A New Mix in Mixed-Income Housing
A New Approach for North Carolina
Charlotte’s evolving housing landscape is proving that housing affordability and the elevated living experiences do not have to exist separately. A recent example is Trella Uptown, a development supported through a partnership between INLIVIAN (aka Charlotte Housing Authority), Horizon Development Properties, and Urban Atlantic Development, and funded through the Charlotte Housing Trust Fund.
Located in Uptown Charlotte, Trella Uptown includes 353 residential units, with 106 designated as affordable housing. Of those affordable units, 69 are supported through project-based vouchers tied to households earning between 30 percent and 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).The affordable units are fully integrated throughout the building rather than separated into different floors, wings, or entrances. Residents at Trella Uptown share the same hallways, common areas, amenities, and apartment finishes regardless of income level, reflecting a notable shift from older affordable housing models that often physically separated residents by buildings or floors within the development. The project is one of the first developments in North Carolina to fully integrate affordable and market-rate luxury housing within the same community, creating a shared living experience.
City leaders and housing advocates have increasingly emphasized the importance of ensuring that Charlotte’s growth includes housing opportunities for a wider range of residents. Trella Uptown was developed through a public-private partnership model aimed at addressing housing needs within Charlotte’s urban core while combining both affordable and market-rate housing opportunities in the same community. The City of Charlotte contributed approximately $3.2 million from the Housing Trust Fund toward the project, while project-based vouchers help maintain long-term affordability for qualifying residents. These tools allow developments to remain financially viable while also expanding access to housing in high-demand areas of the city.
For Charlotte, the broader significance extends beyond a single development. Mixed-income housing is not a new concept, but the approach and funding models behind these projects continue to evolve. Developments like Trella Uptown reflect a growing effort to move away from separating affordable housing from market-rate communities and instead create integrated environments where residents share the same amenities, spaces, and access to opportunity.