Greenfield still in talks for farm worker housing within city limits

After an initial project was passed by Greenfield’s planning commission and voted down by city council members in October, a city leader still believes farm worker housing would be great for the city.

One reason listed for the initial project’s denial was the location in which the project would have been placed.

“That area was basically zoned for commercial development,” says current councilman Lance Walker. The area he refers to is on 3rd and Walnut in Greenfield.

Construction in that area right now is mostly for businesses. Nothing with a hint of housing for farm workers is being constructed in the city at this time, although there are some housing projects in the works in other areas of the city.

The housing project addresses what Walker says the city wants to get a handle on first, which is the housing problem sweeping across the state.

Infrastructure is another issue, including traffic.

Walker says the city does have options of where to put any form of farm worker housing project but did not say where those options are located.

Whether the developer of the initial project, Mike Avila, will be on board with a new project remains to be seen as well. Avila did not agree with the city’s denial of the initial project.

“I appreciate the people that put food on our tables and they deserve a place to call home,” Walker says. “It’s something we’re looking into, we’re definitely on this.”

For more on the initial proposed farm worker housing plan, click here