Ground broken, blessed on Haywood Street for affordable housing complex

Ground broken, blessed on Haywood Street for affordable housing complex

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (HERE NEWS) — Soon, 41 families will have a home, as on Wednesday, Feb. 21, the Haywood Street Community Development and its community came together to celebrate ground being broken on its new three-story deeply affordable housing complex.

Community Support

“Today is when we make a huge shift from all the planning we’ve been doing, to actually getting started on construction,” said HSCD Co-Founder Laura Kirby. “Our hope with the apartments is to fill them with the spirit of community you’re seeing begin to gather here.” The congregation helps to give those in need a new lease on life.

A Path to Renewal

Leases like the path that Pamela Hamrick took. She went from homeless to board member with Haywood Street. “I came up here searching for help,” she said. “I’m in awe. I’m grateful of how many people have opened their hearts to this community and people in this situation.” People like Pamela were recognized, as well as those no longer living but who have made an impact.

Blessing of the Ground

The ground was blessed with a vigil created by those in attendance with different symbolic elements. “The keys represent people moving into their new homes,” Kirby said. “The stones represent a solid foundation.”

Community vs. Complex

The ceremony encapsulated the goal for Haywood, that it’s not a complex, it’s a community. “It’s not just a place where people live,” Kirby said. “It’s a place where people feel a part of something. They have connections with their neighbors.”

From Houseless to Helper

“When I first came to Haywood Street, I was houseless,” Hamrick said. “Now, I’m a part of the team to make this dream come true.” Construction will begin in three to four weeks, and the first occupants are expected to move into the units in about a year to a year-and-a-half.