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Douglas City commission endorses Lowcountry Housing for proposed 48-unit affordable complex on McDonough Road
Summary
The Douglas City Commission voted to authorize a letter of support for Lowcountry Housing Communities LLC's application for state low-income housing tax credits for a proposed three-building, 48-unit development on McDonough Road. The city said the letter gives the project two points in the DCA application process.
The Douglas City Commission voted April 14 to authorize a letter of support awarding Lowcountry Housing Communities LLC the city'endorsed low'income housing tax credit support letter for a proposed development on McDonough Road.
City manager presented the housing team's recommendation and said the support letter is intended to give the applicant two points in its application to DCA. "Our recommendation tonight is the mayor commission approve the Douglas housing team's decision to award the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Support Letter to Lowcountry Housing Communities LLC and further authorize a letter of support from the city commission endorsing the project as the GIT Community Award," the housing team representative said.
The project as described to the commission would be three two'story buildings with 16 units each, totaling 48 units, on McDonough Road. Developer representatives present said the schedule depends on receiving a state allocation of tax credits: "Once we get that, then, you know, our investors and our lenders, basically, we can start to work our way towards closing," one developer representative said. He estimated that construction would take about "12 to 14 months" after closing.
Commissioners asked whether a contractor had been chosen; the housing team said one has not yet been selected and that the developer would finalize contractors and financing after DCA awards credits. The city manager said staff and the housing team had scored three proposals, narrowed them to two and recommended the top choice to the commission.
A commissioner moved to approve the housing team's recommendation and authorize the mayor to sign the letter; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The formal motion instructed the mayor to sign a draft letter in the meeting agenda packet and for the developer to include the signed letter in its May application to DCA.
The commission did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the city announced the motion carried by voice vote. The city manager said the support letter is an early administrative endorsement and does not itself grant funding or construction permits; final project start will depend on DCA award and subsequent developer financing and permits.
Douglas City proper_names mentioned at the meeting included Lowcountry Housing Communities LLC, the developer representatives Carson Wynn, Robert Haley and Max Elby, and the project site on McDonough Road. The city noted the developer's prior work in nearby communities, including projects referred to as Haywood Gardens and a Walker Street development.
