WASHINGTON, DC—Today Congressman Melvin Watt (NC-12) applauded the opening of one of Charlotte’s newest affordable housing communities and urged the continuation of the HOPE VI federal housing program at the grand opening ceremony for the Montgomery Gardens Apartments in Charlotte. Congressman Watt was the keynote speaker at the event.
Congressman Watt said: “I applaud the Charlotte Housing Authority, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Crosland and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for working together to fund the building of the Montgomery Gardens Apartment, the newest HOPE VI development of affordable housing in my district. This successful partnership of private, public, local and federal efforts to provide more affordable housing for Charlotte’s families is proof that the HOPE VI federal housing program must be extended and fully funded.”
HOPE VI is a federal housing program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that demolishes blighted public housing to create affordable mixed income housing. The program is responsible for over $215 million in federal funds awarded to local housing authorities for nine housing revitalization projects in the 12th Congressional District. President Bush has proposed eliminating the HOPE VI program in each of his annual budgets since fiscal 2004 and the Republican Congress has approved $475 million in funding cuts to the program since 2002. In September, Congressman Watt helped the House pass legislation to extend HOPE VI through 2007.
Montgomery Gardens is a 76 unit apartment community to replace the Fairview Homes public housing development in the now thriving mixed-income neighborhood known as The Park at Oaklawn. The $8.3 million project was constructed using federal and state tax credits and with funds from public and private sources, including HUD’s HOPE VI, the City of Charlotte, Crosland and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.
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