H
arrisonburg residents have been discussing affordable housing as a pressing issue, and it's become a recurring topic in city council meetings. On Tuesday, the council will consider selling five unused plots of land to turn them into affordable housing units. The first plot, at Reservoir Street and Stonewall Drive, could be developed into multifamily rentals for low- to medium-income families.

    Developer Frank Gordon aims to create up to five income-restricted rental units on this site. According to Liz Webb, Housing Director for the City of Harrisonburg, these rentals would be available to residents with incomes below the area median income. This project is part of a broader effort by the city to identify underutilized land and repurpose it for community benefit.

    While approval of the land sale is a crucial step, it's not a guarantee that the housing plan will move forward. Even if the sale is approved, several hurdles must be cleared before the development can become a reality.