Local church donates land to build affordable housing in Belmont neighborhood

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As Charlotte continues to grapple with its affordable housing crisis, a church in the historic inner city neighborhood of Belmont has found a solution for its own community.

New affordable units are going up all around the church because the pastor realized there was a problem 10 years ago.

"We had to put up the land and in that, that was a major sacrifice," remembered pastor Robert Scott. 
Scott says his predecessor set the wheels in motion years ago and then relied on the congregation to donate the land around the church --- worth $1.4 million --- to give the homeless a home.

Scott said, "Matthew 25 really serves as the blueprint for the work that we are doing." Jesus said, 'When I was hungry, you fed me, when I was naked you clothed me, when I was in prison you visited me and when I was homeless you housed me.'"

The church took that verse and on Wednesday they lived it out.

Classy, new three-story apartments opened across the street from the church.

The city of Charlotte contributed $4 million to the project and $11 million came from Bank of America.

The development group Laurel Street brought the project to life.

One of the first residents to move in was John Moore, a veteran who had fallen on hard times.

"I've been legally homeless for 10 years. With this place coming open and being affordable, it's beautiful, I love it," he exclaimed.

Moore says his opportunities are limitless now that he finally has a place to call his own.

"It's a burden lifted, overwhelmed with joy, so much excitement that you really can't put words to it," he said.

Pastor Scott hopes other churches and private companies will follow suit and anchor their own neighborhoods to affordable housing.

"There is a housing deficit of 30,000 units so this 112 units isn't even a drop in the bucket but we're trying to do our part to make a difference," he said.

The 112-unit development is called Centra Square.

All of the apartments, townhomes and senior living spaces will be for families who make 50 - 60 percent less than the average median income.

The senior living spaces are expected to open in September and the townhomes will be complete by the end of the year.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• Police look for 2 suspects after armed robbery at NE Charlotte 7-Eleven
• Two killed, four injured in head-on collision in Lenoir 
• CMS pulls capital funding to 4 towns who could build charter schools
• WATCH: Keith Monday's Wednesday forecast outlook 
• Arrests made in shooting at AvidXchange Music Factory 

Cox Media Group