businesses to update their facades through a grant program, creating a more modern yet charming downtown area. “Downtown is really important to the community, and they take a lot of pride in it,”Mayor Jonas states. GROWTH IN ANNANDALE’S HOUSING SECTOR Annandale took proactive measures to stimulate growth after the recession and the housing market crash. The city initiated a housing incentive program to encourage new residential activity by waiving certain fees. This calculated move proved highly successful and instrumental in boosting the number of newhomes starting in the area.Under the program, the city waived connection fees for new home starts, which resulted in over 50 homes being constructed over a 5 year period. One significant housing development is the Triplet Farms project, which has recently added 82 singlefamily home lots to the city’s housing stock. This development has met with remarkable success, with over half the lots already built upon. Additionally, Annandale annexed a farm property located on Lake John just outside city limits, which extended sewer and water services to the area, resulting in the creation of 23 single-family lots, with 11 of them overlooking the lake.The anticipates construction on these lots to start in 2024. As emphasized by Hinnenkamp, this expansion reflects the city’s good fortune in having interested developers, strong demand, and the necessary infrastructure to address the city’s growing housing needs. The city has acknowledged the demand for marketrate rental housing and has greenlit plans for two apartment complexes, one with 90 units and another with 65 units. Construction on these projects is set to begin soon, addressing the rising need for rental properties. PROSPECTS FOR INVESTMENT In addition to being a desirable place to live, Annandale offers substantial investment 24 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 03
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