A development company is planning to invest $10.8 million in a housing project in northwest LaFayette, Ga.
REA Ventures Group will build townhouses and standalone homes in the Linwood community, Mayor Andy Arnold said today. The project is part of a year-long effort, with public meetings and community development, to help revitalize the city of 7,100.
“We want to grow a little bit,” he said. “And we want controlled growth. We want to be inviting for people to move into.”
This is a private project. There will not be public or subsidized housing, Arnold said. He said this is part of an overall revitalization effort for the city.
Linwood is an old mill town, and the mayor said he and other city leaders wanted to create a neighborhood with a look similar to that of the St. Elmo neighborhood in Chattanooga.
The city government will pay to add sidewalks and expand the sewer line in that area to support a population boost. Arnold said much of the infrastructure funding will come from the $2 upgrade fee that residents pay on their utility bills with the city.