Mayor Kelly Girtz released his State of the Community address on Thursday.
During his address, Mayor Girtz touted the benefits of the city, including its creativity, access to education, job growth, and upcoming development projects. He also discussed areas where the Classic City could improve, particularly when it comes to affordable housing.
“While housing availability and affordability challenges will require us to strive for years to come, every single effort is important, and so many of these efforts come through partnerships. With the Athens Housing Authority, and through your approval of our current SPLOST program, we are re-building the North Downtown area, formerly known as Bethel Homes, with the first phase just complete. This will take one of the most under-resourced neighborhoods in town and transform it into the most desirable.”
Girtz said there are more than 4500 families in Athens earning below $35,000 per year and pay more than half of their income in housing costs.
The State of the Community address is available at www.accgov.com, and on the county’s YouTube channel.
