Asheville Housing Authority to Double Unit Count at Pisgah View
The agency plans to demolish 250 units and build 500, while expanding income eligibility to families earning up to 80% of the area median income.
By Harper Collins ·
The Housing Authority of the City of Asheville will double the housing capacity at Pisgah View by demolishing 250 existing units and constructing 500 new ones. This expansion is part of a larger strategy to address the local housing shortage and increase affordable options for working families. The redevelopment will utilize the property's 17 acres and may include a supermarket, a community center, and a community garden.
Changes are also planned for Aston Gardens and Aston Tower. Aston Gardens will be demolished and rebuilt to include 100 mixed-income units, more than doubling its current capacity. Design plans for this project were recently shared with the public. Aston Tower will undergo extensive renovations, with the building gutted down to the studs for major upgrades.
A key shift in the agency's operations involves changing income eligibility. Currently, the Housing Authority primarily serves households earning at or below 30% of the area median income. The restructuring aims to offer housing to families earning between 40% and 80% of that benchmark. Ella Santos, the agency's president and CEO, noted that many single individuals with first jobs earn around $37,000 annually but do not currently qualify. Raising the income threshold allows the agency to provide space for these residents.
Leaders hope these changes will help reduce the agency's waiting list, which currently includes approximately 2,000 people. Santos clarified that transitioning to mixed-income housing does not automatically raise rent for eligible residents. Those with vouchers will continue to pay 30% of their income, with the remaining 70% subsidized.
In addition to the demolition and rebuild projects, the Housing Authority plans to renovate approximately 600 of its more than 1,500 existing units. A developer has already been secured for the first phase of the initiative, which covers these renovations. The agency is currently reviewing master plan proposals from developers for the larger redevelopment projects.
The agency stated that current residents displaced by construction will be provided with alternative housing during the process. This ensures that no resident is left without a home while the communities are overhauled.
