Charlotte is a beautifully diverse city, full of different family structures, lifestyles, and needs. So why should our housing all look the same? Traditional single-family homes and massive apartment complexes are great, but they don’t work for everyone. To truly serve our community, we need a mix of options in between – like duplexes, quadplexes, cottage courts, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
The good news? The city is actively pushing for this diversity. As outlined in the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan and codified in the new UDO, the city has moved away from outdated zoning that restricts neighborhoods to just single-family homes. By opening up our neighborhoods to more “missing middle” housing types, we can create vibrant, accessible communities without having to concentrate all our density in the urban core.
Map of Mecklenburg County showing the percentage of housing units that are single-family detached
Here is a look at how Charlotte is tackling our housing needs from every angle:
Making It Easier to Build (ADUs and Pattern Books)
Because so much of Charlotte’s current housing stock is single-family, we have a massive opportunity to gently increase density right in our own backyards. Building an ADU (like a backyard cottage or garage apartment) adds housing options while preserving our beloved tree canopy and neighborhood charm.
The City of Charlotte now offers a MyADU Eligibility Tool to help residents see if their property qualifies. To expedite the approval process, the City provides residents with full, stamped, site-specific ADU design plans. (Have questions? You can reach out to MyADU@charlottenc.gov or schedule time with staff).
But it doesn’t stop at ADUs. The Urban Design Center is assisting the development of a Housing Pattern Book featuring pre-approved designs for duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes. This pattern book will be created by local architects, with designs vetted to meet the latest residential codes and blend seamlessly with Charlotte’s existing neighborhood character. For builders and homeowners, this may mean a streamlined permitting process and more affordable construction.
Thinking Outside the Box: Motels and Mills
Building new is just one piece of the puzzle. What if we reimagined the spaces we already have?
Over on the West Sugar Creek Road corridor, private developers recently transformed two former motels into much-needed attainable housing. To make these new homes feel special, developers worked with the community to add beautiful murals to the facades, celebrating the neighborhood’s history and bright future.
Additionally, we are seeing incredible adaptive reuse projects like the historic Johnston Mill factory. Located right on the LYNX Blue Line in NoDa, this old textile mill was given a second life as an 84-unit residential building (including 47 affordable units!). By keeping the exposed brick, massive windows, and even turning the old boiler room into an amenity space, this project proves we can adapt to modern needs without erasing Charlotte’s rich history.
Partnering with Communities of Faith
Another incredible opportunity lies in partnering with faith-based organizations. Many of these groups own underutilized land and share a deep mission to serve their neighbors. Through our Faith in Housing initiative, the city offers Technical Assistance Grants to help these organizations navigate the early stages of planning affordable housing.
A shining example is The Park Church, which recently utilized aid from the Faith Based Development Initiative to open Gilfield Park—an 80-unit affordable housing community for seniors that will eventually grow into a 300-unit master plan.
Preserving What We Already Have
While creating new housing is critical, the most affordable home is often the one that already exists. The City’s Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) rent subsidy program helps high-quality property owners keep their units affordable for households earning 30% to 60% of the Area Median Income. By doing this, we can halt the displacement of our low-to-moderate-income neighbors as property values rise.
What’s Next for Housing?
Charlotte is growing by the day. To make sure everyone has a place to call home, we have to keep creating, adapting, and preserving housing in uniquely Charlotte ways. The examples above are just the beginning.
What type of housing does Charlotte need most? Leave a reply to let us know what you want to see in our city.
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