The next phase in a major project to increase affordable housing in Winston-Salem will continue as planned. City Council approved additional funding this week for the Cleveland Avenue Homes redevelopment.

The project is part of the East/Northeast Winston-Salem Transformation Plan. That got a jumpstart after the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem won a $30-million federal grant to revitalize infrastructure in the Cleveland Avenue neighborhood and make other improvements in the surrounding community.

But inflation and the rising costs of materials and construction has forced the city to make a bigger financial commitment. Council recently approved $9 million to help fund the next phase of the project. 

Samuel Hunter, the Choice Neighborhood Initiative project manager with the city, says it’s an important project that will help improve the quality of life for residents in the community and boost economic development.

“Getting the housing in place will be the first domino that falls. Having some more appealing homes over there for people to come in, they want to live there and spend money in their community, so overall it’s the first domino in revitalization," says Hunter.

The project will consist of five phases and will result in more than 300 new mixed-income, affordable housing units.

The first phase is mostly grant funded and includes 81 apartments. Construction is expected to begin in the next few months.

Phase two is expected to begin late next year. Several residents at Cleveland Avenue Homes will be relocated before that happens and Hunter says those discussions are underway. 

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