The need for affordable housing continues to be a concern, particularly near Greenville. Several organizations and developers are working to address these issues and create new housing opportunities.
Here’s a status update on 16 affordable housing projects in the Greenville area.
Gateway at the Green
39 Webb Road, Greenville
Gateway at the Green, a 72-unit affordable apartment community, is under construction. The units are reserved for families with incomes ranging from 20% to 60% of the area median income.
The development is being created in partnership with Greenville Housing Fund, Gateway Development and Creative Builders. Bryan Brown, GHF’s president and CEO, said Gateway at the Green is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The Riley at Overbrook
Lowndes Hill Road, Greenville
Eighty-eight affordable housing units are currently being constructed at The Riley at Overbrook. The units will be available for families with incomes ranging from 20% to 60% of the AMI.
The Greenville Housing Fund is working in collaboration with Schaumbur Development and Douglas Development to develop the $27 million project. Brown said he anticipates construction to be done by the end of 2024 or early 2025.
Southernside Senior
West Washington and South Hudson streets, Greenville
An affordable housing development for seniors is planned near Unity Park in downtown Greenville. Southernside Senior will consist of 147 total rental units for seniors earning 20% to 80% of the AMI. Phase 1 of the project consists of 93 units and Phase 2 consists of 54 units.
The Greenville Housing Fund is partnering with Harmony Housing Affordable Development to develop the project. The development is pending approval for the South Carolina Housing Authority’s 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. If the project is awarded the tax credit, Brown anticipates they will close on the financing by December and be under construction.
The Alliance
Laurens and Ackley roads, Greenville
The Alliance, a $29.5 million mixed-use development in Greenville, will include 100 affordable units for families earning 20% to 80% of the AMI. The project is being developed by NHE, a Greenville-based property-management company.
The project is pending approval for the South Carolina Housing Authority’s 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit with support from the Greenville Housing Fund. Brown anticipates them being able to close on the project’s financing at the beginning of 2025.
Southpointe Senior
Bell Road and Southpointe Drive, Greenville
Southpointe Senior is a a 90-unit affordable housing development off of Woodruff Road. The units will provide housing for seniors who are earning 20% to 80% of the AMI.
The development was awarded the South Carolina Housing Authority’s 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit in 2021. Once construction begins on the $23 million project, it is expected to take 18 months to complete.
Fairview Townhomes
East Fairview Avenue, Greer
Construction of the first phase of Fairview Townhomes in Greer finished in early August. Phase 1 consisted of three buildings with 14 units targeting families earning 80% of the AMI or below. The new affordable units are on the market.
The development’s second phase includes building 19 more townhomes for families earning 80% to 100% of the AMI. Joe Smith, executive director of the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority, said construction on phase 2 units won’t begin until the phase 1 units are sold.
Gridley Place
Gridley and Morris streets, Greenville
The Greenville County Redevelopment Authority plans to build a 14-unit affordable housing development in the Sans Souci neighborhood. Seven duplexes will be constructed on the corner of Gridley and Morris streets. The units would target families earning 80% to 100% of the AMI.
Greenville County Planning Commission approved the proposed subdivision in May. Smith said they hope to put out a bid for the project’s construction this fall.
Vista West III Apartments
100 Lily St. and 2001 W. Parker Road, Greenville
Affordable Upstate is restoring two existing affordable housing complexes in Greenville. The $1.5 million project is expected to take six months to complete. The restored 38 units will be available for families earning between 50% to 70% of the AMI.
Mario Brown, co-founder of Affordable Upstate, explained that since the project will be a total redevelopment, 95% of the existing residents were relocated to other affordable housing properties in August. The first stages of renovating the property will include demolition and redoing mechanical work.
Sturtevant Street Development
Sturtevant Street, Parker
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville is building nine single-family homes along Sturtevant Street. The homes target families earning between 30% to 80% of the AMI.
Six of the homes have been built; three are currently under construction and expected to be completed around June or July 2025.
Fitch Irick Corp. and Creative Builders donated 1.7 acres for the affordable housing development in 2021. LaTonya Phillips, Habitat’s incoming CEO and president, said the organization is hoping to purchase an additional lot to build two or three more affordable homes on the street.
Creekside Development
Ruddy Creek Circle, Greer
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville is collaborating with the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority to build four affordable, single-family homes in Greer. The homes will target families earning 30% to 80% of the AMI.
Habitat for Humanity’s Phillips said the average cost of a home is approximately $180,000 which includes the land and cost to build. Construction of the first home is scheduled to begin on Nov. 6. All four homes are planned to be built between 2024 and 2025.
Nicholtown Development
Nicholtown neighborhood, Greenville
Affordable, single-family homes continue to be built by Habitat for Humanity of Greenville in Nicholtown. The homes are for families earning between 30% to 80% of the AMI.
The organization has built 14 of the 29 homes planned for the neighborhood. The completed homes are currently occupied by residents. Monroe Free, Habitat’s CEO and president, said it won’t be until the spring of 2025 that construction begins on the other 15 homes in the neighborhood.
Baxter-Norris Villas
Sterling neighborhood, Greenville
Seven affordable townhomes are planned for construction by Habitat for Humanity of Greenville in the Sterling neighborhood. The housing will target families earning between 30% to 80% of the AMI.
Free said the project has been on the books for about a year and Habitat is still working on financing. Construction of the townhome development isn’t expected to begin for another year and a half.
Lakeview at Berea Development
Off White Horse Road, Berea
Homes of Hope is building 40 new affordable, single-family homes in Berea. The new subdivision is expected to cost $9.7 million to construct. The homes will be for families earning 30% to 120% of the AMI. Eighteen units will be available to rent while the remaining will be for sale.
Don Oglesby, president and CEO of Homes of Hope, said construction is underway and expected to take 12 months to complete.
Radford Development
Off Walker Springs Road, Taylors
A $4.2 million affordable housing subdivision is being built by Homes of Hope in Taylors off Walker Springs Road. The project will consist of 17 single-family homes for families earning between 30% to 120% of the AMI.
Twelve of the units will be available to rent while the remaining will be for sale. Construction is underway. It is estimated to take 12 months to complete.
Welcome Community Development
Welcome
Homes of Hope plans to build 13 affordable rental townhomes in Welcome, a neighborhood west of downtown Greenville. The units will be available for families earning between 30% to 120% of the AMI.
The $2.6 million development project is currently in the permitting stage. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2025. Oglesby said the project is expected to take 12 months to complete.
Gordon Street Project
100 and 101 Gordon St., Greenville
A 116-unit affordable housing complex is being constructed along Gordon Street in Greenville. The approximately 160,000 square foot structure will include one-, two-, and three-bedroom units priced for families earning 60% AMI.
M Peters Group, Greenberg Farrow and J Davis Construction are working together on the project. The development will be completed around spring 2025.
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Definitions
Area median income: AMI is the halfway point of an area’s income distribution. Greenville County’s 2023 AMI is $89,000, according to Affordable Upstate.
Affordable housing: Housing that does not cost more than one-third of the income of households earning less than 80% of the AMI.
Low-income: Households that earn below 60% of AMI.
Very low-income: Households that earn below 50% of AMI.
Source: Greenville Housing Fund
