New Bern project could bring affordable housing to Greater Five Points area

A new plan put forward by the New Bern Redevelopment Commission could bring some much-needed affordable housing to the city’s Greater Five Points area.

During the New Bern Board of Aldermen’s Jan. 10 meeting, redevelopment commission members Beth Walker and Kip Peregoy presented the board with a plan to redevelop three adjoining vacant lots at the intersection of Jones St. and Walt Bellamy Dr. The plan calls for the construction of four housing units on the property — two one-bedroom single units and two duplex-style units with two-bedrooms. Each home would come with a living room, kitchen, dining room, bath, washer and dryer and covered porch.

The units would each have a separate parking space with additional on-street parking available.

The property is directly across the street from Leander Morgan Park approximately a quarter mile from New Bern Towers.

According to Peregoy, the redevelopment commission bought the property in July 2021 for $38,000. An existing structure that was on the property that dated back to the late 1800s has since been demolished.

Peregoy said he felt the development of affordable housing was the “highest and best use” for the property to meet the needs and the goals of the redevelopment commission.

“One of our major goals is to improve the quality and appearance of housing in the redevelopment area and that’s what we were trying to do,” Peregoy said. “The problem was we didn’t have funds to proceed with it at that time.”

Alderman Bobby Aster said he made a proposal last October that a portion of the money the city received as part of the federal American Rescue Plan package be used to help fund the project.

Aster said he had a conversation with City Manager Foster Hughes about building some homes with the ARP money and held a meeting with city staff and members of the redevelopment commission on Oct. 25.

After reviewing the Jones St. property, Aster said he believed it would be a good fit for the project. He described the planned units as small houses in the 700 square-ft. range.

“I think affordable housing is something that’s desperately needed,” Aster said. “This housing would be built, turned over to the redevelopment commission and they will collect the proceeds off of their rent from the house and use the money to redevelop and remodel additional homes in their district.”

Walker said that under the proposed plan, the property would remain under the ownership of the redevelopment commission, which would hire a management company to rent out the homes. She stressed that there are no finalized plans in place and that the initial work on the project has consisted of a feasibility study to see what type of housing would fit on the lots.

“We’ve been charged with improving the quality and quantity and appearance of housing stock within our redevelopment commission area,” she commented.

Aster said his vision for the project was to provide a “community feel”

“I wanted it to be like a community so neighbors can look out for neighbors, have some areas out front that had grass where we could put some picnic tables…I wanted a front porch so people could sit out in the evenings,” he explained.

Aster said plans for the project had been shared with a general contractor, who came back with a price tag of approximately $500,000.

“We have more than that in ARP money and that’s not counting if anything is donated, which we are working very hard to get stuff donated,” he said. “So the money is not going to be an issue, the money is there.”

Aster said there was no clear budget in place for the project but asked that the board provide around $75,000 in seed money to get it off the ground.

“When we have a better idea of what construction is going to cost I’ll come back to this board and ask for them to move some more money into the redevelopment commission’s account,” he said.

The board unanimously approved a motion to give staff direction to bring the budget amendment back before the board on a future agenda, but not before several aldermen offered some contentious comments regarding the progress of the redevelopment commission.

Alderwoman Hazel Royal said she was in favor of more affordable housing but felt the process had not been transparent enough.

“I would love to sit down before we move forward to make sure that I have clarity and understanding,” she commented. “It is absolutely a wonderful idea, it is absolutely necessary. The issue I take is full disclosure and understanding when citizens or board members ask questions we have the right to be heard…there are questions that I have that need to be answered.”

Alderman Johnnie Ray Kinsey asked what the redevelopment commission had accomplished since forming in 2018.

“It’s been four years and I don’t see anything that the redevelopment commission has done,” he commented. “I’m going to tell you one more time, four years. You want money? Show me what you’re going to do. Have you ever been to Duffyfield? You don’t live over there, you don’t know what it’s like.”

Alderwoman Barbara Best, who assisted in the formation of the redevelopment commission, took issue with Kinsey’s statement.

“For you to say that the redevelopment commission has done nothing in four years, that’s not correct. They had to come forth and set up rules and regulations and guidelines,” Best said. “They did not have a map drawn for them. Then they had to have funding, then we had to get property. It was a long process for them.”

Aster responded that, although he understood the concerns, he felt the project was worth pursuing.

“We’re ready to move and build some houses for people who are in desperate need of homes,” he said.

City Attorney Scott Davis said the ARP allocation would need to be voted on by the board and zoning and compliance issues would have to be resolved before the project could move forward.

Reporter Todd Wetherington can be reached by email at wwetherington@gannett.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: New Bern project seeks affordable housing for Greater Five Points area