Ward and Smith is proud to celebrate two recent wins that reflect our commitment to helping clients strengthen North Carolina communities through strategic legal, legislative, and policy work.
Creating Affordable Housing in Wilmington
Attorneys Sam Franck and Whitney Campbell Christensen helped make the
largest affordable housing development in Wilmington’s
history a reality for our client, Kelley Development
Company. Sam secured the rezoning necessary to move the
project forward, while Whitney guided the developer in obtaining
crucial state funding through the NC Office of Recovery and
Resiliency (NCORR). We also advocated on our client's
behalf to facilitate public funding partnerships with the City of
Wilmington and New Hanover County to cover the budget gap created
by unanticipated increased construction and financing costs.
Funded through federal tax credits, state programs, and local support from New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington, the project celebrated its grand opening this week — creating housing for 280 families and marking a major step toward expanding access to affordable housing in midtown Wilmington.
Restoring $4 Million for Local Schools
Our Government Relations team
also played a key role in helping restore $4 million in
public school funding lost due to Hurricane Helene.
Through targeted lobbying efforts, Ward and Smith successfully
worked with legislators to amend Buncombe County's state sales
tax statute, allowing Asheville City Schools and
Buncombe County Schools to use sales tax revenue
to cover essential expenses and fill storm-related funding
gaps.
From supporting affordable housing to ensuring classrooms have the resources they need, we’re honored to help clients turn challenges into opportunities for their communities.