There is a need for affordable housing in Mexico.
The City of Mexico approved a resolution authorizing a $50,000 contribution from the fiscal year 2026-27 budget to support sanitary sewer …
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There is a need for affordable housing in Mexico.
The City of Mexico approved a resolution authorizing a $50,000 contribution from the fiscal year 2026-27 budget to support sanitary sewer infrastructure development associated with the Teal Lake Phase 2 project at its June 22 meeting.
The money will come from a portion of Mexico’s Housing Incentive Program and the city’s contribution is contingent on the project receiving funding from the Missouri Housing Development Commission.
According to Gigi Quinlan-McAreavy, City of Mexico economic development director, this year will be the developer’s fourth attempt to start this project and while it originally was not going to try again, Teal Lake Village is back on the table.
At the meeting, Quinlan-McAreavy said there is a need for affordable workforce housing. There are currently 62 names on the waiting list at the Phase 1 development and rents range from $683 per month for a two-bedroom, to $827 for a three-bedroom.
Teal Lake Village Phase 2 is proposed as a family workforce development that will include 46 units – 32 two-bedroom units and 14 three-bedroom units in 23 duplex buildings. The approximately 7.03 acre property is located near the existing Teal Lake Phase 1 development near Teal Lake Road and Amelia Street.
“What they’re asking for is help in the sewer,” Quinlan-McAreavy said.
During its July 10, 2024 city council meeting, the City of Mexico accepted a permanent sanitary sewer easement from Sydenstricker LLC for the construction of approximately 2,660 feet of sewer line.
At that time, Drew Williford, City of Mexico public works director, said the city would not be responsible for paying for the construction of the sewer.
However, Quinlan-McAreavy thinks a contribution from the city will help developers get more points on their MHDC application.
“Last year, they got 129 points,” she said. “It was just shy of them getting awarded. Just like you see with a grant, they like to have buy-in with the community.”
To put it in perspective, Quinlan-McAreavy said previous recipients of MHDC funding had scores between 130 and 146. The application is also highly competitive. Out of 70 applicants, only 21 were approved — seven communities were in rural areas and of those, five were in a FEMA disaster area.
The estimated cost for the sanitary sewer infrastructure is approximately $364,000 before the city’s contribution.
Williford said the construction of a sanitary sewer system in that loca- tion will not only support Teal Lake Village Phase 2, but also any future development of the roughly 40-50 surrounding acres.