BRYAN, Texas —
The City of Bryan formed the Bryan Home Foundation Initiative program, which will offer up to ten eligible Bryan households who live in the former MU-1 zoned areas in Bryan an opportunity to improve their living conditions.
City council approved the program on July 9, 2019.
The program encourages the construction of stick-built homes by allowing the city to purchase eligible and qualified applicants’ mobile or manufactured homes. The program will also offer these applicants financial literacy and home maintenance education.
“This is an effort on the part of the mayor and the city council to reach out to our community and feel like this is more of a partnership and what can the city do more than just zone... and building long term value for residents,” said Deputy City Manager, Joseph Dunn.
In April 2019, Bryan city council voted to gradually eliminate mixed-use residential zoning, or MU-1 that allows manufactured homes and other homes to coexist in residential areas.
The city hopes to placate that point of contention that was the gradual elimination of MU-1 zones by offering to buy mobile or manufactured homes and give $10,000 to those eligible households.
Each qualified applicant can receive $10,000 (non-federal funds) or more on a first come, first-served basis.
“Anybody who might be planning or was planning or still planning on replacing their mobile home or manufactured home... this is a way for the city to assist in their effort to build a site-built home," Dunn said.
To qualify for this program, residents must (in addition to other requirements):
Have lived in Bryan for 5 or more years
Own both the home they live in and the lot the home currently sits on
Be located in the former MU-1 zoning district.
Bryan residents interested in applying to the program can contact Bryan’s Community Development Department at 979.209.5175 to determine eligibility.
The program is voluntary and so far, 10 homes can take advantage of it, but if there are more than 10 applicants, Dunn said "our city council, I’m sure would allocate more dollars to this program... we are encouraging folks to reach out to the city.”
Dunn also said workshops being set up for those interested in the program.
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