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Brookhill excluded from Charlotte Housing Trust Fund projects

CHARLOTTE — In two weeks, Charlotte City Council will vote to spend nearly $15 million on more than 1,300 affordable housing units. Of the units, 34% are slated for 30% AMI, the area’s lowest income residents. Proposed projects include 194 new beds in the men’s shelter on Statesville Avenue and renovating more than 300 units of the Windsor Park complex in east Charlotte.

Only one project that applied for funding isn't receiving it -- the Brookhill development.

"The people of Brookhill deserve safe, decent, affordable housing. Meeting the affordable housing challenge in Charlotte will require creative solutions and strong leadership," said Tracy Russ, spokesperson for the Brookhill Development Team. "The New Brookhill development team is committed to doing our part to work with city leaders and community partners over the next few weeks to find timely ways to support affordable housing in New Brookhill."

Leaders continue to like it on paper. The 324-unit project in South End received widespread coverage and fanfare when it was announced.

“There are so few opportunities for affordable housing near uptown, and I don’t know how many opportunities we will have like this,” Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt said.

Housing and Neighborhood Services Director Pam Wideman said the city is not recommending the project because it is seeking roughly $10 million, including $5.3 million in public investments. Wideman said the development team has never successfully completed and managed a comparable type of development and there is no assurance of affordability beyond the leasehold period.

Because Brookhill is not seeking state tax credits, leaders are optimistic they can negotiate with the development team.

"I think we can have more conversations with the development," Wideman said.

If the project doesn't get funding, the city wants to work with United Way to make sure the people who currently live there find a new place to live. There's a fear the land could become market rate housing if a deal can't be reached.

Many council members want to find a way to make this project work.

“This close to light rail, this close to a park, the accessibility is there, the amenities are there,” Councilman Larken Egleston said. “There couldn’t be a better opportunity, I don’t think.”

Updates on Brookhill will be posted at NewBrookhill.com.

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