Press Contact Only:
Margaret Matrone, NCHFA, 919-877-5606,
Five rental and homeownership developments and a residence for survivors of domestic violence were presented with Housing North Carolina Awards today (Oct. 15) for excellence in affordable housing. The N.C. Housing Finance Agency presented the 13th annual awards at a luncheon attended by 400 housing industry representatives at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Research Triangle Park. The winning developments are:
- Homeownership - Singletree Phase III in Greenville, developed by the City of Greenville and Raymond Carney Construction Company; and Olde Salisbury in Salisbury, developed by Pilot Homes of Salisbury
- Family apartments - Wind Ridge in Asheville, developed by Mountain Housing Opportunities, with support from the City of Asheville and Buncombe County; and Morgans Ridge in Wilson, developed by Pendergrant, LLC, of Raleigh
- Elderly apartments - Gresham Place in Wilmington, developed by DMWGP, LLC, of Wilmington
- Supportive housing - Project Homeward Bound in Rockingham, developed by Sandhills Community Action Program, Inc., of Carthage. The renovation of the large, 88-year-old home was managed by The Wooten Company of Raleigh
The Housing North Carolina Awards recognize affordable housing developments that can serve as models for other communities. The winners were judged for affordability, creative financing, cost-effective development, design, services for residents and other criteria.
Judges were: Donald Hinson, South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority; Gary Dimmick, HUD Regional Office, Greensboro; and Rob Schofield, North Carolina Justice and Community Development Center. The N.C. Housing Finance Agency is a self-supporting public agency. Since its creation in 1973, the agency has financed more than 126,000 affordable homes and apartments.
Editor: A description of each winning development and the contact person follows:
Singletree Phase III, Greenville
Singletree Phase III is a brick subdivision of 24 new homes developed by the City of Greenville and Raymond Carney Construction Company, Inc. as part of the city’s affordable housing initiative.
The three-bedroom, two-bath homes sold for $88,000 to $95,000. The all-brick homes feature cathedral ceilings, gas-log fireplaces, large rear decks and other amenities. The city provided the land and infrastructure, reducing costs to home buyers by $8,000 per home. It offered lower-income buyers down payment assistance and N.C. Housing Finance Agency loans. The builder donated labor for the decks. The city’s goal was to make the homes affordable for first-time homebuyers with incomes between $34,370 and $56,465 (70 to 115 percent of area median income).
Contact: Merrill Flood, City of Greenville, 252-329-4500; Raymond Carney, Raymond Carney Construction Company, Inc., 252-714-1271.
Olde Salisbury, Salisbury
Olde Salisbury is a neighborhood of neo-traditional single-family homes developed by Pilot Homes of Salisbury. It received the award in a new category that recognizes affordable subdivisions produced in the private market.
The first phase of the development consists of 26 homes that sell for $105,900 to $138,000. Designed by a local architect, Gary Stout, the streetscapes and mix of bungalow and craftsman-style homes are patterned after Salisbury’s historic Fulton Heights neighborhood. Buyers choose from 10 one- and two-bedroom floor plans—many with front porches, gas fireplaces, nine-foot ceilings and rear garages.
Small lots, vinyl siding, and energy-saving materials all reduce the homeowners’ maintenance costs.
Contact: Eric Wood, Pilot Homes, 704-855-2300.
Wind Ridge, Asheville
Wind Ridge is a community of 40 family apartments on 5.6 acres in west Asheville, near the Eliada Homes campus. It was developed by Mountain Housing Opportunities, a nonprofit housing provider, with support from the City of Asheville and Buncombe County.
The large two- and three-bedroom apartments rent for $385 and $445 per month and are reserved for families earning 50 percent of median income or less, or approximately $24,100 for a family of four. Most residents work in the local service industry as day care teachers, bank tellers, nursing assistants, laborers and small business operators.
Building on land that was once a farmer’s field, Mountain Housing has planted 1,000 trees and used a grant from CP&L to built a quarter-mile walking trail. The sponsor also contributed $16,000 to provide a large play structure for resident children. Wind Ridge has a separate community center with meeting space, a kitchen and an office. Fifteen community agencies will provide services and informational sessions for the residents.
The $3.9 million development was financed with federal tax credits and a loan at 2 percent interest from the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, zero-interest loans from the City of Asheville and Buncombe County, and a first mortgage from BB&T.
Contact: Scott Dedmon or Cindy Visnich Weeks, Mountain Housing Opportunities, 828-254-4030.
Morgans Ridge, Wilson
Morgans Ridge in Wilson offers 48 apartments for working families. It was developed by Pendergrant, LLC, of Raleigh, as part of the state’s rebuilding effort after Hurricane Floyd. The two- and three-bedroom apartments rent for $395 and $455 per month.
Because it was also developing other properties, Pendergrant, LLC, achieved cost economies, which it used to provide higher-quality materials, insulation, and energy-saving features than are customary. Apartments have washer-dryer hookups, dishwashers and patios.
The site is convenient to shopping, churches, schools, medical facilities and employment. Amenities include a 1,167 square-foot community room, with kitchen and support service room, a playground and volleyball court. An on-site service coordinator offers health and wellness courses, weekly teen meetings and social activities.
Morgans Ridge is financed with federal and state housing tax credits and a loan from the state’s Housing Trust Fund.
Contact: Frankie W. Pendergraph, Pendergrant, LLC, 919-755-0558.
Gresham Place, Wilmington
Gresham Place is a community of 51 apartments for residents aged 55 and older. It was developed by three Wilmington businessmen, Jon. L. Mason, Larry F. Dempsey, and William L. Wood.
The owners provide on-site management and amenities that include a 2.5-acre garden with raised beds for planting by residents, a walking trail, grape arbor and picnic area. The brick and plank two-story building has sunrooms and reading rooms on each floor.
UNC-Wilmington provides a visiting nurse-in-training. The on-site services coordinator provides activities such as dancing and exercise classes; free transportation to medical appointments, shopping and the senior center; and free tickets to performances at Wilmington’s Thalian Hall.
Contact: Jon Mason, DMWGP, LLC, 910-799-8488.
Project Homeward Bound, Rockingham
Project Homeward Bound provides transitional housing for families fleeing domestic violence in a restored 88-year-old home in Rockingham. The facility is owned and operated by the Sandhills Community Action Program, Inc., of Carthage. The Wooten Company of Raleigh managed the renovation of the home, which had been vacant for 10 years.
The property features wrap-around porches, a play-yard, spacious downstairs living areas and five large private bedrooms. A live-in counselor has a bedroom downstairs.
Residents can stay at Project Homeward Bound for up to two years, while they receive job training, counseling, medical services and child care, to prepare them to live independently.
Financing to buy and rehabilitate the home was provided through two loans from the N.C. Housing Finance Agency and a mortgage from BB&T. Operating costs are funded by HUD.
Contact: Nezzie Smith, Sandhills Community Action Program, 910-947-5675.
# # #
