WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- A 184-unit affordable housing project will soon be built after receiving the green light from the Wilmington City Council Tuesday night.

The project, called Avenue Flats, will be built along South Kerr Avenue, just south of Randall Parkway.

The council unanimously approved the rezoning of more than 6 and a half acres of land for the project.

They also approved $3.15 million to be used from the city's general fund balance to provide gap financing for the project.

Council member Salette Andrews explained who would be able to live there.

"So these are units that are going to be available to people who make between 30% of the area median income and 80% of the area median income," Andrews said. "We have very few projects that have that kind of range of affordability so its very exciting and I'm looking forward to the completion."

The project received a lot of support from both council members and members of the public who spoke about it.

Logan Secord was one such resident who supported the project, but he also said this won't solve the issue with affordable housing Wilmington faces.

"I'm really excited," Secord said. "You know, a lot of the commissioners have highlighted this, that this is a unique type of development. Wilmington's dealing with an affordability crisis as most places are. And its, not an easy problem to solve. We're trying different ways. But the current programs are not making a dent in this and this is over 180 units that the average employee in Wilmington can afford."

Students at UNCW will not be eligible to live at Avenue Flats as it is intended for workforce housing.

The city council also approved a resolution allowing the city manager to apply for grants to help fund the South 17th Street Multi-Use Path Project.

That project would create a multi-use trail from Hospital Plaza Drive to Independence Boulevard.

It's not known when either project will start or be completed.