The Asheville City Council is being asked to approve a rezoning that will pave the way to new affordable housing construction in the Emma neighborhood.

At a time when rising housing costs are forcing many working families out of Asheville, this proposal represents real progress. The development would create 89 permanently affordable homes, expanding housing options for residents who are increasingly priced out of the market.

Affordable housing developments like this are one of the most direct tools cities have to prevent displacement and support community stability. By guaranteeing long-term affordability and accepting housing vouchers, this project helps ensure that residents with lower incomes – including service workers, seniors, and families – can continue to live in Asheville rather than being pushed farther away from jobs and services.

The location also matters. The site is within the Emma Legacy Neighborhood, an area shaped by community organizing around housing and neighborhood change. Building long-term affordable housing in this area can help ensure that the people who have long called this neighborhood home are included in Asheville’s growth, rather than displaced by it.