Jacksonville approves 100-acre plan to secure $2 million grant

Jacksonville City Council approved today a plan to secure a previously awarded $2 million state grant and prepare roughly 100 acres between Massey Lane and Lincoln Avenue for middle-income housing development. The site, located behind The Home Depot, is intended to be made shovel-ready for private developers as part of a broader workforce housing strategy tied to local employers.

Under the approved action, the city will add $500,000 in matching funds to purchase the land from its current owner by year-end, positioning the parcel for infrastructure planning and future site work. City officials expect initial site work could begin in roughly two years as engineering, permitting and utility planning move forward.

Officials described a phased development pattern across the tract, with larger-footprint housing planned for the west end of the property and smaller units concentrated toward the east. Landscaping is included in the early planning to help buffer neighboring properties during construction, a detail intended to ease concerns from nearby residents and preserve neighborhood character while work is under way.

The project builds on earlier announcements when the governor visited in April and the $2 million grant was first revealed. City leaders say the funding is a key piece of a workforce housing push designed to attract and retain employees at local businesses, addressing a persistent gap in middle-income rental and ownership options that has affected recruitment and turnover.

For Jacksonville residents the approval sets several concrete expectations. The city will begin the land acquisition process with the $500,000 match this year, followed by planning and engineering phases. Construction is not immediate; the two-year runway reflects the time needed to secure permits, align utilities and prepare parcels so developers can move quickly once selected. Neighbors adjacent to Massey Lane and Lincoln Avenue can expect increased municipal activity tied to surveying and site preparation in the months ahead, and landscaping plans aim to limit disruption.

The city's approach aims to balance speed with scrutiny: making the site attractive to developers through early public investment while maintaining control over design elements that affect surrounding neighborhoods. By targeting middle-income units and staging housing types across the tract, Jacksonville is attempting to offer choices for a range of household sizes and incomes tied to employment in Morgan County.

Next steps will include completing the land purchase by year-end, advancing engineering and permitting, and continuing coordination with local employers and potential developers. For residents, the coming months should clarify timelines for site work and how the new housing might influence local services, schools and traffic in the longer term.