Edmond Council paving way for Habitat homes

EDMOND — Edmond may be getting some low-cost housing because of a public-private partnership and some additional federal money coming to Oklahoma.

Habitat for Humanity and Turning Point Ministries want to team up with the city of Edmond to build 13 new homes in an area just west of Broadway Avenue, between Thatcher and Edward streets.

City officials plan to use $116,986 in federal money that is available to Edmond as part of a Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

Council members tonight approved an application for the federal money that has been appropriated through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development. The money will be administered through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. It will be used in a local Community Development Block Grant target area.

Shannon Entz, the community block grant coordinator, said the federal money will be used to improve the infrastructure. Water and sewer lines would be replaced and extended and an interior street would be installed to make way for the 13 owner-occupied homes.

City officials will be spending $8,998 for the infrastructure for each of the houses.

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program was implemented to address the effects of foreclosures in communities, but regulations allow for the redevelopment of vacant properties.