A new affordable housing project from the Housing Assistance Corporation has received new funding to help with infrastructure and operational costs, according to Margaret Lebeck, the executive director of the organization.
According to a July 19 news release, Dogwood Health Trust will fund $1 million now and an additional $500,000 over the next two years as a match to the $1.5 million given to the project by Henderson County.
Lebeck told the Times-News July 22 that the use for this $500,000 is “pretty open.”
“What it does for our organization is provides an opportunity for us to really look at how can we move the needle on affordable housing in the community,” Lebeck said. “Strategizing that at this point and what that looks like and what that means over the next two years.”
Lebeck said these funds could be used for staffing, training, or outsourcing to make sure that the Housing Assistance Corporation “can really impact affordable housing here.”
When completed, the Apple Ridge project will consist of 20 single-family homes and 60 multi-family units off of Sugarloaf Road.
Lebeck said the amount of funding raised so far is a “moving target” because commitments have been made from entities such as the city of Hendersonville and Henderson County and those commitments could vary based on need.
According to previous Times-News reporting, the funding made available to the Apple Ridge project from the city and county is meant to be used for water and sewer infrastructure for the development.
The Times-News reached out to both the city of Hendersonville and Henderson County for more information on the municipality’s roles in the project.
Lebeck told the Times-News that the Housing Assistance Corporation planned for an earlier start date, but environmental concerns have prevented the project from breaking ground.
“What we ran into was a conservation issue with the long-eared bat population that’s there,” Lebeck said. “It’s really environmental considerations that are sort of determining our timeline at this point.”
She said the project will wait until the bats' nesting season is over to move forward with the project.
Lebeck said the Apple Ridge project will have multiple phases, and that most of what has been finalized is pre-construction site work that involves sewer, electric, underground lines and roadways. She said these aspects of the project have been designed and finalized, but the details of the buildings on the site are still a work in progress.
Lebeck said the pricing for these units have not yet been finalized either, but the “whole intention” is to build affordable housing.
Qualifying factors for these units depend on income and family size and Lebeck said the best way for those interested to find out more information is to reach out to the Housing Assistance Corporation and its financial counselors.
“At every consideration... is how do we keep this affordable,” Lebeck said. “The intention is to serve people who really need it in the community.”
Karrigan Monk is the reporter for Black Mountain News and Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her atkmonk@blackmountainnews.com.
Most Popular
Comments / 0