City tries again on housing
Friday, December 21st, 2007
By Chris Fitzsimon
By Mark Barrett
MBARRETT@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM December 21, 2007 12:15 am
ASHEVILLE — City government is trying a third time to bring affordable housing to 7.2 acres in West Asheville that have sat empty for years.
City Council voted Nov. 27 to sell property at the corner of Brotherton and Virginia avenues to Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, which plans to develop 22 single-family homes there.
That’s significantly fewer housing units than previous development partners planned for the land, but those proposals never became reality.
“We’ve had two efforts at multifamily (housing), and both of them, for somewhat different reasons, have failed financially,” city Community Development Director Charlotte Caplan said.
Average wages in the Asheville area are less than the state’s but the local housing market is among North Carolina’s most expensive, making efforts to add to the supply of affordable housing a priority for City Council.
Council in 2001 approved a plan by an Atlanta developer to put 32 condominiums on the property. He backed out because he had difficulty finding enough buyers who met income guidelines and could wait several months or more until they moved in. (more…)
Last 5 posts in Daily News
- N.C. lawmakers to create offshore drilling panel - November 21st, 2008
- Basnight suggests a favorite to lead DOT - November 21st, 2008
- Steps N.C. should take to lead on health care - November 21st, 2008
- Democratic party head in N.C. will step down - November 21st, 2008
- Washington wows Hagan - November 21st, 2008
Email This Post
Print This Post
