YWCA Central Carolinas is excited to share the progress we’ve made on our project to develop 104 units of affordable housing on Park Road in a thriving Charlotte neighborhood. After announcing the ‘Grounds for Change’ affordable housing initiative at our annual We Believe fundraising event just one year ago, YWCA and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership have continued raising funds, awareness and setting construction plans and dates. Despite the challenges the community and numerous organizations have faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, YWCA and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership (CMHP) have stayed committed to this affordable housing initiative.
Since February 2020, YWCA has raised critical funds and awareness for this development while clearing a zoning hurdle. Charlotte City Council unanimously supported the rezoning proposal in July 2020, allowing YWCA to build the 104 housing units on our front lawn. The housing units will be designed specifically for households earning 30%-60% area median income – between $25,050 and $50,100 for a family of four. Construction for the units is now set to begin in late 2021. YWCA and CMHP aim to have these units move-in ready in the summer of 2023.
At YWCA, we believe people who work in Charlotte should be able to live in Charlotte. Caregivers for our elderly loved ones next door at Merrywood on Park, cashiers at the Harris Teeter at Park Road Shopping Center, teachers at KinderCare – some of our essential and frontline workers during this pandemic – can become neighbors in this affordable housing community. And, these new neighbors will boost the local economy as they patronize all of the amenities near YWCA.”
Kirsten Sikkelee, YWCA’s CEO
Most recently, YWCA is excited to share that they have received a $2.5 million donation to support the project from The Merancas Foundation. This incredible donation will support the joint venture of YWCA and CMHP in their partnership to build 104 units of affordable housing.
“The Merancas Foundation is pleased to continue our longstanding support of YWCA in its efforts to bring more affordable housing to the Charlotte community. The YWCA has generously decided to utilize their Park Road campus to bring over 100 new affordable homes to this City. We are happy to do our small part and look forward to seeing this project rise out of the ground soon.”
Andy Mermans, president and chairman of The Merancas Foundation
YWCA is grateful for the enthusiastic support we continue to receive throughout the community. Since our 2020 announcement, we have received financial support from:
- Anonymous Corporate Funder – $4 Million
- The Gambrell Foundation – $3 Million
- The Merancas Foundation – $2.5 Million
- The Leon Levine Foundation – $400,000
- O’H Rankin Foundation – $300,000
- David Belk Cannon Foundation – $50,000
- Additional support from individual donors
