Murphy – A $750,000 grant awarded to the town will help fund a key element of affordable workforce housing within the city limits.
Murphy was one of 21 local governments to receive a Community Development Block Grant-Neighborhood Revitalization request from the N.C. Department of Commerce. The requests – totaling $14.9 million across the state – will provide housing and public improvements for low- and moderate-income state residents.
The money Murphy received will be devoted to the water and sewer system of the planned Valley River Apartments, a 56-unit apartment complex set to be constructed behind Walmart off U.S. 19/74.
“One hundred percent of that money pays for the water and sewer infrastructure going to the workforce housing site, including the lift station,” Town Manager Chad Simons said. “That will be the most important piece, because they have to pump it back toward the highway because of the elevation difference.”
The $9.5 million Valley River Apartments project could break ground in June 2022 and open by fall 2023.
One-, two-and three-bedroom apartments will be available to rent in the multi-story complex, which will include washer and dryer hookups in each unit as well as a community laundry room. One-bedroom apartments in the complex will be 851 square feet, two-bedroom units will be 1,102 square feet and three-bedroom homes will be 1,271 square feet. Multi-bedroom units will have two full bathrooms.
Single-bedroom apartment rents range between $500-$715 per month, depending on what percentage of the county median income the resident earns. Two-bedroom rents range between $600-$825, while three-bedroom rents range between $660-$950. Since there is a significant need for housing in Murphy, officials anticipate there will be a waiting list.
The exterior of the property will feature amenities such as a gazebo and walking trails.
“Because WNC (Western North Carolina Housing Partnership Inc.) doesn’t have to front that money (for water and sewer), they can put more into the units with amenities, street beautification and the plans are to turn that entryway into a town street,” Simons said.
Simons added that the goal is to name the street in honor of former mayor Rick Ramsey.
“Hopefully we can ... because he was instrumental in getting this,” Simons said.
Rents will be based on 50, 60 and 80 percent of median income for Cherokee County. Western N.C. Housing received federal tax credits for the project, and when such tax credits are used to build a property, affordability must be guaranteed for 30 years.
“It costs more now to buy or rent so it’s critical that we invest more in affordable housing,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a release. “These neighborhood revitalization grants will help us build stronger and more resilient communities across our state.”
The CDBG program is a U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development program administered in part by the Department of Commerce. CDBG funds are awarded to enhance the vitality of communities by providing adequate housing, suitable living environments, infrastructure development and expanding economic opportunities. The state must ensure that at least 70 percent of its CDBG grant funds are used for activities and projects that serve persons of low and moderate incomes.