A new workforce housing apartment complex has been proposed near downtown Waycross.
Aurora Taylor, a representative for the developer, Ethan Jackson Investments of Cairo, Ga., detailed the project for the Waycross City Commission during a public hearing last month.
The firm owns property bordered by Brunel, Howe and Haines Streets. Taylor appeared at the meeting seeking a zoning change in order to begin construction.
Ethan Jackson has developments in Americus, Bainbridge, Cairo, Dublin, and Dothan Ala. They are slated to build similar projects in Adele and Thomaston.
Development of the Waycross property was first proposed in 2020 using a different concept for the apartments, but residents in the area were unhappy with its aesthetics, and commissioners rejected a zoning change to accommodate the proposal. Ethan Jackson returned with a new design in line with the architecture of the neighborhood.
“Each structure will be in the Victorian style to match the Victorian characteristics of the neighboring houses,” said Community Improvement Director Marc Hawkins at the December 17 public hearing. “The project has changed in scope from from what was presented the original time.”
Commissioners approved a zoning change from C-2 Highway Commercial to R-50 Residential to allow the property to be divided into six lots with one structure per lot. Each structure will house 10-12 single bedroom units targeted to those just entering the workforce.
“These are for your prime workforce,” said Taylor, who conducts housing needs assessments for local municipalities. “They are for your 18- to 34-year-olds.”
According to Taylor’s assessment of the area, the majority of that demographic still live at home because of a lack of alternative affordable housing. All of the units will have stacked washer/dryer combinations and energyefficient appliances.
Off-street parking will be available for 1.5 cars per unit to accommodate guests, and off-street slots will be available to delivery trucks to keep surrounding streets clear.
“$969 is the target rent,” said Taylor. “It may go up if the utilities are included.”
The properties will be managed by Ethan Jackson and renters will need proof of acceptable salary and credit score, she said. The firm will do an indepth presentation to commissioners at a later date, Taylor said.
“They did do some good data analysis, said Rayford. “They’re targeting workforce people. A lot of those people want to be out on their own but they stay at home. They work here, they make decent salaries, but they can’t live here. $30,000 pretty much taps you out of every apartment here.”
In addition to this project, Vantage Development of Fyffe, Ala., will build a 100 multifamily-unit complex on a 11.75 acre parcel just off the Brunswick Highway in Ware County.
