Affordable Housing Subcommittee Meeting | March 31, 2026

Buncombe County Affordable Housing Subcommittee Meeting Recap – March 31, 2026

On March 31, 2026, the Buncombe County Affordable Housing Subcommittee convened to review applications for new affordable housing construction projects and discuss progress towards the county's broader affordable housing goals. The meeting, held without public comment, centered on a significant review of six applications seeking over $8.6 million in funding through the Affordable Housing Service Program (AHSP), aiming to create a total of 655 new affordable housing units across Buncombe County, including five within Asheville city limits and one in Candler.

A major focus of the meeting was the detailed examination of these AHSP applications. Several projects, including Mossy Rock Terrace (Candler), District East Commons (Asheville), Alta Valley Trace, Sweetened Grass Trace, and Tapped Mills (West Asheville) presented challenges. Staff highlighted that these projects would require adjustments to align with AHSP program requirements, such as exploring options like increasing tax credit pricing, incorporating non-profit partners, or deferring developer fees. The Nishan Hilliard project (Downtown Asheville), a unique development of efficiency apartments not seeking tax credits, presented a different funding hurdle. County staff provided recommendations for potential adjustments to each project, emphasizing the competitive nature of the AHSP program and the need for developers to maximize funding opportunities through tax credits and partnerships.

Beyond individual project reviews, the subcommittee received an update from Jonathan on the County's progress towards its ambitious affordable housing goals. These include creating 1850 affordable units by 2030, effectively leveraging Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), and prioritizing units for households earning at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). While progress has been encouraging, particularly in utilizing LIHTC and supporting lower-income households, a gap remains in achieving the overall unit creation target.

The subcommittee also considered and unanimously voted to recommend that the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approve a funding package of approximately $14.8 million for the Cox Avenue and Ferry Road projects, which are light tech applications. This recommendation, encompassing bond funds, prior-year program income, and general fund dollars, would enable the developers to submit their final applications in May. It’s important to note that this is a recommendation, and the full Board of Commissioners will ultimately make the final decision.

What's Next?

Several key action items emerged from the meeting: Developers are tasked with considering staff feedback and making necessary adjustments to their applications. County staff will follow up on outstanding questions regarding project plans and funding sources. Finally, a reminder was given about the upcoming JustCom funding opportunity, which remains open until April 15th. The next meeting of the Affordable Housing Subcommittee will be held in the Basement Board Room 35, providing an opportunity to monitor progress on these initiatives.

This meeting underscored Buncombe County’s commitment to addressing the critical need for affordable housing, while also highlighting the complexities and ongoing efforts required to achieve its ambitious goals. Residents can expect further discussion and decisions on these projects as they move forward through the County’s approval process.