Asheville council greenlights 77-unit, 100% affordable apartment complex on Sweeten Creek

Sarah Honosky, Asheville Citizen Times
·4 min read
A map included with an application on file with Asheville shows the site of Fairhaven Summit, an apartment complex planned on Sweeten Creek Road. Hendersonville Road can be seen to the west, and Mills Gap Road to the north of the site.
A map included with an application on file with Asheville shows the site of Fairhaven Summit, an apartment complex planned on Sweeten Creek Road. Hendersonville Road can be seen to the west, and Mills Gap Road to the north of the site.

ASHEVILLE - A 100% affordable apartment complex is coming to Sweeten Creek Road, bringing 77 units with rents tied to 30%-80% of the area median income.

At its June 28 meeting, Asheville City Council unanimously approved the new three-building, four-story apartment complex proposed for a 7.68-acre parcel in South Asheville.

Council member Sage Turner, who motioned for the project's approval, noted that affordable and stable housing is among one of council's key priorities.

"This is an 100% affordable housing project and we can't always pull those off," she said.

Plans were submitted to the city by The Commonwealth Companies, a Wisconsin-based developer targeting affordable housing. Commonwealth will be both the developer and long-term owner of the project.

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A site plan for the 100% affordable apartment complex coming to Sweeten Creek Road in South Asheville.
A site plan for the 100% affordable apartment complex coming to Sweeten Creek Road in South Asheville.

Dubbed Fairhaven Summit Apartments, the project that is slated for 3124 and 3130 Sweeten Creek Road clinched June 1 approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission and April 16 approval from the Technical Review Committee.

All of the proposed units will be deeded affordable to households at various incomes and accept housing choice vouchers for a minimum of 30 years. With a mix of one- to three-bedroom units, affordability will range from 30% to 80% AMI.

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Plans show three apartment buildings and a clubhouse on the portion of the property closest to Sweeten Creek Road, with the remainder left wooded for a mulched walking trail.

The proposed development is clustered toward the front half of the site, leaving the rest mostly undisturbed, in part to retain the natural forestation and minimize the extent of the grading on the parcel, which is designated a "steep slope area."

A resident of the neighboring Kensington Place Apartments, Lynda Cozart, spoke during public comment to share concerns about the development.

She said though she understands a need for more affordable housing in the city, she was worried about the proposed 20-foot buffer between the properties and hoped it would retain natural vegetation so that wildlife — and the neighboring residents — would not be disturbed.

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Another Kensington resident and the manager of the complex, Bethany Lykins, said she did not want to see "concrete jungles" right beside their homes and also expressed concerns about traffic and noise.

Some of the residents have lived in the complex for 10 to 20 years, she said, and "want to make sure their home will be preserved."

A conditional zoning is required due to both the size of the project and the developer seeking several technical modifications.

Elevations show plans for Fairhaven Summit, an apartment complex planned for Sweeten Creek Road, just south of its intersection with Mills Gap Road, with apartments planned for residents making 30-80% of the area median income.
Elevations show plans for Fairhaven Summit, an apartment complex planned for Sweeten Creek Road, just south of its intersection with Mills Gap Road, with apartments planned for residents making 30-80% of the area median income.

The affordable housing offerings offset the requests for additional unit density and building height, according to a staff report that recommended approval of the project.

Asheville and Buncombe County have both identified affordable housing as a top priority, while the area has the highest cost of living in North Carolina, at 106% the national average, but with wages at 84% the national average.

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The target income range for the complex is 58% AMI, and developers plan to use 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and a $400,000 loan from the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium.

In addition to the Regional Housing Consortium funding, Buncombe County is also investing $1 million in this project as a low interest loan, according to Buncombe County Commission Chair Brownie Newman.

Turner reiterated the various funding sources, and said it's efforts like these that make such projects possible.

"I'm saying this to share the lift that it takes to get an 100% affordable project off the ground," she said. "It makes some of these things, like 5-foot higher peaks, seem OK."

According to the city staff report, 20 units will be affordable to those earning at or below 30% area median income, eight units at 50% AMI, 23 at 60% AMI and 26 units at 80% AMI.

The city lists a salary of $42,100 as 80% AMI for a one-person household, $48,100 for a two-person household and $54,100 for a three-person household.

Qualifying salaries at 30% AMI, are $15,800 for one person, $18,050 for two and $21,960 for a three-person household.

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Rents tied to those levels, according to a March 22 presentation by developers, for a one-bedroom apartment will be $362-$1,065.

Two-bedroom units will range $432-$1,277 and three-bedrooms $497-$1,474.Twelve units are planned to be one-bedroom, 25 two-bedroom and 40 three-bedroom.

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. 

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville council approves Sweeten Creek affordable apartment complex