Housing Study: Gilmer County

A Georgia Conservancy-supported Housing Study of Gilmer County

It seems that no community in Georgia has been spared from the housing challenges sweeping the state and the nation. Yet, while housing issues are almost ubiquitous, the challenges facing individual communities are not identical.

In Gilmer County, home to the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay, a lack of workforce housing is being exacerbated by the region’s attractiveness as a tourist and second-home destination. While rising popularity has been a boon in some ways, the county and cities have struggled with retaining low- to moderate-income residents that form the bulk of the workforce, which has impacted the commercial service industry, essential functions, and more.

Georgia Conservancy partnered with the Greater Gilmer Joint Development Authority and the Gilmer Initiative for Community Housing to investigate these regional housing issues. Still in its early stages, the project will carry through to the end of 2023. The goals of the study are to better understand housing challenges through data, regulatory analysis, and interviews with local experts, educate community leaders and the broader public, and strengthen the county’s and cities’ ability to leverage housing-related incentives to spur appropriate development.

Questions? Reach out to Georgia Conservancy Designer / Planner Luben Raytchev at lraytchev@gaconservancy.org