Summary: This proposal would allow construction of an 89-unit apartment development providing 100% affordable housing with long-term affordability protections and voucher acceptance. The project would expand housing options for lower-income households and help address Asheville’s growing housing crisis. We think it represents a positive step toward preventing displacement and supporting inclusive growth.

The Facts: At their March 10th meeting, City Council will consider a rezoning request for 383 North Louisiana Avenue that would allow construction of an 89-unit apartment development providing 100% affordable housing. All units would be reserved for households earning 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) or below, with affordability guaranteed for at least 30 years. The development would also accept Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers.

City staff recommend approval of the rezoning, noting that the project supports several goals of the Living Asheville Comprehensive Plan, including expanding housing supply and increasing affordable and workforce housing. The site is located near transit routes and the Patton Avenue commercial corridor, giving residents access to jobs, grocery stores, and services.

You can read the staff report here and see the presentation slides here.

Our Assessment: At a time when rising housing costs are forcing many working families out of Asheville, this proposal represents real progress. The development would create 89 permanently affordable homes, expanding housing options for residents who are increasingly priced out of the market.

Affordable housing developments like this are one of the most direct tools cities have to prevent displacement and support community stability. By guaranteeing long-term affordability and accepting housing vouchers, this project helps ensure that residents with lower incomes – including service workers, seniors, and families – can continue to live in Asheville rather than being pushed farther away from jobs and services.

The location also matters. The site is within the Emma Legacy Neighborhood, an area shaped by community organizing around housing and neighborhood change. Building long-term affordable housing in this area can help ensure that the people who have long called this neighborhood home are included in Asheville’s growth, rather than displaced by it.

Things to do: We invite you to join us in calling on the Asheville City Council to approve ​​the rezoning for 383 North Louisiana Avenue and support the creation of 89 new affordable homes.

Email Template: You can send an email to the Asheville City Council by filling out the form below. Our email tool will send an individually addressed email to the recipients, and enable us to track how many emails were sent overall in the campaign. If you prefer to write your own email, you can copy and paste (and adapt) our template text – please cc: or bcc: info@gapavl.org on your individualized email, so we can better track how many emails were sent.

To: AshevilleNCCouncil@ashevillenc.gov

CC: or BCC: info@gapavl.org

Subject: Please support affordable housing in Emma

Dear Mayor and City Council Members,

I am writing to urge you to vote in favor of the rezoning request for 383 North Louisiana Avenue.

Asheville’s housing affordability crisis is pushing many working families out of the city. This proposal would help address this troubling trend by creating 89 permanently affordable homes, reserved for households earning 80% of Area Median Income or below, with a 30-year affordability commitment and acceptance of Housing Choice vouchers.

Affordable housing located near jobs, transit, and services is essential if Asheville is going to remain a city where people who work here can also afford to live here. Projects like this help ensure that the benefits of growth are shared more widely across our community.

Thank you for supporting housing solutions that address mounting anti-displacement pressures in our City, which are particularly pressing in legacy neighborhoods like Emma.

Sincerely,

[Name]

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