City leaders approve spending $23M on affordable housing projects

CHARLOTTE — The city of Charlotte will spend millions to bring hundreds of affordable housing units to the Queen City.

The Charlotte City Council voted Monday night to spend more than $23 million to help build more than 600 homes.

More than $20 million for the projects will come from the city’s Housing Trust Fund.

The Aveline Townhomes at Orange Street and Hope Springs subdivision projects will be homes for sale. The rest are rental properties.

More details:

• One of the rental properties will be in Ballantyne.
• A developer is planning a 60-unit property near the Sprouts Grocery Store.
• It’s called Evoke Living at Ballantyne.

The city says the project is in an ideal location because it is close to jobs and resources.

Affordable housing project in Ballantyne

A 60-unit affordable housing complex is coming to Ballantyne.

The area has a grocery store, medical office and other retail opportunities, but the Charlotte City Council is perhaps most excited about an affordable housing project that will be built across the street.

A wooded area along Ballancroft Parkway would be knocked down and replaced by Evoke Living at Ballantyne, a 60-unit affordable housing complex, near the corner of Johnston Road and Providence Road West.

“It is absolutely in a phenomenal area for affordable housing,” said Shawn Heath, the city’s director of housing and neighborhood services.

Heath says the project checks all the boxes for the city. It would put those living there within walking distance of jobs and places to eat.

The housing would take $3 million from the voter-approved Housing Trust Fund to build.

Heath said construction will be a challenge, because of how the land wraps around the neighboring police station, but he says it’ll be worth it.

“We are always hungry for affordable housing in District 7, so we recommend it without any hesitation,” Heath said.

Councilman Ed Driggs represents the area and walked the project site with Heath. He compared it to a ski slope.

“Very difficult topography,” Driggs said.

He says the lack of affordable housing in his district is caused by cost and he’s eager for the community to show that affordable housing belongs and is supported in Ballantyne.

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“I am very anxious to get this done, just to demonstrate there is no opposition in the district to this kind of housing,” Driggs said.

The Ballantyne proposal is one of nine affordable housing projects the Charlotte City Council is considering.

In all, they’ll cost about $23 million and bring about 700 new units to the area if approved.

City council will vote on all of the projects at 5 p.m. Channel 9 will provide updates as they come in.

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