New Hanover County commissioners are considering whether to approve more than $200,000 in funding for a 27-home Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity development.
Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity is looking to build the homes on more than 11 acres along Daniel Boone Trail just off Gordon Road in the Ogden area. The project requires water and sewer lines to be extended to the property as well as road improvements. The funding item for those lines is listed on the board of commissioners' consent agenda at its meeting Monday.
Blendin Meadows, the name of the proposed development, would be the second-largest neighborhood built by Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. The neighborhood would consist of three- to four-bedroom single family homes. The last neighborhood built by the organization was the Cottages of Cornerstone and Gideon Pointe, a development off Princess Place Drive completed in 2013, now home to 40 families.
The nonprofit organization, which aims to offer home ownership for people in need of affordable housing, began seeking funding opportunities and partnerships for the infrastructure improvements on Daniel Boone Trail after closing on the property April 12.
The cost of extending water and sewer service to the development is $272,463, and includes within the project, helping 14 existing homes in the neighborhood with the cost of connecting to the utilities, which is being imposed on the homeowners by the development. The city of Wilmington has already agreed to commit $60,000 of unallocated funds reserved for the project. If the funding request is approved, the county would contribute the remaining $212,463.
According to the commissioner’s agenda, staff “sees this as an opportunity for New Hanover County to partner with a local nonprofit organization to accomplish two strategic objectives from its Strategic Plan: Intelligent Growth and Economic Development and Productive Strategic Partnerships."
Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity is also petitioning the N.C. Department of Transportation to take over the road. Daniel Boone Trail is currently a dirt road without adequate turning space for emergency vehicles, county officials said in the agenda documents. Habitat would build a paved public road and sub road off Daniel Boone Trail to allow a connection for undeveloped land east of the project.
The project is expected to increase the county's tax base by $3 million by 2020, the agenda documents stated.
