Saying there’s a shortage of middle-class housing available in Clarksdale, city officials took the first step Monday towards what they hope will remedy that situation and entice more people to move here.
The board of commissioners voted unanimously to enter into an agreement with McCarty Architects, of Tupelo, to develop a neighborhood master plan for affordable housing.
The cost for the first phase of the project would be $27,300, plus expenses. This phase would have the architectural firm setting a definition for the project and selecting sites.
The second portion of the first phase would involve developing a master plan for whichever sites have been selected.
The cost for this phase is undetermined as it depends upon how many sites are chosen, Kurt Shettles, the CEO of McCarty Architects, told city commissioners.
“By the end of the year, we hope to have a site selected and the master planning done,” Shettles said.
Once that first phase is complete, then the actual neighborhood development would start. If groundbreaking would begin in the spring or summer of 2019, then those homes could be available by the end of 2020.
Annette Fortman Vise, director of McCarty’s Jackson office, said 34 homes were completed within an 18-month time span in one of the projects her firm was associated with.
Mayor Chuck Espy said the new neighborhoods are part of the city’s strategic plan and his goal to bring 300 new homes to Clarksdale.
“We’re a little late to the game, but it’s time for us to really push harder and faster and make Clarksdale a better place. This is one of those necessary items,” he said.
During Monday’s meeting, Espy revealed a couple areas in the city limits where they are hoping to develop the new neighborhoods.
One would be in the northwest portion of the city near the intersection of Wright and Viney Ridge roads off Lee Drive. Another potential neighborhood spot would be in the southern end of the city, adjacent to the bypass and near its intersection with Highway 49.
The mayor said he has heard from folks who work in the Helena/West Helena, Ark., area and have a desire to live in Mississippi, as well as those who live in the western part of Tallahatchie County and work at the state penitentiary in Parchman.
“We have interest,” Espy said. “It could be a wonderful coming together of people that live here and people that don’t live here to help Clarksdale grow. And these homes would definitely be an attraction.”
In other news, the board of commissioners:
• Heard commissioner Bo Plunk tell the police department that he wants officers to start cracking down on those city residents who do not have Coahoma County license plate tags on their vehicles. He said he has a list of addresses and names that he wants the city to check.
“I want us to start cracking down on people living in the city and do not have Coahoma County tags,” said Plunk, saying the city and county is missing out on tax revenue.
• Unanimously approved an order clearing the way for the engineering firm of Neel-Schaffer to begin forming a plan to fix drainage issues in the city’s flood plain area. This area includes Pearson and Confederate streets, Cypress Creek Drive, Oak Knoll Cove, Lee Drive and the Duck Walk, which includes River Road and Woodlawn Circle. Espy said this is the first phase of tackling the city’s flooding issues and addresses those properties where “flood water gets into people’s homes.”
“We have not deferred other areas of the city,” the mayor said. “We have to take care of people’s homes first.”
• Heard that city crews have started the process on putting traffic lines down on several city roads. High-traffic roads such as Anderson Boulevard, Oak Ridge Road, Desoto, Madison and Ritchie avenues, Espy and Lee drives and West Second Street are first on the list.
“We are targeting them first, making them the priority,” said Espy, who said they are also having to work around an upcoming major paving project. “We’re trying to put public safety first and not throw away money.”
• Agreed to apply for licenses from the Broadcast Music Inc. and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. The licenses, which come at an annual cost of $697, will ensure that all music played in its space is authorized.
• Heard property owner Nora McNeal complain about an adjoining business located at 1604 MLK Blvd. that she believes is in violation of stipulations the city placed upon the business some three years ago. McNeal said she has voiced complaints to the police department about the noise, alcohol and people loitering outside the business. She said her renters are concerned for their safety.
Commissioners asked City Attorney Margarette Meeks to look into the matter and Espy said they will address the issue during their “vetting process” meeting scheduled for noon Thursday, Aug. 9.
• Approved a request to hold an “Old Timers Festival” on Sept. 22 and $5,000 in financial support. The one-day event will require participants to be at least 75 and older.
• Gave authorization to demolish a dilapidated home at 417 School St. that has burned twice recently.
• Approved a zoning change allowing Lashondra Jackson to open up a 24-hour daycare at 1508 S. Edwards St.
• Declared the old animal shelter on Anderson Boulevard as surplus property and authorized the city’s Public Works Department to tear the building down.
• Opened a bid for the lease of 20 parking spaces in the city’s Third Street parking lot. The company 212 Third St. LLC was the only bidder. Commissioners agreed to have Meeks draft a lease agreement and negotiate terms with the company and present it to the board at its Aug. 13 meeting.
• Made offers of employment to Dexter Allison (temporary laborer), Tristian Whitehead (firefighter) and Dorothy Henley (patrol officer). Hired as patrol officers were Raymond Hill and Danny Streeter. Jerry Cole and Justin Haynes recently resigned.
The board also agreed to seek applicants for a knuckleboom operator, equipment operator at the landfill, part-time laborer, personnel director/safety officer/marketing, grant writer/government affairs and a paralegal.
• Went into executive session to discuss pending litigation.
