2002 Magnolia Award Winner

Outstanding achievements in affordable housing were celebrated when the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) hosted the Second Annual Housing Georgia Conference and Magnolia Awards Program in 2002.

The November 7th event featured presentations from finalists in each of seven categories: Affordable Rental Housing, Creative Partnerships, Emergency Shelter/Services, Homeownership, Local Government Initiatives, Special Needs, and Superior Design.

Commissioner Laura Meadows presented an award for Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Initiative to the Housing Authority of the City of Decatur for The Village at Oakhurst, a development of 10 single-family homes adjacent to the historic Scottish Rite Children's Hospital. The homes were targeted for buyers earning less than 80 percent of the area's median income. The average appraised value of each home is $255,550; however, the average sales price was $120,250.

Decatur's Housing Authority was recognized in the Local Government Initiative category, which was created to recognize achievements by cities, counties, or development authorities to create, improve or promote affordable housing. Eligible projects in this category included new housing construction, housing rehabilitation, planning, zoning or other regulatory innovations designed to promote affordable housing, or multi-activity initiatives designed to improve and promote housing in a community.

In addition to the Decatur Housing Authority; the DeKalb Housing Authority, the City of Decatur, DeKalb County, and the Decatur Housing Development Corporation all participated in the Village at Oakhurst and contributed to its success.