Macon-Bibb County has demolished more than 700 rundown, abandoned, hazardous buildings within the county, and while thousands still reportedly remain, one group is finding use for the land that’s left once a blighted building is destroyed.
The Macon Area Habitat for Humanity broke ground Tuesday morning on three new homes that will offer affordable housing. Future residents and community leaders gathered with the organization for the groundbreaking and to bless the land. The houses will be built on the space where rundown buildings once sat in the Lynmore Estates neighborhood Tuesday morning.
LaQuanda Ferguson, a future homeowner who spoke at the blessing and groundbreaking, said she struggled to purchase a home due to her credit and income. She applied multiple times before being approved by Habitat for Humanity.
“I am so excited, very excited that I am about to be a homeowner and make memories with my family. I have so much love for the staff, volunteers, sponsors and contractors at Habitat for Humanity,” Ferguson said. “My blessings were never denied, just delayed, and I thank God for His favor.”
Ivey Hall, executive director of Macon Area Habitat for Humanity, said the effort is part of a years-long push to convert blighted areas into affordable housing. The organization wants to accelerate its efforts and build 10 houses this year, double that of previous years. Hall said the increase in homes — which cost around $125,000 to construct without volunteer assistance — is due to donations and lucrative partnerships with local businesses like B&D Industrial and the Macon Bacon, both of which assisted in Tuesday’s groundbreaking and blessing.
Lynmore Estates and Napier Heights are areas the organization has a heightened focus on improving.
“It’s a great way for (residents) to have a stable, safe place to live, not only for their family now but for future generations,” Hall said. “It’s also a great opportunity to stabilize neighborhoods. It goes beyond just the family and the homeowner, because they are also part of making sure that the entire neighborhood is a stable place and a safe place.”
Dealing with rundown, abandoned properties and addressing affordable housing have been focal points for Mayor Lester Miller, who first took office in 2021 and was reelected last week. Miller’s “Blight Fight” initiative has sought to tear down rundown or abandoned properties. Macon celebrated its 700th demolition in April.
But thousands more of those buildings still remain. There are an estimated 4,000 blighted properties in Macon-Bibb County, according to Mercer University.
Macon Area Habitat for Humanity has taken full advantage of the now-vacant lots, Hall said. While it has always emphasized building homes on the former site of blighted properties, the organization has been able to build more houses than in previous years.
Hall said monthly mortgages on the homes will vary, but they won’t exceed 30% of residents’ income.
Hall said the local Habitat for Humanity is working with the Macon-Bibb County Land Bank Authority, a government organization that converts non-tax generating properties to more productive uses, to identify and acquire lots where blighted structures used to be.
“It’s really looking at all the different ways that the community can get involved in our work and our building, whether that’s through financial contributions, volunteer support or donations of materials,” Hall said. “There are so many factors and so many ways that people can help us build more homes.”
This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with The Telegraph.
