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Press release from the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, shared Sept. 27:
Five affordable housing developments received Housing North Carolina Awards on Sept. 27 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Sponsored by the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, the awards recognize outstanding affordable housing that can serve as models for other communities.
Housing North Carolina Award winners:
- Barefoot Ridge is an 43-home community in Clyde that provided new housing for flood victims in the wake of two hurricanes, allowing them to continue living in the area and saving the town’s tax base. The development was led by Mountain Projects Community Action Agency of Waynesville in partnership with Haywood County and the Town of Clyde.
- Dogwood Manor, Oak Run and Sycamore Park are part of Fayetteville’s Carolina Commons, a large-scale revitalization of a downtown public housing complex. The 284 privately owned apartments for families and seniors were developed by United Developers of Fayetteville and The Communities Group of Maryland, with support from the City of Fayetteville, the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority and Cumberland County.
- Mingo Village Apartments is a 76-unit development that overcame several hurdles to bring much-needed housing for working families in Knightdale. It was developed by Evergreen Construction Company of Raleigh.
- Hospitality House in Boone is a unique homeless shelter that offers emergency, transitional and permanent housing serving seven rural mountain counties. It was developed and is operated by the Hospitality House of the Boone Area, Inc., with support from Watauga County.
- Serenity House is a domestic violence shelter in Moore County that was completely rebuilt within a year of being destroyed by a fire. It was developed and is managed by Friend to Friend of Carthage.
The winners were selected for affordability; design (attractiveness, energy-efficiency); contribution to the community; sustainability as affordable housing; and features such as services for residents and creative partnerships.
Barefoot Ridge, Clyde
Barefoot Ridge is a 43-home community in Clyde that offered people a way to rebuild out of the flood zone after two devastating hurricanes hit the region within a week in September 2004. The neighborhood helped flood victims regain some of the equity they had lost and – by enabling them to stay in Clyde – shored up the faltering tax base of the town, which has a population of just over 1,300.
Mountain Projects Community Action Agency of Waynesville spearheaded the development. They joined with USDA Rural Development, multiple agencies, state representatives and community leaders to create a vision for offering permanent housing options out of the flood zone. The town of Clyde and Haywood County obtained a state grant to purchase property, and Mountain Projects established a line of credit for property development. Reduced lot prices allowed flood victims to receive more than $20,000 in equity in their new homes.
Families chose their own lots, and those with limited incomes were offered financing help. Mountain Housing built 16 of the homes and brought in private developers, the Haywood County Habitat for Humanity and local volunteers to build the rest. All were built to Energy Star standards.
Nestled in the Western North Carolina mountains, the homes vary in style and design, ranging from 988 to 1,400 square feet. Sales prices ranged from $136,000 to $227,000. The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency provided gap financing to some buyers.
Barefoot Ridge was named in memory of Tom Barefoot, a USDA official who was instrumental in the town’s recovery efforts and who passed away during the subdivision’s development.
Hospitality House, Boone
Hospitality House of Boone provides emergency, transitional and permanent supportive housing under one roof, along with services that help residents transition back into the community. Hospitality House is the only shelter serving seven rural mountain counties (Ashe, Avery, Allegheny, Mitchell, Wilkes, Watauga and Yancey), where more than 1,200 people can be homeless on any given night.
A four-year undertaking, Hospitality House consolidated three old downtown facilities into one. Emergency shelter of up to 90 days is available for 26 individuals while transitional housing that includes a family center is offered for up to 24 months for 29 men, women and children. Nine rooms offer permanent housing for individuals and families that have a history of repeated homelessness and a disabling condition. The shelter also includes a playroom and playground for children, a computer lab and a “reflection” room.
Hospitality House’s Bread of Life community kitchen serves three meals a day and provides food boxes to those in need in the community. Hospitality House also offers mail service, showers and laundry facilities to community members who may not qualify or want to stay in a shelter.
Architectural elements such as stonework and timber framing and a well-designed courtyard make the facility an attractive addition to the community. Input from Appalachian State University interior design students resulted in rooms more reflective of typical living environments, such as efficiencies and suites, and warm, soothing colors throughout. The building incorporates green features, such as low flow toilets and water faucets, tankless water heaters, high-efficiency heat pumps and foam insulation.
Services address employment, education, permanent housing, mental health, substance abuse and medical needs. Residents must be substance-free, help with daily chores and attend daily meetings. The shelter’s wellness initiative includes three garden projects that provide vegetables and fruits for the community kitchen and a bike loan program.
The Housing Trust Fund, managed by the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, provided financing for Hospitality House, and Watauga County donated the land and secured and administered a CDBG grant for the shelter.
Additional funds came from Hospitality House’s Combined Campaign – Giving Hope a Hand.
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