100% affordable, 60-unit development proposed off East Asheville's Tunnel Road

Sarah Honosky, Asheville Citizen Times
·2 min read
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Mountain Housing Opportunities is moving forward with plans for a 60-unit, 100% affordable development off Tunnel Road in East Asheville, according to a February permit application.
Mountain Housing Opportunities is moving forward with plans for a 60-unit, 100% affordable development off Tunnel Road in East Asheville, according to a February permit application.

ASHEVILLE - Mountain Housing Opportunities is moving forward with plans for a 60-unit, 100% affordable development off Tunnel Road in East Asheville, according to a February permit application.

The 1.39-acre site is located at 16 Restaurant Court, just behind the Mountaineer Inn. Site plans show residential units located in a four-story, 58,000-square-foot building. Also proposed for the property is a detached office/leasing building of about 1,500 square feet, a playground, outdoor seating area and 30 parking spaces.

Geoffrey Barton, director of real estate development for Mountain Housing Opportunities, could not be reached for comment by press time.

Mountain Housing Opportunities is proposing a four-story, 60-unit residential development at 16 Restaurant Court.
Mountain Housing Opportunities is proposing a four-story, 60-unit residential development at 16 Restaurant Court.

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Dubbed "Star Point Apartments" in site plans, the building elevations from O'Brien Architecture detail four stories of fiber cement siding, an asphalt shingle roof and metal-railing balconies.

At its Aug. 16 meeting, Asheville City Council unanimously approved an $850,000 Housing Trust Fund ask from Mountain Housing Opportunities to purchase the property. Also at the meeting, Affordable Housing Officer Sasha Vrtunski presented some details of the project.

Mountain Housing Opportunities is an Asheville-based nonprofit community development corporation whose mission is to build and improve homes, with a focus on affordability.

Its 60 units are proposed for a range of affordability, from 30%-60% of the area median income, in a mix of one and two bedrooms. The project will also reserve 20% of its units, or 10-12 units, for young adults aging out of foster care, Vrtunski said in August.

According to the city's 2022 AMI appendix, 60% AMI for one person is $33,750 and $38,550 for two people.

For one person, 30% AMI falls at $16,900 and $19,300 for two people.

Mountain Housing Opportunities is proposing a four-story, 60-unit residential development at 16 Restaurant Court.
Mountain Housing Opportunities is proposing a four-story, 60-unit residential development at 16 Restaurant Court.

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According to county property records, Mountain Housing Opportunities purchased the property from Beaucatcher Vista LLC in October for $850,000.

Currently zoned office business, the property is assessed at $864,600.

Mountain Housing Opportunities is requesting a conditional zoning to rezone the property to residential expansion, and project will go to both Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council for final approval.

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. 

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 100% affordable apartment building proposed in East Asheville