Greenville City Council put its support behind two possible affordable housing projects and agreed to commit up to $500,000 to each development if the projects receive the tax credits necessary for construction.
The council unanimously voted to issue letters of support to two separate projects that could make up to 88 affordable housing units available in the next several years. Both projects would be located on Dickinson Avenue within an estimated quarter-mile from Arlington Trace, a 180-unit affordable housing development that will open later this year.
Taft-Mills Group, the developers of Arlington Trace, wants to build a 48-unit development that would be available to households with income at or below 60 percent of the area median income. For a family of four that’s an income of $45,000 annually, Tiana Berryman, director of Neighborhood and Business Services, said at the council’s Thursday meeting.
Surber Development and Consulting LLC wants to build a 40-unit development available to households in the same income range. Taft-Mills Group is consulting with Surber on its project.
Both developments would have a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with monthly rent ranging between $475-$995, Berryman said.
With the council’s approval in place, the final applications for the tax credits will be submitted in May, said Dustin Mills with Taft-Mills Group.
The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency is responsible for awarding tax credits made available by the Internal Revenue Service. The credits make construction of affordable housing feasible, developers said.
The N.C. Housing Finance Agency encourages local governments to support applicants financially, creating a higher yield of units at more affordable rates for a longer period of time, Berryman said. The $500,000 the city would make available for each project comes from the city’s 2024 HOME Investment Partnership Fund.
Since 2010 more than 450 affordable units have been built in Greenville through similar partnerships, Berryman said. Later this year another 180 units will be available for rent thanks to the Arlington Trace project.
The projects range from apartments to houses. The city has partnered with Bill Clark Homes in the Lincoln Park project to build 10 free-standing units in the Bancroft Avenue area.
The N.C. Housing Finance Agency will announce which developers will receive the tax credits in late August, Mills said. It’s unlikely both Greenville projects will be approved because the finance agency wants to distribute them across the state, he said.
“If we find out we were successful that will allow us to move forward with the planning stage, with getting the site plan approved, securing construction financing and then usually about a year after that deadline is when we will begin construction,” Mills said in a later interview.
Taft-Mills Group completed its first affordable housing project in Greenville in 2016. The group is preparing to open Arlington Trace in the near future.
Within the next 30 to 45 days Excel Property Management, a third-party manager of rental units, will begin accepting applications for Arlington Trace, Mills said. Information about how to apply will be posted on the property.
“These developments can’t happen without the N.C. Housing Financing Agency providing an allocation of tax credits,” he said.
In recent years the availability of tax credits has increased, Mills said, but there is a need for more.
“Politically, there is a lot of support on both sides of the aisle but it’s yet to happen.”
Mills said Taft-Mills Group and Surber Development and Consulting LLC are excited to have an opportunity to compete for the tax credits.
“We are more excited about all the affordable housing that we are developing in Greenville,” Mills said. “We appreciate the City of Greenville’s continued support of affordable housing both politically and financially.”
Park grant
The City Council also unanimously approved seeking a $500,000 Accessible Parks Grant to update Woodlawn Park. If awarded, the city must provide $100,000 in matching funds.
Mark Nottingham, parks planner, said the money would be used to replace existing playground equipment with updated inclusive equipment and add a multisport court, outdoor table tennis, cornhole, and foosball.
The existing equipment, installed in 1996, is the oldest in the city. The park also doesn’t meet current Americans with Disabilities Act requirements regarding routes of travel, and the existing amenities do not promote an inclusive recreational experience.
The Accessible Parks Grant is administered through the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation and the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
In other unanimous actions the council:
Annexed 15.6 acres along the eastern right-of-way of Dickinson Avenue Extension, about 215 feet southwest of Spring Forest Road.
Approved a resolution to close unimproved sections of Laurel Street, Second Street Terrace, and Sycamore Street in College Heights Subdivision.
Approved a resolution to close Proctor Circle in Indigreen Corporate Park.
Held a second reading and approved an ordinance to repeal and replace Chapter 9 of Title 9 Stormwater Management and Control Ordinance.
North Pitt
Also during Thursday’s council meeting, the North Pitt High School Girls Basketball team was recognized for winning the State 2A girls basketball championship.
North Pitt serves parts of northern Greenville and city students can attend the school through open enrollment.
Councilwoman Monica Daniels said in addition to the championship win, the team also was the recipient of a state award for having the highest team GPA, 3.45.
Zamaraya Jones was also recognized for signing with N.C. State University’s women’s basketball team, which made it to the final four of the NCAA women’s championship.
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