Gastonia to host open house for affordable housing units in Highland Community

Last year the city of Gastonia teamed up with the Belmont Community Development Corporation to build two new single-family affordable housing units. 

The outcome of the city’s partnership with Belmont CDC is two homes to be sold to residents who meet the program’s median income, are willing to attend housing counseling, and are preferably already Highland residents, Reginald Jones, executive director of Belmont CDC said last June.

Rather than renting out the homes, the plan is to sell them at an affordable price to two families in need.

On Tuesday, the city will host open houses for the two properties located at 307 and 309 Norment Ave. in Gastonia’s Highland Community.

The city began this project with a research study conducted by the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

The study included among other things, a community survey asking Gastonia residents what they needed regarding affordable housing, and later on, a public meeting at which residents were encouraged to voice concerns and ideas on the subject. 

Gastonia’s Director of Housing and Community Engagement Danette Dye said in June that the goal of the research was to, “implement the best and most effective plan to increase the supply of affordable housing and create opportunities for residents to obtain quality, affordable housing,”

The Gastonia Housing and Community Engagement Department is responsible for programs and services that help improve the livability of neighborhoods and public areas by focusing on housing programs, outdoor beautification, recycling, litter abatement, environmental education, and related community services, according to a news release from the city. 

According to the city, the final price of the homes has been set at $260,000 each.

"The developer, Belmont CDC, is working in conjunction with Prosperity Unlimited, a local organization that assists eligible buyers with building financial capacity to meet lending requirements. Through counseling & education prospective buyers may be eligible for down payment assistance that may reduce the overall amount of the first mortgage," they said.