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Fitzgerald, Georgia: Affordable Housing Development

Fitzgerald is a small city located in an overwhelmingly rural area and faced years of economic decline. Fitzgerald is rebuilding entire neighborhoods and providing significant amounts of affordable housing by taking advantage of state redevelopment laws, public/private partnerships, and regulatory reform. The city became a redevelopment agency under state law and was able to clear blighted units and assemble land for development. Combined with regulatory reform, Fitzgerald made it easier for developers to build infill housing (housing built on vacant lots in already developed areas). As a result of the City’s efforts, more than 315 units of affordable housing have been built or rehabilitated with additional units in the pipeline. Formerly decaying neighborhoods are now experiencing significant private investment.

Specific Actions Taken:

• The city used redevelopment authority to clear land and assemble infill sites for redevelopment.

• Local housing and redevelopment officials allowed manufactured housing in most residential districts, subject to site and design standards.

• The city enacted flexible land development standards with streamlined approvals provided at staff level.

• City leaders implemented major administrative reforms including batch processing of building permits.

• Fitzgerald waives or adjusts setback, side and other development standards allowing for a more relaxed regulatory environment for affordable housing.

• The city waives fees on an as-needed basis.

Fitzgerald, Georgia is a 2005 recipient of the Robert L. Woodson Award.

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