Affordable homes coming to west Charlotte community

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Urban Trends Real Estate (Urban Trends) and the City of Charlotte held a groundbreaking ceremony for the development of Bishop Madison Homes, a high-quality, affordable single-family community located off Beatties Ford Road in the Wilson Heights neighborhood. Partners in attendance included LISC Charlotte, the Bishop Madison Homes project lender, and Urban Trends Collective, a nonprofit community development organization.  

Urban Trends, a private affordable housing developer, is spearheading Bishop Madison Homes to provide new, stable and obtainable housing solutions for Charlotte residents. Located just 10 minutes by car from Uptown Charlotte, the community is also within walking distance of public transportation via the Rosa Parks Transit Center, a stop on the planned extension of the Gold Line streetcar. Each newly constructed home will include three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and feature energy-efficient and sustainable materials for high-quality construction. 

“We believe in not just building superior homes, but in creating housing options that are attainable for everyone,” said Chris Ogunrinde, CEO of Urban Trends. “Wilson Heights is a flourishing neighborhood, and we look forward to the safety, comfort and equity that homeowners will experience through the acquisition of a house in Bishop Madison Homes.” 

To advance the development, the City of Charlotte provided $570,000 in funding through its Housing Trust Fund and LISC Charlotte provided a $2M construction loan revolver towards the vertical cost of the total development. The public-private partnership allows Bishop Madison Homes, valued at $378,000 to retail for $315,000. Down payment assistance, subsidies and other programs will reduce the purchase price to approximately $200,000 for qualified buyers. Eligible applicants must earn 80% or less of Area Media Income (AMI). Additional downpayment assistance is available for City of Charlotte employees and Charlotte-Mecklenburg School educators earning 80.01% or less of AMI. 

“This partnership reflects one of Charlotte’s core values that affordable homeownership should not be out of reach for those who serve our city every day—our teachers, first responders and public employees,” said Warren Wooten, assistant director of the City of Charlotte, Housing & Neighborhood Services. “Bishop Madison Homes is an investment in the stability, strength and future of Charlotte’s neighborhoods.” 

“We are committed to supporting the creation and preservation of affordable housing for all Charlotte residents,” said Ralphine Caldwell, executive director of LISC Charlotte. “This development is another contribution to bridging the gap in affordable housing, and we appreciate the innovation and collaboration from the City and private developers like Urban Trends Real Estate to make it a reality.” 

To further support stronger neighborhoods and community development, homeowners will have access to wraparound services including job training, home ownership workshops and financial education provided by Urban Trends Collective. 

Bishop Madison Homes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested homebuyers should begin an application by visiting bishopmadisonhomes.com.

The City of Charlotte uses multiple tools to help developers achieve housing affordability, learn more about the Housing Trust Fund and House Charlotte downpayment assistance by visiting https://www.charlottenc.gov/Streets-and-Neighborhoods/Housing/Resources-for-Developers-and-Contractors. 

About Urban Trends Real Estate 

Urban Trends Real Estate, Inc. is a privately-owned Charlotte-based company that focuses on solving the inequity of quality, affordable housing by acquiring and developing real estate that will stabilize and transform neighborhoods. Our firm’s leadership has over 75 years of experience of designing, developing, financing and asset managing commercial and residential real estate projects. Our vision is to balance good design, profitability with social entrepreneurship in our projects that produce exponential returns to the communities where we invest.  

About the City of Charlotte 

The City of Charlotte serves more than 900,000 residents, focusing on creating a community where everyone has access to a good-paying job, an affordable home, and a way to get between the two. The city is committed to maintaining a safe community and a well-managed government that prioritizes these essentials. Charlotte is ranked 8th on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Big Cities for 2025-2026. For the latest news and updates about city government, visit the citywide newsroom at charlottenc.gov/City-News, follow @CLTgov on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to the City Speaks newsletter. For live streaming and on demand access to city meetings and announcements, download the GOV Channel app from the Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku Channel Store.