City Council denies rezoning for Pine Valley public housing

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington City Council voted against the proposed rezoning to build Section 8 senior living housing in the Pine Valley neighborhood. Though they voted 4-2, city council needed a supermajority of five votes to approve the rezoning because of protest petitions.

The Wilmington Housing Authority wanted to build public housing off John Barry Drive and 17th Street. Many members of the public voiced their opinions at the meeting Tuesday.

Folks lined the walls of the city council chambers, even spilling onto the balcony, and many of them waited hours to talk about the proposed public housing.

Those against it say that the public housing could bring safety issues as well as hurt the value of their homes. Those for the property say that simply is not true.

The Wilmington Housing Authority says this facility is greatly needed. CEO Michael Krause says through researching several other properties throughout the state, he believes the housing would have no negative effect to the property values in Pine Valley.

“Nearly 4,400 seniors already in that neighborhood, living there who are income eligible,” Krause said. “And when I say income eligible, i mean they would be eligible to live at this property at or between 30 and 60 percent or the area median income.”