By Collin Huguley – Staff Writer, Charlotte Business Journal
“A Charlotte developer is moving forward with a pair of workforce housing projects in Rock Hill after receiving key approvals.
Tartan Residential, a Charlotte-based developer of workforce and affordable housing, is planning two projects in Rock Hill: Johnston Farms Apartment Homes and Dunbar Place Apartment Homes. Rezoning requests for both projects were approved by Rock Hill City Council on Monday evening.
The larger of the two projects is Johnston Farms, which will be developed on a 24-acre site at the corner of South Anderson and Princeton roads. It will include five three-story buildings with 120 two- and three-bedroom units, according to city documents.
Dunbar Place will be developed on a 6.7-acre site on the corner of South Cherry Road and Constitution Boulevard. It will have commercial uses as well. On the housing side, the project will include one four-story building with 100 two-bedroom apartments, documents say.
The Dunbar Place site also includes an existing 16,000-square-foot building that was formerly used by American Legion. That building will be redeveloped, with about half of it being occupied by J.M. Cope Construction for its headquarters. The remainder of the building will be taken by a restaurant or retail use.
Tartan’s Jeff Carroll told the Charlotte Business Journal that he hopes to close on acquisition of the properties and begin construction on the projects in early 2021.
There are two possibilities for financing the projects, documents say. The projects will be funded by either tax-exempt bonds or opportunity zone financing.
If tax-exempt bonds are used, Tartan proposes rent and income restrictions between 30% and 80% of area median income, with a property-wide average of 60%. If opportunity zone financing is used, there will be rent and income restrictions between 50% and 100% of AMI, with an average of 80%.
Both housing projects will also include a workforce-training incentive program to help residents earn down payment assistance on future homes. Residents who complete fields of study at a local community college, technical school or university will qualify for assistance on a newly constructed home.
Documents say the program will provide a maximum of $10,000 per unit in assistance for up to 18 residents per year at Johnston Farms and a maximum of $10,000 per unit in assistance for up to 15 residents per year at Dunbar Place.”
– Charlotte Business Journal
https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2020/08/25/rock-hill-affordable-housing-tartan-residential.html?iana=hpmvp_clt_news_headline