Home Builder Incentive Program Approved by Grapeland City Council

By Sarah Naron
Messenger Reporter

GRAPELAND – A home builder incentive and rejuvenation program developed by the Grapeland Economic Development Corporation (EDC) received approval from the Grapeland City Council after being presented Tuesday, Sept. 11.

“They are going to reserve $24,000 maximum for a program which would allow anyone who took one of the lots where a building needs to be torn down and a new structure built on it could get up to $6,000 from the EDC,” explained Mayor Balis Dailey. “The city, in turn, would also give them a free connection and free meter. So, that would be the incentive to do it.”

According to Mayor Dailey, city officials have identified numerous lots throughout the city which could benefit from a facelift.

“We would love to get those fixed up and back into some kind of useful way,” Mayor Dailey said. “It’s just one of those initiatives that we’re trying to do and make the city better.”

Those interested in partaking in the program new home builders interested in replacing decrepit structures with a dwelling intended for residential purposes. The selected property must currently possess structures which have been “condemned or deemed uninhabitable by the city council, city fire chief, or the building and standards committee.”

The individual wishing to build on a given property is responsible for the acquirement of said property. “The builder may ask for preliminary approval of the incentive from the GEDC Board prior to acquiring the subject property for which the incentive is applied.”

No more than 60 days may pass between the commencement of the demolition of existing structures and the start of new construction. “The GEDC will not fund the proceeds up front for demolishing the condemned or dilapidated structures. The GEDC will only reimburse the builder for actual cost of the demolition.”

Proof of all expenses related to the demolition must be provided to the GEDC prior to the issuance of compensation. Reimbursement requests will not be considered by the GEDC Board until construction has begun on the new residential dwelling. Plans for the new structure must be approved by the GEDC prior to reimbursement being paid to the builder.

For more information – including a complete list of participation requirements – call the Grapeland City Office at 936-687-2115.

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