Developer plans 20 rental houses at Packer Field

The Andalusia City Council last week approved an agreement with The Cottages at Packer Field, LLC to build 20 two-bedroom and three-bedroom cottages on the property currently known as Packer Field, and bordered by Packer Avenue and Snowden Drive.

City administrator John Thompson said the project is the culmination of years of work.

"We know that we have lost population in recent Censuses, and we believe the reason has been the lack of housing," Thompson said. "We know we've lost at least one economic development project because we didn't have housing available for the people who would have needed to relocate here."

Thompson introduced Frank Thomas of Montgomery, who will build the workforce houses through the Cottages at Packer Field, LLC, and Kathleen M. Ferrell, CPM, of Enterprise, who will manage the rental properties.

Ferrell said the houses will be leased at "market rate." The two-bedroom homes are approximately 1,200 square feet and will rent for about $1,525. The three-bedroom homes are approximately 1,450 square feet and will rent for $1,795.

"Our criteria for renting are strict," she said, adding that tenants must have been employed for six months, show proof of income of at least three times the rental amount, and provide landlord references.

The City of Andalusia has had a long-held agreement to use Packer Field for its recreation programs, but the City's Capital Improvement Cooperative District actually acquired the property within the last two years.

The agreement approved recently calls for the Cooperative District to deed a portion of the property to the LLC for the initial construction. Once those houses are built and leased, a second phase is expected to follow. The City Council will rebate the non-education sales taxes collected on construction-related purchases made within the City.

Once an engineering study is completed, the City and developers will decide whether the first phase will front on Snowden Drive or Packer Avenue.