The Washington Community School Board and the county board of supervisors each approved items related to housing additions for the City of Washington this week.

During a special meeting Monday the school board approved an extension agreement to the Washington Unified South Central Residential Urban Renewal Plan. The agreement requires the board’s approval as they are a governing tax body. This agreement is for the addition of the South 15th Avenue or Prairie Ridge subdivision, NLW subdivision phases one and two, and a potential subdivision south of the Washington Country Club. Superintendent Willie Stone explained that the Urban Renewal Plan allows cities to capture funds related to housing and residential development, similar to what Tax Increment Financing provides for economic development.

Washington Mayor Jaron Rosien and Finance Director Kelsey Brown then presented the extension agreement to the board of supervisors Tuesday. The supervisors also approved an amendment for the city to gain consent to include the property south of the country club that is outside but within two miles of the corporate city limits. The proposed subdivision south of the city limits is estimated to hold 30 lots with a cost of $325,000 per home. Rosien and Washington Economic Development Group Director Mary Audia expressed the ripple effect that these subdivisions can have for freeing up current housing for incoming residents and supporting the local workforce. The extension agreement also includes a 15-year pay back, as opposed to a typical 10 years.