On a busy stretch near University City, a north Charlotte church is trying something a little different with its land: trading lawn and parking for affordable townhomes.
University City United Methodist Church is proposing to convert about 4.94 acres of its roughly 14-acre campus into as many as 65 affordable townhomes, some designed as live-work units and all reserved for households earning no more than 80% of the area median income. The project, filed by True Homes, went before a public hearing Monday and drew cautious support from local leaders, even as city planners pointed to site and transportation issues that still need work. Neighbors who turned out for the required community meeting pressed on parking, traffic impacts and how the homes will be managed over the long haul.
How The Proposal Breaks Down
According to the city's City of Charlotte pre-hearing staff analysis, petition 2025-129 would rezone a 4.94-acre slice of the church property at 3835 West W.T. Harris Boulevard to N2-B(CD). That zoning would allow up to 65 attached townhomes, including possible live-work units, with a commitment that every unit be sold or leased to households at 80% AMI or below.
The petition also commits to at least 9,750 square feet of enhanced open space and several pedestrian upgrades, including a 12-foot multi-use path with an 8-foot planting strip along West Sugar Creek Road. The accompanying City of Charlotte site plan shows street-facing porches, internal greenways and buildings that could reach up to 48 feet in height under the proposed zoning.
City Hall Reaction, Neighbor Worries
At the public hearing, Councilman Malcolm Graham called the proposal “very good intent” and noted that it would not rely on city money. Church representatives told council that the campus already hosts roughly 1,000 people per week and that leaders want to extend their mission by offering housing to the surrounding community, per Queen City News.
Queen City News also reports that planning staff recommended approval even though the requested rezoning does not line up with the 2040 Policy Map. Staff indicated they expect outstanding transportation, site design and environmental issues to be worked out before any final sign-off. Residents at the community meeting zeroed in on parking pressure and traffic spillover, concerns that will feed into the staff review.
True Homes, Faith Partners And The Playbook
True Homes says its True Homes Foundation runs programs aimed at delivering affordable housing and creating vocational pathways into homebuilding, an approach the company says helps shape rezoning efforts like this one. Those details are laid out on the firm's True Homes Foundation page.
The company is not new to teaming up with churches. Reporting on another Charlotte church-led affordable housing effort describes a partnership model where congregations contribute land and developers commit to building at more attainable price points, per the Charlotte Post.
What Happens Next
The rezoning petition is still in motion. Planning staff have scheduled it for a public hearing and a follow-up zoning work session, with a final City Council vote yet to be set. If council signs off on the rezoning and the petitioner satisfies outstanding transportation, site and environmental requirements, True Homes would move into permitting and construction.
