WILMINGTON — Three city properties are set to be transferred to the Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity on Tuesday, totalling a $84,200 investment in affordable housing.
The vacant sites range from 1,600 to 2,700 square feet and are located on Wilmington’s growing Northside at 610 N. Eighth, 701 Red Cross and 708 Swann streets. The homes would add to the growing number of residences in the area, including over 30 Northside homes built by Habitat for Humanity over the last 20 years.
Once transferred, Habitat will then build single-family homes on each property to be sold to a family in need.
“A lot of the families are from that community and we’re just trying to provide equitable access so they can become a homeowner,” Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Lauren McKenzie said.
McKenzie said the three homes will continue to be offered as affordable housing to people who may not be able to buy other properties in the Wilmington housing market. She explained the nonprofit is making sure each family’s home payment does not comprise more than 30% of their income.
Families will have access to more than just an affordable home, too; Habitat employees will provide financial education and credit counseling.
“We want to continue to invest in this community,” McKenzie said.
To qualify for a home, each future homeowner must volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and first must help build for others in the community.. Thereafter, they get added to the queue to receive a home; McKenzie said there are currently 20 families in line.
The nonprofit has three homes under construction now with another scheduled for spring 2023. McKenzie said each home takes around four months to finish. Pending council approval, these three new homes will start going up in 2023 — and if not completed, will wrap up in 2024.
The Wilmington City Council designated each property as surplus in May of 2016. he 2,700-square-foot Swann Street home was previously dedicated to Habitat for Humanity in 2018; however, due to the need for off street parking and the increased demand for housing following Hurricane Florence, the property conveyance was never completed. It’s zoned central city residential, with a tax appraisal of $43,400.
The 701 Red Cross Street property, acquired by the city in 1993, is located a couple blocks away. This vacant land measures 2,150 square feet in size and is zoned for historic district mixed-use. The current tax appraisal shows a value of $30,300. This home would be within the National Register Historic District.
The 610 Eighth Street location is a 1,600-square-foot property, and also in the registered historic district. The city has owned the property since 1993 as well, and its current tax value is $10,500.
The land is zoned in the central city residential district, which the land development code designates for areas of high urban residential development and “encourage[s] the protection, rehabilitation and maintenance of the housing stock within the district.”
If council approves the land donation, the properties will need to remain affordable housing options, but McKenzie said the organization has never had a problem upholding that requirement.
This potential land donation is the Wilmington City Council’s second in just over a month. In September, the council voted unanimously to transfer a 1-acre parcel to Good Shepherd Center. The organization, which provides shelter to people experiencing homelessness, plans to repurpose the former fire station at 3939 Carolina Beach Road into 33 units of supportive housing.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article stated families were given homes by Habitat for Humanity; the nonprofit sells the homes to the families. The article has been updated to reflect the correct information. PCD regrets the error.
Reach journalist Brenna Flanagan at brenna@localdailymedia.com
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