WS Chronicle

An abandoned, foreclosed development that’s now a thriving community of affordable housing is looking to expand.

During the 2008 foreclosure crisis, an average of 120 homes a month were being foreclosed on in Forsyth County. Entire developments were being foreclosed on, too. This included a development of condos being built on the corner of Bethania Station Road and Shattalon Drive. They sat there empty with overgrown lawns. Some were looted for their appliances. Some had broken windows and were vandalized. Some had squatters.

“That’s what that neighborhood looked like back then, a little apocalyptic,” said Housing & Community Development Director Dan Kornelis, during a recent presentation to Forsyth County commissioners.

During the crisis, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gave states money to help stabilize neighborhoods. Forsyth County received a  $2,625,000 Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) grant from the N.C. Commerce Department’s Community Division. The county used the funds for financial assistance to help first time homeowners to buy foreclosed homes. It was also used it to acquire the Trent Hill and Smith Farm neighborhoods for Habitat for Humanity to build homes in.

Kornelis said the county was looking for other opportunities to use the funds when it was approached by the bank that foreclosed on the condo development. The county partnered with the City of Winston-Salem to help Miller Valentine and the North Carolina Housing Foundation acquire the incomplete development, which had 12 units with garages that were originally supposedand other financing.

More units were added to the 12-acre development, now known as The Enclave, for a total of 68 units available to renters who qualify.  The rent runs from about $300 a month to around $600 depending on income level and unit type. Kornelis said The Enclave has been a success that helped many low-income families find a housing.

“It helps people who live here in the county, live here in Winston-Salem, and have jobs that don’t pay enough to afford market-rate housing,” he said.

But that’s just Phase One. On Nov. 30, county commissioners plan to vote to accept the state’s remaining NSP funds, which should be about $2 million, to help finance the second phase of the program. The second phase will let the developers put 96 units in four apartment buildings on 16 acres of land adjacent to the Enclave’s current location. The units will be one-, two- and three-bedroom units with 24 units being reserved for those making 30 percent of area median income (AMI) and 72 units for those earning up to 60 percent AMI.

The city has already approved the zoning for the Enclave 2 and a loan of up to $500,000 to help the project secure other funding. Construction is expected to begin on the project next year.

The Enclave is located in the city’s North Ward, which is represented by City Council Member Denise “D.D.” Adams. Adams has been a strong advocate for the project and has been credited with the city’s involvement in it. 

“I saw an opportunity to provide affordable diversity housing,” said Adams.

Adams said The Enclave was her first project after she was elected. She told Miller Valentine at the time that the development needed to look nice and be a place she’d want to live.

Adams said they succeeded and created a well-maintained community that has a long waiting list. She said she was looking forward to The Enclave 2, which will help meet the growing need for affordable housing in the city.