City Council clears way for housing

Project includes affordable duplexes, triplexes for rent

FAYETTEVILLE — An affordable housing project on the west side of town got the go-ahead Tuesday from the City Council.

The Cobblestone Farms community is planned to have 90 duplexes and triplexes for rent, along with about 10 market-rate units. Rent for the affordable units would range from $400 to $700 per month. Target annual household income range for tenants would be $29,000 to $68,000.

The council voted 7-0 to approve two requests related to the project. Council Member Matthew Petty was absent.

One request was to annex about 30 acres north of Wedington Drive, between 51st and 54th avenues. The other was to rezone the land to a mix of agricultural, residential and commercial uses.

New Heights Church owns the land and will donate it to use for the project. Some of the land lies in the city. About 20 acres will remain an agricultural use. Another 22 was rezoned for residential. An additional 2 acres facing Wedington Drive will be commercial.

The Endeavor Foundation is heading the project with a number of partners, such as Potter’s House, Hark at the Endeavor Foundation, the Joshua Center, 99 Balloons and others. Jim Petty with his company Strategic Realty will serve as developer. Anthology Real Estate is providing architecture work pro bono.

Jeff Webster, president and chief executive officer of the Endeavor Foundation, described the project as a call to action to help fill the need for affordable housing in the region.

“We think it’s really an example of the community coming together, both public and private sectors,” he said.

Ambra Bruce, a social worker, said her heart leapt with joy upon hearing about the project. She said she spends the majority of her time trying to find affordable housing for clients.

“I really think it will improve so many lives,” Bruce said.

A tax credit through the Arkansas Development Finance Authority will make it possible to keep rents low. The federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program has been in place for more than three decades to serve that purpose. Arkansas receives an allocation of about $6.5 million in tax credits per year.

Angela Belford, executive director of the Fayetteville Housing Authority, praised the collaboration effort and the partners involved.

“This is a group that is putting it together. We are delighted to support this project in any way possible,” Belford said.

Council Member Kyle Smith added the requests to the agenda and encouraged fellow members to approve them. He said the project checks the boxes for the city’s goals of affordable housing and diversity in housing types.

It also will preserve green space, provide a place to grow food and will create jobs, Smith said. The project’s location at the western city isn’t ideal, but the land was donated and can’t be moved, he said.

“This is an opportunity for a healthy, inclusive neighborhood for our growing city,” Smith said.

Stacy Ryburn can be reached by email at sryburn@nwadg.com or on Twitter @stacyryburn.