Construction Law
Asheville’s Take on Affordable Housing
The city of Asheville has taken a renewed interest in providing residents with affordable housing. In addition to providing a local guide to affordable housing, Asheville is moving forward with redeveloping city-owned land for affordable housing. Redevelopment is already underway at Lee Walker Heights, Asheville’s oldest public housing development, while several other projects are set to move forward.
Below, an Asheville construction lawyer with Cotney Attorneys & Consultants discusses Asheville’s ambitious plans for tackling its severe shortage of affordable housing. These plans will have an incredible impact on local construction companies, as will the challenges they are sure to face on these projects.
The Affordable Housing Crisis
Asheville is a beautiful and thriving city with one major problem: it’s boxed in. With the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has no room to sprawl like other growing cities in the country. “We are out of proportion, so the earning potential in Asheville is not keeping up with the cost of housing and that is causing a lot of people to feel the pinch,” said Mayor Esther Manheimer.
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Putting a Plan in Place
In order to provide residents with affordable housing, Asheville plans to put a voter-approved $25 million bond towards transforming city-owned land into developments with affordable housing. The goal? 2,800 affordable units by 2021. As mentioned, redevelopment has already begun at Lee Walker Heights. Adjacent to Lee Walker Heights is 319 Biltmore, where Ashville is planning the development of affordable and mixed-income housing.
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As of the time of this writing, Asheville has released a request for proposals (RFP) for developers. The deadline for submissions is March 25, 2020, and fast approaching. We recommend speaking with an Asheville construction attorney to ensure that your submission is proper and in line with the provided instructions.
In the Years to Come
319 Biltmore is just one of several redevelopment projects planned by the city of Asheville. In the years to come, construction companies will have numerous opportunities to work on these vital developments. As with any project, contractors can expect to encounter challenges while working on redevelopments in Asheville. Disputes, delays, and injuries are just a few of the issues that you can expect to encounter. For legal assistance on public projects in North Carolina, consult an Asheville contractor attorney from Cotney Attorneys & Consultants.
If you would like to speak with an Asheville contractor lawyer, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.