The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, voted 4-to 3 to move forward with ways to address the City’s housing needs, by means of using the City EDR (Economic Development Revolving) loan Fund as part of an Infill Housing Initiative. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee has already endorsed the further exploration of ways to identify a potential buyer or buyers of a home to be built on land owned by the City north of 7th Street or 14th Street.

Mayor Dave Jones was asked by Councilman Dick Casady if City money would be involved. Jones said there would be some to start with, if needed, but it would be paid back. He said “It’s something to get started, no matter what happens.” Jones said they’re looking at a company out of Missouri Valley to construct a modular house.

The buyer — who Jones said would preferably be a working couple — would have to be pre-approved by a lender. The City would supply a vacant lot where a home was previously demolished and the land cleared. The idea is to get the property back on the tax base. Councilman Chris Jimerson, who voted in favor of moving forward, was initially opposed to using City money for a construction zone to a pre-qualified buyer. Councilman Casady expressed similar concerns.

Casady, Councilpersons Hayes and Hartkopf voted against the move. Hayes said not enough has been done to promote the vacant lots the City owns that are available to build on. She said she would prefer if the City stay out of the business of building homes, and give adjacent property owners a chance to purchase the lots if they so desire.

Jones said he’s working on the finer details of the program, but the bottom line is that expensive homes aren’t likely to be built on those lots, so it’s better to offer an alternative, such as the in-fill program.  In other business, the Council, by a vote of 6-to 1, decided to move forward with keeping the speed limit on the northern section of Sunnyside lane at 25 miles per hour, and the southern-most 1,600+ feet 35-mph. The next step is for the City Attorney to review a draft ordinance on the matter, and for a vote on the final draft.