Henderson CBAH Site

Location: Henderson, Vance County

CDC Partner: Gateway CDC

Land Trust Partner: Black Family Land Trust

Site Description: This 11-acre site is a relatively flat site that was meant to be the second phase of an affordable housing project already developed by Gateway CDC. Although the site is heavily wooded, it is surrounding on all sides by existing developments. The site also contains an approximately one-acre wetland that was identified and delineated by the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

Challenges: Gateway CDC has long been trying to develop this site. A few years ago, Gateway hired a local engineering firm to design a plan for the property (below, left). The plan rendered by the engineers, however, placed four housing lots on the delineated wetland, which meant they could not be built. The lots surrounding the wetland would also face severe drainage issues that might cause problems for future residents.

Solution: Gateway CDC decided to turn to landscape architect, Randall Arendt, to produce an alternative site plan (below, right). Although Arendt was unable to fit the original number of lots on the property (he was already using the minimum lot size allowed by the city), his plan preserves the wetland as well as significantly more land surrounding it. This ensures that no housing will be placed near the wetland (which would trigger very cumbersome permitting issues) or in areas that are poorly drained (thereby causing future residents to deal with standing water in the yards).

Update: Funding from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund will be used to purchase the wetland on the property. This will permanently protect the wetland, and the monies generated will be used to help develop an outdoor education site that will be available to both neighborhood residents and a nearby elementary school.