Time is ticking for Port Arthur City Council to approve an idea the city’s Economic Development Corporation first floated three months ago that is designed to help populate the downtown area.

The EDC is proposing to spend $300,000 to $400,000 annually on affordable housing in an area around Fifth and Sixth Street.

The EDC’s recommendation will have to be approved by City Council by Feb. 19 in time to be placed on the May 7 ballot. If the matter goes to voters and is approved, the city would next be charged with developing a housing program that would dovetail with the city’s vision of a revitalized downtown.

City Council on Tuesday, heard a presentation from Housing Consultant James Gilleylen, with J-Quad Planning Group, a Dallas-based company that specializes in revitalization.

Gilleylen said the city first should understand that affordable housing is an umbrella term that can include anything from HUD Section 8 to homeownership assistance programs for people with jobs. It would be up to the city to decide which types of programs they would offer.

To be considered affordable housing, one’s housing costs, including rent, or mortgage and utilities, should not exceed 30 percent of the household income.

Different household income amounts have various assistance programs to bring the cost of housing down to the 30 percent level.

For example, a household with an income of up to $23,480, depending on size of household, is eligible for federal and state funded public and assisted housing, including Section 8.

A household income from $23,949 to $46,960 could qualify for assistance with down payment and closing costs associated with the purchase of a home, or rental subsidies, among others.

A household with an income of 80 percent to 100 percent of the median income, or $46,960 to $58,700 could qualify for downtown housing, office conversions, workforce housing, work/live housing, senior housing, etc.

City Manager Brian McDougal said he was not recommending any form of affordable housing in the city’s targeted downtown area.

“I do not think what we want to be doing with our downtown is subsidized housing,” McDougal said. “I think Port Arthur already has its fair share.”

McDougal said he would prefer to see market rate housing in the targeted downtown area.

E-mail: sherry.koonce@panews.com

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