If the Department of Community Affairs signs on, there will be a major facelift on Tifton’s southside about to take place. A four- block area east of South Central Avenue between 17th Street and 13th Street could soon be redeveloped and named Tifton Estates. The old, burned-out, boarded-up homes will be razed and in their place will be new homes: Twenty-four three-bedroom homes and 10 two-bedroom homes. All of the new homes will be for rent.

“This could have a major impact on that neighborhood,” said Gary Hammond of Hammond Development, Inc. “I think this project could spark revitalization in that area.”

Hammond said that out of 56 homes in the area, he has 37 lots under contract. Hammond has an option to purchase the properties at a set price if the development project is approved by DCA. The new rental homes will initially be rented at $383 to $533 for income-restricted renters and from $554 to $587 for those renting at the market rate.

In addition to the new homes, there will be a community building located at the far east end of the project. The exterior of the homes will be brick and siding.

Hammond said he will know in September if the project is accepted by DCA. “It will take all of six months to close on the properties and be ready to start construction,” he said. The plan is to have the construction completed by the end of 2009.

Hammond said his company is the developer of record and RHA Housing is the owner of record for the development. Hammond said he has partnered with RHA for a long time. “They are an Atlanta-based non-profit,” he said. “They have built housing for the elderly, group homes, nursing home and apartment complexes.” Hammond said his company is “a Georgia-based developer” with projects in Blakely, Fort Valley, metro Atlanta, Rome and Waynesboro.

Tifton was chosen as a place to look for a development project by his company “because it had not had a DCA allocation in a while and it had proven it had its act together.” Last January when Hammond came to Tifton to scout for property he said he asked Carl Fortson, with county code enforcement, “Where is there an opportunity?” Hammond said Fortson directed him to the South Central area. “I feel like we tripped across this, really,” Hammond said.

Hammond said the City of Tifton had been “fantastic” to work with and “very supportive.” At the City Council workshop meeting on Wednesday afternoon, council members approved a resolution in support of Tifton Estates as well as a resolution providing for Enterprise Zone incentives for Tifton Estates.

The incentive package would total $174,061.71 and would include writing off building permit fees, landfill tipping fees, business license fees and site specific utility requirements as well as tax abatements.

Assistant City Manager Larry Riner presented the incentive information to the council members Wednesday. He said the current appraised value of the property is $395,285 and the projected appraised value will be $2,657,600. He said the current property tax on the property is $1,068 and the projected property tax would be $7,185.

“This is a great project,” Riner said at the council meeting. “It is a good catalyst to start redevelopment. We are going to clean that whole neighborhood up!”

To contact reporter Jana Cone, call 382-4321, ext. 208.