent ceremonial opening of Savannah Gardens, our newest housing development on the east side of the city, made me want to stand up and cheer. Years of work by a multi-layered partnership among nonprofit developers, the City, banks, even the feds, produced a spanking-new $100 million neighborhood that will have 550 housing units when its finished in about four years.
But guess what: Its not enough.
Savannah desperately needs more safe, decent housing thats affordably priced. While were known for our important historic architecture, our housing costs are rising faster than inflation and way faster than wage growth. Were one of Georgias most expensive places to live when you stack up our wages and costs of rent, mortgage, and utilities. The upshot? Our low-income working families are getting priced out.
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