The City of Sanford has been awarded more than $5.8 million in Community Development Block Grant funds by the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division to support Brick Capital Community Development Corporation’s neighborhood revitalization efforts.
These funds were awarded for two affordable housing initiatives. The first award is $4,947,521 for infrastructure improvements to expand the existing subdivision in the Jackson Heights area. The second is $950,000 for public utilities, curb and gutter, and sidewalks for the new Washington Avenue housing development.
To meet Sanford’s affordable housing needs, Brick Capital CDC is developing a single-family home subdivision in Jackson Heights, which is the area from 11th Street to 16th Street and includes parts of Charlotte Avenue. The next phase of the subdivision will add 20 new lots on what is currently vacant land.
The $4.9 million grant will be used to connect this subdivision with public infrastructure, add a side path, and match the pedestrian and bicycle facilities of the Charlotte Avenue corridor. The funding will also cover the cost of paving 17th Street and creating a wrap-around to 15th Street. Some existing homes in the area will also be connected to sanitary sewer.
The $950,000 granted for the Washington Avenue project will be used to construct the necessary infrastructure for the development of a new subdivision that will include 45 single-family lots and a 16-unit supportive housing multi-family apartment complex. Specifically, this funding will be used to construct and install streets, curb and gutter, sidewalks, water and sewer lines, and flood and drainage improvements.
The City of Sanford and Lee County Government have committed $850,000 each to the Washington Avenue project, with Brick Capital committing $450,000. The total investment, including the grant funding, is $3.1 million.
“Expanding affordable housing availability is a key priority for the Sanford City Council as our community continues to grow,” says Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon. “These projects are great examples of our partnerships with Brick Capital CDC, Lee County, and the North Carolina Department of Commerce to accomplish our goals. Working together, we will build on our track record of success to address housing needs and revitalize neighborhoods.”
“These projects will provide opportunities for accessible and affordable housing for families here in Lee County at a time when these opportunities often do not exist,” notes Kerry Bashaw, Executive Director for Brick Capital CDC. “We greatly appreciate the partnerships with the City of Sanford, Lee County, and the State of North Carolina, and their willingness to acknowledge and act on housing affordability for our community.”
For more information about the funding or these projects, contact Karen Kennedy, Community Development Manager for the City of Sanford, at 919-718-4657 x5391 or via email.