On Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) Board is scheduled to vote on the proposed expansion of I-77 south of Uptown, marking a critical decision for the future of transportation and mobility in our community. It is likely the final opportunity to save the project. Between now and then, we have a narrow but important window to engage our elected officials and ensure they hear from business and community leaders who understand the importance of moving this project forward.
We need your help.
We’re asking you to engage in a variety of ways in the weeks ahead, including:
Here is a list of the upcoming meetings of note:
My Take: Please join us in the final push as we reach out to our elected officials to encourage them to move the project forward. It appeared as though progress was being made during the spring months. Then, within about a ten-day period, several Charlotte City Council Members moved to rescind support for the project and encouraged CRTPO Board Members to follow suit. Don’t forget, the earliest beginnings of this effort to expand the highway started nearly 20 years ago. If the project is taken off the table during the September meeting, we feel it will be MANY years before the region will be considered for funding for a similar project. Now is the time to collaborate to promote the prosperity our entire region needs. Also, if you are able to participate in this final push, please reach out to let me know ([email protected]).
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We are sharing a snippet of this article published in the Charlotte Observer August 17, 2026, but encourage you to read it in its entirety. Most don’t understand not only the scope of ADU’s but may be unaware of the why they are important or the programs developed to help residents with the process.
An ADU as defined by the City of Charlotte:
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is an additional residential unit that can either be attached to the existing house, like a converted basement or garage, or detached, such as a separate building in the backyard. ADUs go by many names across the country—granny flat, guest house, in-law suite, DADU (Detached ADU)—but the key features are the same: they include a kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area, and a separate entrance. In short, they’re a complete home that functions independently from the main house.
If a structure is used as a residence—even temporarily—and includes these living features, it’s considered an ADU.
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) must be a permanent, residential structure and cannot be created by converting manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers, campers, or any other type of motor vehicle. ADUs may only be added as accessory to a single-family home or to a duplex that is not located on a sublot. Only one ADU is allowed per lot, and it must remain under the same ownership as the main home. Property owners may choose to rent out their ADU if they wish.
Last September, the Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services Department established a forgivable loan program to help homeowners build these structures. Some owners are building pool buildings. Others are hoping to house adult children who cannot afford local housing. Whatever your level of understanding, REBIC feels this article provides an excellent overview.
Here are some benefits of an ADU:
Affordable Housing and Density
Expands inventory: Adds self-contained housing options without altering neighborhood character.
City incentives: Charlotte offers localized funding initiatives like forgivable loans up to $80,000 for qualifying homeowners who agree to rent units at affordable rates to lower-income tenants.
Streamlined rules: Permitted by right in residential districts under the UDO, making them far easier to build than in past years.
Financial and Personal Benefits
Rental income: Provides homeowners a steady revenue stream to offset mortgages or rising property taxes.
Multigenerational living: Acts as private, accessible “granny flats” or in-law suites for aging parents or adult children.
Property value: Maximizes underutilized backyard or garage space to increase total property equity.
Accessory dwelling units in Charlotte ADU construction has surged across the country in recent years, as municipalities face a housing shortage and increased housing prices. The units increase housing density and provide homeowners space for aging family members or rental opportunities. From 2009 to 2019, national first-time ADU listings averaged 8.6% in year-over-year growth, including for-sale and for-rent properties.
In 2023, Charlotte updated its zoning rules to make more lots eligible for these secondary structures. It is becoming more common for cities to prioritize ADUs and affordable housing in policy, said Eric Moore, a senior research associate at the Charlotte Urban Institute.
Gov. Josh Stein signed the Regulatory Reform Act of 2026 into law on Aug. 11. It includes a provision going into effect Jan. 15 that will require some cities to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit for every single-family detached home. The policy applies to non-coastal cities with over 50,000 residents, including Charlotte and Raleigh, unless the city’s regulations already meet the requirements.
Last September, Charlotte announced its pilot initiative: the Queen City ADU Program. Open to homeowners with eligible properties inside the city limits, the program promised up to $80,000 in forgivable, interest-free loans to help build an accessory dwelling unit. “This funding is designed to reduce financial barriers to development while expanding affordable housing options in Charlotte,” the city noted in a document about the program.
My Take: The expanded use of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) has been on our radar screen for some time now and we should all be thrilled to see our efforts to push it forward coming to fruition. To their credit, the City of Charlotte has made several changes to its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that will encourage the construction of ADUs. The North Carolina General Assembly also took steps to promote ADU’s by including increased flexibility language in Senate Bill 445 (Regulatory Reform, passed and signed by Governor Stein). These changes will result in increasing the supply of more attainable housing options, and will serve as a potential income stream for those seeking to save for educational costs, retirement, and more. Kudos all around!
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