Six years after philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott donated $10 million to a South Carolina charity; part of that money is now helping fund affordable housing in Columbia.
asserted
part → donate → Columbia
As part of the project, a former motel site is being redeveloped into 30 rental homes for families with different income levels.
asserted
site → redevelop → levels
The $12.8 million project, called Grand Village, is being developed by nonprofit Homeless No More, which began construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on October 13.
asserted
which → call → October
According to the organisation's official website, the site was once occupied by the Grand Motel, a property dating back to the 1950s at the corner of Two Notch Road and West Beltline Boulevard.
uncertain
site → accord → Road
Over the years, its condition had deteriorated.
asserted
condition → deteriorate → years
The new development will replace much of the old property, although two existing two-storey buildings will be renovated.
asserted
buildings → replace → property
The motel's historic sign will also be retained.
asserted
sign → retain → ?
For families looking for affordable accommodation, the development will offer one, two and three-bedroom rental homes.
asserted
development → look → homes
Some of these are intended for households with very low incomes, while others will be available to working residents, including teachers and firefighters.
asserted
others → intend → teachers
This comes as South Carolina faces a wider housing problem.
asserted
Carolina → come → problem
According to South Carolina Public Radio, Homeless No More President and CEO Lila Anna Sauls said nearly half of renters in the state spend more than 30% of their household income on housing.
uncertain
half → accord → housing
With accommodation becoming difficult to afford, the organisation hopes Grand Village will provide another option for families who need reasonably priced homes.
asserted
who → become → homes
How will MacKenzie Scott's donation be used?
asserted
donation → use → ?
In 2020, Scott gave $10 million to United Way of the Midlands.
asserted
Scott → give → Midlands
Grand Village is the first local project to receive funding from that contribution, according to the charity's president and CEO, Sara Fawcett.
uncertain
Village → receive → president
The $12.8 million budget is being supported by several organisations, including the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority, Richland County and the SC Community Loan Fund.
asserted
budget → support → Authority
Other partners include Dominion Energy, First Citizens Bank and the Central Carolina Community Foundation.
asserted
partners → include → Energy
The decision to retain and renovate some of the existing motel buildings also played a role in securing financial support.
asserted
decision → retain → support
Officials said the combination of new construction and renovation allowed the state housing authority to obtain $11 million from two funding programmes.
asserted
authority → say → programmes
How families will qualify for the affordable homes
According to Sauls, some units will serve households earning around 30% of the area's median income.
uncertain
units → qualify → income
Other units will be intended for those earning approximately 50%, 70% or 80%.
asserted
units → intend → %
This approach allows the development to accommodate families with different financial circumstances.
asserted
development → allow → circumstances
State Senator Tameika Isaac Devine raised the issue during the groundbreaking ceremony.
asserted
Devine → raise → ceremony
She said the state's growing population had increased the need to ensure that people could afford to live near their workplaces.
uncertain
people → say → workplaces
Devine also spoke about possible government action, including discussions around zoning rules, building regulations and ways to increase housing availability.
asserted
Devine → speak → availability
What will happen to the rest of the motel property?
asserted
What → happen → property
Grand Village will include facilities for the surrounding neighbourhood.
asserted
Village → include → neighbourhood
A new community centre will provide space for local events, after-school activities and mentoring programmes for children.
asserted
centre → provide → children
It will be named the James E Christopher Community Center in memory of Jim Christopher, a former Homeless No More board member who supported the development before he died in 2023.
asserted
he → name → 2023
The centre could be particularly useful for people living in the neighbouring Belvedere community.
uncertain
centre → live → community
Its community organisation currently holds meetings at a water treatment facility, according to its president, Diane Wiley.
uncertain
organisation → hold → president
Grand Village moves towards completion
Construction of the 30 homes is expected to take around 12 months.
asserted
Construction → move → months
Sauls said the community centre could take another four to six months to finish.
uncertain
centre → say → months
Grand Village is part of a longer effort by Homeless No More to help families find stable accommodation.
asserted
families → help → accommodation
The nonprofit already operates emergency and transitional housing services and began developing affordable homes for working families in 2015.
asserted
nonprofit → operate → 2015
It has since built dozens of housing units along the Two Notch Road corridor.
asserted
It → build → corridor
The organisation is also working on additional projects, including a former hotel property in Lexington County, Edgewood Village and Andrew's Village.
asserted
organisation → work → County
The Aporia
