ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A long-discussed affordable housing project in downtown Asheville took a step forward this week.
The Asheville City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a zoning change for properties at 50 and 52 Coxe Ave., clearing the way for a 203-unit development on county-owned land.
The 1.6-acre site, currently home to parking lots and a former county Election Services warehouse, would be transformed into a seven-story, mixed-use building under plans from Raleigh-based Harmony Housing Affordable Development in partnership with Buncombe County.
All 203 units are expected to be priced for households earning less than 80 percent of the area median income — about about $59,800-$74,800 depending on household size. Plans also include roughly 5,000 square feet of retail space, a two-story parking garage with 121 spaces and a pedestrian plaza.
Before construction can begin, the developer and Buncombe County still need to finalize a development agreement and complete permitting. If everything stays on schedule, groundbreaking could happen in early 2027, with completion projected as soon as 2029.
The Coxe Avenue project is part of a broader push by Buncombe County to turn underused public land into affordable housing. In 2023, county commissioners identified the Coxe Avenue site, along with properties on Valley Street and Erwin Hills Road, as key opportunities for development.