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For the last few years, it has been clear that housing is one of the top priorities — if not the top priority — for leaders in the city of Albert Lea and the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency.

According to Albert Lea Economic Development Agency Director Phillip Johnson, Albert Lea needs at least 400 to 500 new rental units of all types over the next five years, whether that be low-income, workforce housing or otherwise.

Businesses in the area need more workers, but without available housing units for them in the city, it is difficult to recruit them — especially larger ones that are anticipating bigger numbers of employees. Already, 30% of our workforce drives in from neighboring counties.

With this in mind, we are pleased when we hear of different opportunities and creative solutions the city and ALEDA are working on to recruit more housing in the city.

While there are some larger developments in the works, the city is also working on some smaller projects, either to revamp existing housing infrastructure in the community or to recruit new housing on existing open lots.

Two of these projects the Albert Lea City Council on Monday approved development agreements for with two developers looking to build single family homes in the city on vacant lots.

Under the agreements, the city is giving the lots to the developers and providing a $5,000 development incentive for water and sewer connection and a $5,000 design incentive for each property.

While this may be a startup cost, in the end it allows these properties to return to the tax rolls, and even more importantly, in the future to become a new viable housing option for residents in the community.

If all goes according to plan, there could be new single family homes built on lots that have been vacant for many years.

We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition and for the opportunity that these give the city — one house at a time — to meet the housing needs of the community.