UDO Affordable Housing Incentives

Market rate developers interested in voluntarily including affordable housing can receive various bonuses in certain locations. Some of these bonuses include:

• Increased height

• Additional floors

• Reduced open space requirements

Developers can also pay a fee in lieu, provide off-site affordable units, donate land dedicated to affordable housing to obtain these bonuses. If providing affordable units off-site, the units must be within a one-mile walking distance of the subject site. Land donations must be an equal or higher value than the fee in lieu, must be within ½ mile walking distance of the subject site or other location deemed acceptable by the HNS Director, and approval from the HNS director is required.

Check out the Affordable Housing Bonus Matrix for eligibility requirements and additional details.
 
Many other bonuses are available for market rate developers in certain locations, including sites that have:

• EV-Charging – Places where electric cars can plug in to get more power, like gas stations but for electric cars.
• High-Performance Construction – Buildings designed to be extra strong, energy-efficient, and comfortable, using the best materials and technology.
• New Street Connection – A new road or path built to connect different areas, making it easier for people to travel.
• Future Transit Space – Setting aside space now for future buses, trains, or other public transportation so it's ready when needed.
• Multimodal Mitigation – Making sure people have lots of different ways to get around, like walking, biking, driving, or using public transit.
• Transportation Demand Management – Encouraging people to carpool, use buses, bike, or walk to reduce traffic and make travel easier for everyone.
• Electronic Micromobility Lockers – Secure places where people can charge and store small electric vehicles like e-bikes and e-scooters.

Visit the UDO Administration Manual(PDF, 1MB) for more details on these other bonus programs.

There may be applicable affordable housing incentives for developers already building affordable housing in eligible locations if they meet the following minimum requirements:

• The development must have a 30-year affordability period.
• A minimum of five units of affordable housing must be provided.
• The following percentage of the development must be available for either:
  • 15% at 60% Area Median Income (AMI); or
  • 30% at 80% AMI; or20% at 80% AMI in areas of high housing cost per the UDO Zoning Administration Manual.

If these requirements are met, the development may be eligible for the following based on its location:

1. Zoning Flexibility: Simpler Rules

   • In certain areas labeled N2-A, developers can follow the building rules of the slightly more lenient N2-B zones. Similarly, in N2-C or NC areas, they can choose to follow the rules of either N2-A or N2-B zones. This flexibility allows for more options in designing and constructing buildings.

2. Extra Building Opportunities

   • In certain zones, affordable housing developers may be allowed to build more than usually permitted, such as extra units or floors.

3. Street Improvement Exemptions

   • Developers might be excused from making certain street improvements that are typically required. However, they might still need to set aside land for future street expansions or public use.

4. Sidewalk Construction Reimbursement

   • If 20% of units are provided for 60% AMI or below for 15 years, the city offers reimbursement for sidewalk construction costs.

5. Green Area Credits

   • Projects can take advantage of Tier 1 Green Area Credits, as found in the UDO Administration Manual (Section 20.15(PDF, 1MB)). These cover green area, perimeter planting and internal planting requirements.

6. Tree Flexibility

   • Developers might receive additional allowances when it comes to heritage tree removal and mitigation tree planting on their project site.

Check out the Affordable Housing Bonus Matrix(XLSX, 19KB) to learn more and see detailed eligibility requirements.

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[Applause]

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thank you

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[Music]

Kelsey Clark, Regional Manager, Bell Partners

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thank you so much for coming to our

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grand opening for the Oliver I Am Kelsey

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Clark for those who don't know me I'm

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the regional manager with Bell Partners

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and I oversee this gorgeous property and

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this is my wonderful team Mark Kalia and

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Josh who are doing this fabulous lease

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up and then we have our wonderful

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developer John Cohen with Jay Forrest

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who's here with us today who's making

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this whole thing possible

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[Applause]

Jonathan Cohen, Owner, J. Forrest Development

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thanks for coming it it is uh this was a

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big project and um it's nice to see it

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it'll come together yeah because when

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you're starting these things this is

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just woods and it's all kind of an

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imagination and then to see it drawn out

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by the design team and then come

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together and be constructed it's you

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know

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um well it feels good and it looks good

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uh so thank you thank you to the team

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everybody should sign a lease before

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they leave and

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and then we're all set yes and then I

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think we're nice here a council person

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who has been

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there's been a champion for us in the

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neighborhood

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[Music]

Reneé Perkins Johnson, District 4 Representative, Charlotte City Council

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hello everyone my name is Renee Perkins

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Johnson and I am the district four

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representative for city council and this

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complex happens to be in District Four I

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had the pleasure of working with John

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during construction I'm not working with

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him speaking with him but he was so

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passionate and so caring and that and

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that love and dedication

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it shows and the quality of the

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construction and of the complex I've I

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also had the pleasure of getting a tour

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of the model home but of an actual

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residence home Rocky so hi Rocky happy

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birthday

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fabulous you really see the quality and

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the dedication and the attention to

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detail

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um in in your units so thank you we need

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more

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complexes like this absolutely yes and

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and I'm just honored to be here today so

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thank you all and thank you thank you

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[Music]

Keith Stanley, CEO, University City Partners

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let's get the party started

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um the blue line extension right out the

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door there I'm so glad that the city

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fathers have invested

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billion dollars and bring in this blue

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line extension

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we see 280 million dollars worth of

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total Economic Development I think the

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investment being made in and around

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University City is so important we

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represent over 200 000 people who uh

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live in University City and 100 000

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people who work here the numbers are

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Dynamic this community is amazing and

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it's accessible in other words it's

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affordable thank you John for making

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some affordable units it's really crazy

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to see how expensive things is because

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they said average rent prices 80 of the

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population can't afford it in the city

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and to have affordable units being built

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to University City were the last places

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in Charlotte where people can come and

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have a living that said congratulations

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John and his team I'm looking forward to

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checking out more of the spaces thank

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you

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[Music]

Marc Kerr, Community Manager, Bell Partners

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all right what I would like to thank

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everyone for coming out here today I'm

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so glad you guys are here to support me

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and the team and especially John who's

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been fabulous to work for once again I

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just hope you guys will enjoy yourself

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have yourself some food so thank you

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guys please enjoy it and I want to thank

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you all for coming

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[Music]