Winston-Salem housing initiative in northeast neighborhood could be delayed into 2025

A housing project set to transform a northeastern Winston-Salem neighborhood could now face a delay into 2025 as officials say it could take up to a year to close a funding gap.

The Choice Neighborhood Initiative aims to revitalize the Cleveland Avenue neighborhood by creating more than 400 new, mixed-income housing units.

The first phase has already been completed. But at a recent Housing Authority of Winston-Salem meeting, Executive Director Kevin Cheshire said subsequent work could be delayed until next year due to a $2 million funding gap.

Cheshire told the housing board he's confident they'll be able to secure the needed funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"But I do not think we'll get there until 2025," he said.

In a recent interview, Cheshire said he doesn't anticipate the scope of the project changing.

"Now, if we're having the same conversation in another year then we maybe look at modifying the project, maybe not building back as many units," he says. "But that's something that we don't even want to open up until we know we absolutely have to and right now HUD's committed to working with us to ensure that we get the project built out as it was initially proposed."

The second phase of the project would include 72 units.