‘Peace to this household’
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis recently blessed Guardian Angel Villa, the Diocese of Charlotte Housing Corp.’s largest-ever affordable housing project, as the first residents prepared to move into their new homes before Christmas.
The housing corporation, in partnership with Douglas Development and Schaumber Development, opened the 81-unit apartment building this week, offering below-market rent for seniors in a city with a severe lack of affordable housing.
A unique public-private-nonprofit partnership made the nearly $14 million project possible, with the housing corporation and its development partners securing federal tax credits and below-market loans from the state and the City of Charlotte.
The three-story Guardian Angel Villa is located on a 20-acre tract owned by the diocese on South Tryon Street in the Steele Creek area. It is the second housing facility on a campus with room for additional development and that already includes Mother Teresa Villa for adults with developmental disabilities.
On Dec. 9, Bishop Jugis sprinkled holy water and blessed the building, noting that the Christmas season is near and praying, “Peace to this household. Peace to all mankind. May we pray that the same heavenly blessing remain upon all who live at Guardian Angel Villa and upon this building.”
Guardian Angel Villa is the fourth affordable housing project for the housing corporation, founded in 2001 to create, maintain and promote housing for seniors, people with disabilities and other vulnerable people. Overall, the diocese has made available 153 affordable housing units in Charlotte and Salisbury, which are open for lease to people of all backgrounds.
Located on Guardian Angel Lane, the 102,000-square-foot building includes two elevators and is designed for seniors aged 55 and older, including some who have disabilities. It has 27 one-bedroom and 54 two-bedroom units. Nine apartments are accessible for people with hearing and mobility challenges.
Guardian Angel Villa features a chapel, outdoor spaces with rocking chairs and benches, a large front porch and balcony where residents can relax, enjoy the gardens and socialize.
Three-quarters of the units will lease to seniors earning 60 percent or below the area median income. One-quarter will lease to those making 30 percent or below area median income. Rents are projected to range from $342 to $866, depending on income, household size and apartment size.
During his blessing, Bishop Jugis was accompanied by Monsignor Patrick Winslow, president of the housing corporation and vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, and Adriel Cardenas, executive director of the housing corporation.
The bishop began his blessing of the facility from the chapel on the third floor, praying, “When Jesus Christ took flesh of the Blessed Virgin Mary, He made His home with us. Let us now pray that He will enter this residence, this home, and bless it with His presence.
“May He always be here among the residents; may He nurture their love for each other. May He share in their joys and comfort them in their sorrows. Inspired by the teachings of Jesus and His example, may they seek to make their new home a dwelling place of love diffusing far and wide the goodness of Christ.”
Funding for the project includes a $9.3 million allocation of federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits syndicated by RBC Community Investments and a $250,000 loan from North Carolina. Both funding sources will be administered by the N.C. Housing Finance Agency. Additional funding included a $1.75 million loan from the Charlotte Housing Trust Fund. The diocese provided the land at a substantially reduced cost.
The housing corporation co-owns and co-developed the building with Douglas and Schaumber development companies. Other project partners include Progress Design Studio, architect; Progress Carolina, general contractor; Wells Fargo, construction financing; Freddie Mac and Prudential, debt financing.
Excel Property Management manages Guardian Angel Villa and is accepting applicants.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Get information
Excel Property Management is accepting applications to Guardian Angel Villa. To apply, contact Excel Property Management at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 919-878-0522, ext. 265. All are welcome to apply.
Celebrations of the birth of Christ looked and felt different this year, but nonetheless Catholics across the Diocese of Charlotte marked the holy season with joy. Priests offered more Masses – indoors, outdoors and live online – to welcome as many worshipers as possible. Churches arranged reservations to ensure Mass attendance was capped at a safe number and people were spaced apart in the pews. People went out of their way to greet one another and offer prayers for others’ health and wellbeing.
In his Christmas message, Father Casey Coleman, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, echoed the sentiments of many this Christmas – and 2020 in general: “During this time of pandemic we are being reminded that the practice of our faith needs to be intentional and is not a matter of convenience. We need to maintain patience and charity in all circumstances toward one another, mutually building each other up through prayer and kindness within our parish family, the Catholic Church, amongst fellow Christians, and most especially with those who are not Christian. If we do, we will grow not just in number, but most importantly in these difficult times we will grow in Faith, Hope, and Love.”
Social media has become a valuable tool for maintaining human connectedness despite the isolation imposed by the pandemic, and many people went online to express concern for others in need and gratitude for their faith. Parishioner Mary De La Fuente wrote on St. Barnabas Church’s Facebook page, “Christmas can’t be canceled. Christmas can never be canceled – not by presidents or governors, prime ministers or politicians. Christmas, after all, is the celebration of the birth of Emmanuel, God joining himself to suffering humanity as a tiny and vulnerable baby 2,000 years ago in a humble manger in Bethlehem. And nothing can ever ‘cancel’ the hope and excitement that Christian believers experience every year as they celebrate the earthly arrival of Jesus. So while our Christmas celebrations this year might be different than in the past, they should be as joyful as ever, bringing us the true peace that can only come from the Christ Child.”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
