City residents joined Mayor Allen Joines, Mayor Pro Tempore Denise D. Adams, members of the City Council and Richard J. Monocchio, HUD’s principal deputy assistant secretary with the Office of Public and Indian Housing, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first phase of Brown School Lofts at Legacy Heights.
The first 81 apartments have been built with a $30 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods grant, and replace the former Cleveland Avenue Homes community. They offer residents a mix of affordable and market rate one- to four-bedroom townhouses. The project is built on the site of the Robert Washington Brown Elementary School. The community’s name honors Robert Washington Brown, who served as principal of the school from 1911 to 1941.
The Housing Authority of Winston-Salem bought the vacant school and land in 2014. The school burned in 2016 and the remains were demolished in 2017. McCormack Baron Salazar, which has extensive experience with the HUD Choice Neighborhoods program, developed the project.
Monocchio was in Winston-Salem to tour several affordable housing projects, including Brown School Lofts.
“Not only does Choice Neighborhoods bring much-needed resources to the table, but the planning and implementation process convenes a wide range of partners to invest in the community and support residents long term,” Monocchio said.
When all five phases of Legacy Heights are completed, there will be a total of 400 units, including Brown School Lofts.