by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
The local real estate boom may be good for the area as a whole, but according to City officials, the skyrocketing housing costs have left a sizable percentage of the population wondering if they will ever be able to afford a home.
As a result, the City has formed a task force that will examine the need for affordable housing in Jacksonville. The group will tackle such issues as the availability of City-owned land to spur affordable housing production and who will develop low-income housing.
“Affordable housing is among the most important issues affecting Florida generally and Jacksonville specifically. The problem is large and the solutions difficult. Nonetheless, the issue will only worsen if the problem isn’t addressed,” said Council President Kevin Hyde during the announcement of the formation of the task force Tuesday.
The task force will also address what exactly affordable housing means and how to pursue it while including both for-profit and not-for-profit developers.
Hyde cited a difference in affordable and attainable housing. He said there was a particular need to get public workers — police officers, fire fighters and teachers, for example — into a home.
The task force will study ways — both legislative and operational — to begin solving the affordable housing crisis. The task force’s goal will be to craft legislation for introduction to the City Council by Labor Day.
The group is comprised of Council member and chair Elaine Brown, Council Vice President Michael Corrigan and Council members Mia Jones, Reggie Fullwood and Daniel Davis.