On Thursday afternoon, Sept. 18, Shawna Tillery of the City of Greensboro laid out a detailed vision for a new affordable housing development that’s intended to reshape the long-vacant site of the old Guilford County Animal Shelter.

 Speaking to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners during a work session in the third-floor conference room of the county-owned Truist Bank building, Tillery described plans for a community on the site that combines housing with health care, financial counseling, job training and other services meant to help residents succeed in life.

Tillery, who manages the city’s projects and real estate division, said the concept isn’t just about adding housing units but is also about creating a sustainable neighborhood where people can live, work and connect with support systems.

Renderings from the City of Greensboro presented at the meeting displayed a mix of small homes, porches and sidewalks with a community center at the heart of the development.

That center would act as the hub for case management, medical and mental health care, nutrition and wellness programs and financial and job support.

Each housing unit would be roughly 700 square feet, designed as a permanent, private environment for individuals or families.

The design, Tillery explained, is largely conceptual at this stage.

 She emphasized that the actual finished product may look different, but the goal will remain – to build an inclusive and accessible community that empowers people.

The idea is rooted in “permanent supportive housing,” which combines long-term units with wraparound services for people and families who face the greatest barriers to stable housing.

She noted that the approach has been shown to improve lives, lower costs and strengthen communities.

Greensboro’s housing department data underscores the need for more low-cost housing. Many vouchers for housing assistance go unused – not because demand is lacking, but because there are too few units available. That shortage has left many people who qualify for help without a place to live.

At the September 18 work session, Tillery linked this local challenge to a broader national crisis.

She said that Greensboro and Guilford County must do their part to address it. The city has set a goal of adding 10,000 housing units by 2030, and the Wendover Avenue site is intended to be an important piece of that effort.

Infrastructure work is already being planned.

The property has sewer service but lacks public water. However, Greensboro’s water department has identified a straightforward way to connect to an existing line along Wendover Avenue, making the site viable for development.

A title search and environmental assessment have already been completed, with no major obstacles found beyond the need to close out an old well.

Survey work, zoning and design steps are underway in order to get the site ready for construction.

The site’s title itself will be transferred from Guilford County to Greensboro. The county has owned the land since the old shelter was demolished and county leaders have debated what to do with it for years.

Commissioners are ready to approve the handoff, which would finally clear the way for new use of the property.

What she asked commissioners to focus on, though, was the vision of what comes next. She described a neighborhood designed not just to house people, but to provide them with the tools they need to build better lives. The plan ties into Greensboro’s Strategic Supply Initiative – a program that aims to expand housing capacity across the city and the county through partnerships and targeted development. By establishing a clear concept now, Tillery said, the city hopes to bring advocates, funding and community partners on board to help.

The old shelter site has been empty for years, but city leaders argue that, instead of a vacant lot, it could become a “model” of how Greensboro addresses homelessness and housing shortages.

Tillery closed her presentation by stressing that the City of Greensboro is committed to making the project happen: The development, she said, will be affordable housing that’s connected to services and built to last.

After the presentation, Guilford County Commissioner Kay Cashion pointed out that High Point’s cooperation would be needed since they do own a small part of the property. That detail is being addressed.

Several commissioners wanted to know the ultimate price tag for the project, but city officials said they’re not far along enough in the process to know that.

Commissioner Pat Tillman asked several specific questions on the makeup of the units and how many would be family housing there would be.  He also asked the all-important question as to whether this will be all that is asked of the county.

 “Will they ask for money for us for this?” he asked.

City officials could not say.  (Read: Probably yes).

The cities of Greensboro and High Point already own a small part of what collectively comes to about seven acres in an spot where it is would be an attractive site for businesses given it is right next to the Bridford Parkway area mega retail area.

Greensboro officials said the project should help make the community healthier since these low-cost units would allow health services to be easily connected to the people in need living in this community.

The county commissioners voted to move forward with the process and instructed staff to draw up well-defined legal paperwork regarding the transfer of the land.

One expected stipulation is that, if the city ends up not using the site for the stated purpose after a certain period of time, ownership of the land would revert back to Guilford County government.

The property was conditionally zoned in 1985 for animal shelter use and it was used for that purpose until Guilford County built a new animal shelter on Guilford College Road several years ago.

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