Developers plan two housing complexes

Any number of community surveys in recent years have mentioned a couple of key needs: more transportation options for workers without vehicles of their own and more affordable housing. Various efforts continue to identify these needs and look for ways to address them.

A quick scan of the real estate classified ads in Sunday's Southeast Missourian found more than a hundred houses, duplexes, unfurnished apartments and furnished apartments for rent. In spite of this, survey respondents continue to say they need housing at a cost they can afford or that is in decent condition.

Two recent announcements are aimed at fulfilling some of those requests. One developer plans to build 20 new two- and three-bedroom duplexes in Cape Girardeau, and another plans to build 30 apartments for senior citizens in Jackson over the next few months.

Development of both projects was spurred by sizable tax credits from the Missouri Housing Development Commission, which will help keep rental rates down. With this kind of commitment, the affordable-housing issue may soon disappear from local surveys.