City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a $2.6 million project to renovate three empty buildings in the Westmoreland neighborhood for use as affordable apartments.
The three buildings include the former Sledd Memorial Church at 608 Upper St., which most recently was used for the Head Start program, and two vacant duplexes on Floyd St. The church building will be converted into 11 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartment units. The duplexes will provide two, one-bedroom units and two, two-bedroom units. Thirteen of the units will serve veterans, people with disabilities, and households with very low income. Two units located in one of the Floyd Street duplexes will be rented at market rates.
Funding will come from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund and a Community Block Development Grant, as well as from low-interest loans and historic tax credit equity.
The vote came during a brief business meeting. City Council meets in business and work sessions on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The meetings are held in the Council Chambers located on the fourth floor of the Municipal Building on Patton Street.