SALISBURY, MD -- The first units of the Mitchell Landing Apartments, an affordable housing complex on Mitchell Road, had their grand opening Wednesday morning.
David Layfield, founder of and Principal at the affordable housing initiative Green Street Housing, said the 12 units revealed today were originally overrun with mold and structural issues. Layfield said the project, in conjunction with a nearby Riverside Homes affordable housing complex, cost roughly $30 million.
Salisbury City Councilwoman April Jackson (District 1) represents the area in which the complex resides.
"It was a long time coming. And I'm so grateful it has come," Jackson said. "Because I fought, and I fought until I couldn't fight anymore, and I wasn't gonna give up."
Jackson, who said she advocated for the project from the beginning, said the area needs more affordable housing.
"Most of the people here are at the poverty-stricken line," Jackson said. "They really can't afford a base rent of $1200. Anywhere, even from $1000 up, is hard."
Layfield also echoed the need for affordable housing in the area.
"It's hard for someone here, a young professional or a single mom of two who's working two jobs, to afford housing here in Salisbury," Layfield said. "We have a severe shortage."
Layfield said it was a long process to bring the project to fruition.
"It became exponentially harder because Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor decided he did not want it to happen," Layfield said. "He did everything he could to stop it. But we persevered."
Mayor Taylor previously expressed objection to the project and was not in attendance at today's event.
"I was glad to see a portion of the units at Mitchell Landing were back online," Taylor said in a statement to WBOC. "Salisbury needs affordable housing, and this will certainly assist in that process."
Maryland Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day said both Wicomico County and the state are experiencing an affordable housing shortage. Day said the state is short roughly 100,000 units.
"You're talking about dozens of families that will be able to return to their neighborhood, that will be able to stay in Salisbury," Day said. "They can stay committed to this economy, connected to their families, the place they know and love, and contribute."
Day said projects like the Mitchell Landing Apartments especially benefit low-income families in the area.
"We'll have project-based vouchers associated with it, so that will help subsidize the rent cost for families on a limited income," Day said. "But those are families that are working, you know, they've got jobs in this community, and this allows them to stay here."
Developers and city council leaders in attendance said they hope to continue pushing forward affordable housing projects in the area. Councilwoman Jackson said she hopes to move forward with projects related to the nearby Village at Mitchell Pond, for example.