BIG CYPRESS — The newest residential development on the Big Cypress Reservation – with street names such as West Peggy Billie Lane and Sally Buster Circle – held a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 4.

Big Cypress Councilwoman Mariann Billie and Big Cypress Board Rep. Nadine Bowers were joined by Board President/Vice Chairwoman Holly Tiger and former Board President/Vice Chairman and longtime BC resident Mitchell Cypress for the cutting of a red ribbon on the property known as “The Groves.”

It’s a two-phase project by Tribal Community Development. The ceremony
was for the first phase, which features 57 single-family, three-and-four-bedroom
homes with garages. All the streets have sidewalks. Those homes are now occupied.

The next phase will be construction of 44 townhouses and ADA residences. Councilwoman Billie said the project addresses several important housing issues.

“It means we’re improving, we’re expanding, the population is getting bigger,” Councilwoman Billie said. “It means a lot to people who live off-rez and want to
come home. It means a lot to the younger generation who have always lived with their parents until they could get a house.”

“We built 57 homes, and they’re all full. I think that speaks to the tribal members
wanting to be back on their own lands,” said Board President/Vice Chairwoman Tiger.

Cypress, who said he has lived on the reservation for about 70 of his 77 years, is glad to see housing opportunities expand.

“I think we were overdue, but finally we got some funding to do this. I’m really
happy that everybody is coming back to the reservation,” he said.

The development is among latest big building projects on the reservation, which
in recent years have included the Mabel T. Frank residential development and a
new Ahfachkee School. Also, construction continues on a new preschool and senior center.

Located on West Boundary Road, “The Groves” is less than a mile west of the AhTah-Thi-Ki Museum.