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INSIDE ▼ Club to discuss economic development PAGE 2A Friday, October 24, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 43

thecharlotteweekly.com

@southcltweekly

Charlotte launches accessory dwelling units program CHARLOTTE – The City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services Department is making it easier for property owners to add accessory dwelling units on their property with the new Queen City ADU Program.

An accessory dwelling unit is an additional residential unit that can be attached to an existing house (a converted basement or garage) or detached (a separate building in the backyard). These units function as complete homes independent from

the main house. Key features include a kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area and separate entrance. Diversified housing types are a key trend in affordable housing across the country, and ADUs are Charlotte’s newest way to put this approach into action. The city says ADUs are a practical way to add density while preserving the character of Charlotte neighborhoods and promoting environmental sustainability. This type of smaller unit housing fits the needs of many seniors,

retirees and single residents, as well as multigenerational families. ADUs are also a way for homeowners to build wealth via rental income while helping others find affordable housing. The Queen City ADU Program offers up to $80,000 in forgivable, interest-free financing to help homeowners build an ADU. Property owners (owner-occupants or non-occupants) within Charlotte city limits are eligible. ADUs must be self-contained, with their own kitchen and

bathroom, subordinate to the main home, and no more than 50% of the primary residence (with a cap of approximately 1,000 square feet for detached units). Only one ADU per lot is permissible. Owners must rent their ADUs to tenants earning no more than 80% AMI. Monthly rents may not exceed the published Fair Market Rent for a studio unit at 70% AMI, as defined in the City of Charlotte’s Zoning Administration Manual. The loan is forgiven at a rate of

$10,000 per year of affordability, up to eight years. Faster forgiveness is possible if units house voucher holders or residents referred by supportive service agencies or the city’s housing partners (up to $15,000 per year). Homeowners interested in ADUs can use the city’s free online MyADU Eligibility Tool to quickly see if their property is feasible for an ADU. Interested residents can apply at https://civiform.charlottenc.gov/ programs.

Duke PINK CUPCAKE WALK RAISES Energy helps $30K FOR GO JEN GO assemble storm kits

CHARLOTTE – More than 300 Duke Energy employees joined the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina and the American Red Cross of North Carolina on Oct. 15 to assemble 7,000 storm kits for families across 24 counties in the Carolinas.

Cancer survivors and thrivers as well as their supporters donned pink as they walked around Truist Field. The event raised money for Go Jen Go, a nonproﬁt based in south Charlotte that helps families facing the ﬁnancial burden of a breast cancer diagnosis.

CHARLOTTE – The fifth annual Pink Cupcake Walk & Breast Cancer Lap was a sweet success, raising more than $30,000 to support breast cancer patients through The Go Jen Go Foundation.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, more than 1,800 participants filled Truist Field with pink along with touches of green and teal to honor those living with metastatic breast cancer. Walkers completed one mile (four laps)

around the ballpark field, receiving a mini cupcake from local bakeries including Kupkake Kouture Charlotte, Dream Cupcakes, Sunshine’s Southern Kitchen and Dariela’s Sweet Taste. “We appreciate the generous support from The Pink Cupcake Walk and all those involved in this truly special event,” said Susan Evren, executive director of Go Jen Go. “We are honored to be part of this annual celebration that

The event earned a Guinness World Record for the most people assembling disaster preparedness kits simultaneously, according to Duke Energy. Louis Duke, director of the Duke Energy Foundation, said the kits contained shelf-stable food and emergency preparedness items. “By this weekend, these kits will be on the shelves in the [Second Harvest] Food Bank distribution sites and food pantry network across 24 counties,” Duke said. “This whole region is going to benefit from these boxes, and we know that they’re going to be in the hands of folks who need them very soon, ensuring that families are storm ready and that matters a lot to Duke Energy.”

Story continues, see GO JEN GO page 3A

Churches stepping up to address affordable housing CHARLOTTE – Enterprise Community Partners and the City of Charlotte announced 12 faith-based organizations selected for Faith in Housing Charlotte. These organizations will receive training, technical assistance and funding to help transform underutilized land they own into affordable housing.

“Faith leaders are on the front lines of our community’s housing crisis. They see firsthand the families who need safe, stable, affordable homes,” said Dr. Christie Cade, vice president for the southeast market for Enterprise Community Partners. “We’re proud to bring Enterprise’s Faith-Based Development Initiative to Charlotte for the first time, and this inaugural cohort demonstrates both the scale of land owned by faith-based organizations and the power of their vision to transform it for community good.” The program is supported by $430,321 in funding from the City of Charlotte, and the inaugural cohort was selected through a competitive process, following several faith in Housing gatherings hosted by the city to address the region’s housing challenges. “Many of our faith communities want to use their land to meet housing needs, but

they need the right tools and support to move forward,” Council Member LaWana Mayfield, who leads the city’s Faith in Housing initiative. “This cohort gives them practical guidance and resources to take the next step, turning good ideas into real homes for Charlotte families. It’s one more way we’re working together as a city to address the affordable housing challenge and strengthen our neighborhoods.” The 12 faith- based organizations are: • Faith Memorial CDC • First United Methodist Church • Kingdom Harvest Bibleway Church • Kinship Plot, Inc • New Bethel Church of God in Christ • New Hope Baptist Church • Northside Church of Christ • St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church • St. Mark's United Methodist Church • Steele Creek Church of Charlotte • The Church of the Power of God/La Iglesia del Poder De Dios • The Park Ministries, Inc. Collectively, the cohort owns over 88 acres of land across Charlotte within Mecklenburg County, with individual proposed development sites ranging from 0.6 to 40 acres.

Many of the envisioned projects aim to serve populations facing the greatest need, including low-income families, seniors and people experiencing homelessness, with projects ranging from family-sized rental homes to senior housing to mixed-use developments with community amenities. By training faith-based organizations on the development process and providing funding to support feasibility analyses and other pre-development activities, the initiative helps cohort members come to an informed “go or no go” decision about pursuing development. Those who choose to move forward will benefit from technical assistance from Enterprise staff and development consultants, peer-to-peer learning and connections to industry professionals, including architects, attorneys, and developers. The city of Charlotte’s Faith in Housing initiative equips local, faith-based organizations with the tools, resources and partnerships necessary to bring affordable housing projects to life. Since launching in 2024, more than 300 faith leaders representing nearly 100 faith organizations have participated in a citywide summit, educational webinars and networking opportunities.

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Duke Energy worked to ensure families are prepared for storms by assembling disaster preparedness kits.

Photos courtesy of Duke Energy