Housing Trust Fund

Charlotte Voters Approve All Three City Bonds

Charlotte voters approved all three city bond questions on Nov. 3, letting the city borrow $425 million for streets, sidewalks and affordable housing, in the state's unofficial count.

Charlotte's Housing Bond Plan Now Says Where Homes Should Go

Before voters decide on a $125 million housing bond in November, city staff laid out how the money would be split, with new goals for homes near transit and in higher-opportunity neighborhoods. Council plans to adopt the plan in October.

Brendan Maginnis Offers to Serve as Interim Mayor

Maginnis is willing to commit to not running for mayor in 2027, with a qualifying clause; former Mayor Jennifer Roberts volunteered first.

30+ Speakers Ask Charlotte for More in $4.5 Billion Budget

Charlotte Council Takes On Budget, I-77 and Data Centers

Council convened in special session at 4 p.m. Monday to take up three of Charlotte's biggest active fights, a $4.5 billion budget hearing, a resolution on the I-77 South toll lanes, and the council's first formal floor discussion of data centers. Council Member Malcolm Graham, who chairs the budget committee, was asked twice on television Sunday whether he is a candidate to fill Mayor Vi Lyles's seat after she steps down June 30. Both times he answered with the public hearing.

Vi Lyles to Resign June 30; Race to Replace Her Has Started

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announced Thursday that she will resign on June 30, ending a tenure that began in 2017. Under North Carolina law, the City Council will appoint a Democrat to serve the remainder of her term, and the field is already organizing in public, with former Mayor Jennifer Roberts offering to fill the vacancy and Council Member Dante Anderson breaking for the outsider option. The vote that decides who fills the seat has not been scheduled.

Housing Bond Rental Category Runs $5.6M Over Its Goal

The committee took no action Monday, and housing director Rebecca Hefner said the shift would keep the bond's original goals achievable.

Charlotte Council Approves Both Faith in Housing Rezonings.

Council Member LaWana Mayfield, the architect of Charlotte's Faith in Housing initiative, voted against a Faith in Housing petition Monday night. Both rezonings passed. The second carried on the bare minimum: six yes votes, no mayor in the chair.

Mecklenburg International Migration Fell 41% in One Year

International migration to Mecklenburg County dropped 41 percent in a single year, from 22,545 new residents to approximately 13,000. The decline, presented to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission by Liz Morrell of the Charlotte Urban Institute, exposes a dependency: international migration ran at nearly nine times the domestic rate the year before the drop.

Charlotte Housing Trust Fund Picks Draw Council Questions

Charlotte City Council reviews $20.85 million in Housing Trust Fund staff recommendations, four rental projects, nine homeownership proposals, as council members push back on rezoning timing, geographic concentration, and deferred projects ahead of the April 27 vote.

Charlotte Council Passes First Post-Sales-Tax Transit Budget

The first CATS budget built on the new 1% sales tax totals $571.7 million. Council rejected criminalizing street vendors. Staff recommended thirteen of eighteen housing trust fund proposals. The Stellar Awards are coming, but the city's check is not.

Mecklenburg Votes to Buy Former Smith School for Housing

Mecklenburg County voted unanimously to spend $4.5 million on the former Smith School at 1600 Tyvola Road, a site CMS vacated five years ago over a cancer cluster investigation, for future housing. A second vote authorized $7.5 million for 39 acres to replace Berryhill K-8. The biggest debate of the night was over parking.

Charlotte Housing Trust Fund: $45M Asked, $28.7M to Give

Charlotte received 18 proposals requesting more than $45 million for its Housing Trust Fund, but only has $28.7 million to give out. The council votes April 27.

East Charlotte Housing Passes 6-4; Equity Champions Vote No

Charlotte City Council approved the Crosland Southeast affordable housing project 6-4 at the March 23 zoning meeting. The four no votes came from council members who champion equity, arguing East Charlotte has absorbed too much subsidized housing while waiting for grocery stores, retail, and private investment.

Charlotte's $50M Housing Bond Is a Non-Starter, Council Says

City staff proposed cutting Charlotte's affordable housing bond from $100 million to $50 million in the FY2027 budget. Council members from across the dais rejected the number, with Mayfield requesting modeling at $200M–$300M and Graham calling $50M a non-starter. The November 2026 bond referendum is the deadline.

Charlotte Mayor's Race at Tuesday Forum: Housing and Transit

At the Tuesday Forum, Vi Lyles and Rob Yates split on transit tax, converged on community policing, and faced Charlotte's hardest fact: thousands of CMS students are without stable housing.

Mecklenburg Ends 9-Year Brooklyn Village Deal With Peebles

Mecklenburg County ends a nine-year relationship with The Peebles Corporation after missed deadlines and stalled progress on the long-promised Brooklyn Village redevelopment.