When Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) purchased 27 acres of hillside in Hendersonville seven years ago, the Village at King Creek would have been hard to fathom. Consisting of 38 single family homes, 28 multi-family apartments, 32 units of senior housing, 10 apartments for the physically and mentally disabled, 4 transitional housing units for victims of domestic violence, a Head Start Center and the headquarters of two non-profit organizations, the Village is more than an affordable  housing development; it’s a community.

Patrick Kennedy, who took over as HAC’s Executive Director in 2005, has carried the project to completion. “The Village is the fulfillment of the vision of my predecessor, Ken Perkins, and represents the culmination of years of work for Housing Assistance,” Kennedy remarked. “It provides a unique option for

those who find it increasingly difficult to afford housing in Henderson County, primarily working class families, the elderly and individuals with disabilities.”

The diversity found within the Village is a testimony to its innovative layout and design. The single family homes and the multi-family units all blend seamlessly together, and not a single building is isolated.

The most remarkable aspect of the    development as a whole is its utilization of the steep terrain. The senior housing complex, appropriately named Hillside Commons, is built into a slope, creating multiple access levels and eliminating the need for stairs. Residents with cars can park directly in front of their units and those without can catch an Apple Country Transportation bus, which run throughout the  Village.

Furthermore, the Council on Aging of Henderson County is located in the Village, providing meals on wheels and other services to neighborhood residents and the community at large. The Hendersonville office of Western   Carolina Community Action (WCCA), another nonprofit in the Village, runs the Head Start Center in addition to providing financial training, employment support and other services to low-income residents.

Yet in light of their success, HAC refuses to rest satisfied. On a Saturday in May, HAC volunteers and neighborhood residents arrived in force to construct the newest addition to the Village, a public playground. This effort demonstrates the sense of community that exists both within the neighborhood and the entire HAC family. This is community economic development at its best.

The Village at King Creek, an affordable housing community built by HAC in Hendersonville,  is  a  sight  to  behold.

Right:  A WCCA Head Start Center sits in the heart of the neighborhood.

Bottom Left:  32 of the 38 single-family units were developed through Self-Help’s Owner-Built Housing program.

Bottom Right:  Hillside Commons, a 32-unit senior housing complex, has two entrance levels for increased accessibility.