Jane Harrison
Name: Jane Harrison
Which office are you seeking? City Council District D
Campaign website: janeforraleigh.com
Social media: Instagram, Facebook: @janefordistrictd
Twitter/X: @jane4raleigh
The income of many households in Raleigh is too high to qualify for income-restricted/subsidized housing, yet these residents are cost-burdened by climbing prices and rents across market-rate housing. Explain at least 2 policies you will seek to implement to address the rising costs of market-rate housing in Raleigh.
Down payment assistance and no interest loans for home repairs are two key policies to help folks attain and maintain home ownership. The City already has these policies in place. I will continue to advocate for their funding so that they benefit more Raleigh residents.
What is an issue in Raleigh that deserves critical attention, but isn't talked about much in the media or the community because it's not sensational or obviously apparent?
The heat! We had a record high temperature in July of 106 degrees which negatively impacts quality of life and health. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to a changing climate are essential for Raleigh’s sustainability. Our City-wide goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 (baseline year is 2007). As of 2022, we’ve experienced a 21% decrease in emissions per person since 2007. That’s great! I’d love to see that headline in the news. And these efforts have many environmental co-benefits. For example, planting and preserving trees store carbon AND provide shade and wildlife habitat and a cooler climate.
We have made significant strides in reducing emissions from our built environment but are still struggling in the transportation realm. Emissions come from three primary sources: Transportation (52%), Buildings & Energy (47%), and Waste (1%). We have made great improvements in buildings’ energy efficiency via lighting, HVAC systems and solar power. To lower transportation emissions, we need to create more opportunities for people to live in walkable places near transit, adding sidewalks, bike lanes, greenway trails and other means of making it easier to get around without a car. Vehicle miles traveled has increased which means more folks are living farther away from their work, school and daily needs. Housing affordability in the City will play a major role in whether we can meet our climate goals.
How will you balance the interests of individuals with those of the general public? Especially when voting on an issue that will negatively impact a small, but vocal group of residents, but which offers significant benefits to the general public?
In evaluating an issue like development proposals, I examine the City’s comprehensive plan and community area plans. I analyze staff reports on infrastructure concerns. I also assess opportunities for public benefits like affordable housing, greenway connections, and green stormwater management. And I consider perspectives from impacted neighbors. I strive to balance these various guiding documents and perspectives and adopt policy that has broad public benefits.
Should Council allow more Missing Middle housing (duplex, triplex, townhomes and small apartment buildings) to be built in the City? If yes, how would you accomplish this? If not, why not?
Yes. Missing middle housing includes duplex, triplex, townhomes, small apartments, and ADUs which are allowed by right in the City. In my term, City Council initiated a series of community engagement sessions to gather input about the impacts of missing middle and identify any potential policy improvements. Based on this feedback, Council requested the City’s planning staff provide recommendations to improve neighborhood transitions and protect more trees under missing middle rules. Missing middle policies have resulted in 2,004 units approved or permitted with 203 units of income restricted housing (60% AMI for 30 years). Any policy changes must be thoughtful about how they impact the production of missing middle housing types.
Should the City continue investing in Bus Rapid Transit? If so, what additional investments and/or land use regulatory changes should the City make to support the successful implementation of the Western and Southern corridors? If no, why?
Yes, bus rapid transit (BRT) is key to increasing accessibly to public transit. Dedicated lanes with frequent service will inspire more people to ditch their car, and provide a higher quality of service to those who already ride the bus. In my term, City Council applied a transit overlay district to the New Bern BRT corridor to incentivize transit friendly development, for example prohibiting drive thrus and improving crosswalks and pedestrian access. We also increased allowed heights in much of the corridor to provide sufficient density for BRT ridership. Some of these changes have already been made to the Western and Southern corridors. I would also like to assess the benefits of a tax district around the BRT corridors to capture proceeds from new investments for affordable housing.
What is your vision for how Raleigh’s built environment should evolve over the next 10 years?
I want growth centers like downtown and our transit corridors to densify, adding new housing and resulting in more walkable and transit-oriented communities. We also must continue to preserve sensitive natural areas like our creeks, floodplains and parks. A larger population will need more protected green spaces and investments in our tree canopy to maintain residents’ quality of life.
How would you change the way the City's Office of Community Engagement operates?
I value the work of the Office of Community Engagement, and want to see their services used by the City for all public engagement needs. They have a skillset that fosters community dialogue and provides needed input on key City issues.
Should the City preserve existing moderately priced housing (Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing) to help slow the rate of resident displacement? If yes, please provide 2-3 specific policies that you would ask your fellow Councilors to support. If no, what other policies do you support to address resident displacement?
Yes, the City should preserve NOAH to help renters stay in Raleigh. In my term, we provided gap financing to stabilize rents at the Grosvenor Gardens apartment complex on Hillsborough St in District D. I recommend we continue efforts like that in partnership with non-profit affordable housing developers. I also value affordable housing contributions made by private developers in rezoning cases. Developers are aware of the concern over loss of NOAH and willing to add income restricted units to their projects.