On Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, the City's Economic and Community Development Department, in collaboration with the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority and other partners, held a community meeting regarding the Murchison Choice Neighborhood Initiative. Residents from Murchison Townhomes and the Murchison Road Community came together with Choice Neighborhood partners to receive information on the City's Choice Neighborhood Initiative Grant application.

The City of Fayetteville was previously a finalist for HUD funding but was not selected. The City requested a debrief from HUD after the funding was denied, and feedback highlighted the need for clearer roles and responsibilities and better cost management. They are applying this feedback and drafting a new grant proposal to be submitted by March 9,  with a reduced maximum of $26M.

With funding, the City plans to: 

• Build new apartments with high-quality amenities for a mix of incomes. 
• Incorporate wellness into housing communities. 

• Connect housing to neighborhood amenities. 
• Provide construction job opportunities for residents to ensure the economic impact benefits the entire community. 
• Create a new market by attracting private and public capital to build a variety of housing types and new retail. 
• Celebrate the neighborhood with investments in branded signs, community art and landscaping. 
• Provide multi-modal connections throughout the neighborhood 
• Create shared spaces for the community to gather. 

Residents will have the right to return to new housing units post-construction. The City reiterated that resident feedback and opinion will continue to be considered as the project progresses. To help residents during construction and redevelopment, the City plans to provide direct support services to every public housing household and provide mobility counseling and support during relocation.