Affordable housing project off Park Road pushes forward amid pandemic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The YWCA Central Carolinas and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership shared an update Wednesday as they continue work on an affordable housing initiative off of Park Road.

The organizations announced the project a year ago, and despite the pandemic, they have raised funds and set construction plans.

The 104 housing units will be designed specifically for households earning 30%-60% of the area median income -- between $25,050 and $50,100 for a family of four.

Construction for the units is set to begin late this year. YWCA and CMHP aim to have these units move-in ready in the summer of 2023.

“At YWCA, we believe people who work in Charlotte should be able to live in Charlotte,” said YWCA CEO, Kirsten Sikkelee. “Caregivers for our elderly loved ones next door at Merrywood on Park, cashiers at the Harris Teeter at Park Road Shopping Center, teachers at KinderCare - some of our essential and frontline workers during this pandemic - can become neighbors in this affordable housing community. And, these new neighbors will boost the local economy as they patronize all of the amenities near YWCA.”

Most recently, YWCA received a $2.5 million donation to support the project from The Merancas Foundation.

“The Merancas Foundation is pleased to continue our longstanding support of YWCA in its efforts to bring more affordable housing to the Charlotte community,” said Andy Mermans, president and chairman of The Merancas Foundation. “The YWCA has generously decided to utilize their Park Road campus to bring over 100 new affordable homes to this City. We are happy to do our small part and look forward to seeing this project rise out of the ground soon.”

Since their 2020 announcement, the YWCA has received financial support from:

● Anonymous Corporate Funder - $4 Million

● The Gambrell Foundation - $3 Million

● The Merancas Foundation - $2.5 Million

● The Leon Levine Foundation - $400,000

● O’H Rankin Foundation - $300,000

● David Belk Cannon Foundation - $50,000

● Additional support from individual donors

9 Investigates: Landlords refusing to rent to families that use housing vouchers

Cox Media Group