The Housing Authority of Americus (HAA) is building 19 single-family housing units on a site of 10 acres of land on the eastern side of North Mayo Street in the vicinity of Staley Memorial Gardens.

This is the first time in the HAA’s history that it will build housing units for ownership, explained Cal Anderson, HAA executive director. The homes will be for people with low to moderate incomes.

He said the subdivision is still in the planning stage, but the standard housing unit will likely have three bedrooms and two baths. Firm design plans have not been determined.

The construction of roads and various utilities for the subdivision will be bidded out in August, said Anderson. He said four or five houses will be built at a time, then those houses will be sold and then construction of the next set houses will begin.

The HAA still plans to raze 100 public housing units in the area of Northside Drive, because the HAA Commissioners feel the area is just too congested and overcrowded.

Anderson said he is waiting on the official authorization from HUD (Housing & Urban Development) to begin the razing process. He said demolition will probably be in two stages: half of the residents will be moved out and that particular area will be razed and the second 50 units will follow the same process.

Anderson believes there is enough public housing and Section 8 housing to accommodate those who will be displaced by the razing.