The city of Charlotte has a funding gap to make up if it wants to keep its promises about how much affordable housing to build or maintain in the short term.
"A Charlotte City Council debate Monday over affordable housing revealed deep divisions, with some newly elected members saying the city isn't doing enough for its poorest residents," reports Steve Harrison.
Still, the debate produced preliminary approval for 11 new affordable housing projects, with funding potentially made available from the city's Housing Trust Fund.
The funding contingencies involve a mixture of Housing Trust Fund money and state tax credits, with the city shifting money to the trust fund to get closer to its goal of building or maintaining 5,000 units of affordable housing by the end of 2019. The city could also still request a $50 million bond to fund the trust fund.
The article includes details about the politics of affordable housing in the city, as well as where the 11 projects stand in the planning and approvals process.
Oscar Perry Abello offers additional coverage of Charlotte's affordable housing policies.
FULL STORY: Charlotte City Council backs new low-income housing, but vote reveals deep divide
For Many Charlotte Residents, Affordable Housing Still Isn’t Affordable
Over the last decade and a half, the city has put millions of dollars into affordable housing. But the help is not reaching Charlotte’s neediest residents.
Charlotte Approves Protections for Housing Voucher Recipients
The city became the first in North Carolina to enact fines for landlords who fail to rent to recipients of federal housing vouchers.
Charlotte To Consider Fines for Housing Voucher Discrimination
A proposed policy would fine landlords who refuse to rent to voucher recipients, calling it “source of income discrimination.”
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service