Your roundup from RaleighForward

Eleven articles we found interesting this week:

1. Given the growing concerns about displacement and gentrification due to Raleigh’s rapid growth, here is an interesting article from the UNC School of Government discussing the limited authority NC local governments have to address property tax relief. Read it here.

2. If you enjoy reading law review articles, here’s one discussing development agreements and conditional use zoning. Read it here.

3. Over the last several years, Raleigh has been exploring ways to leverage City-owned property to achieve important policy goals. At its last meeting, Council voted to negotiate with Loden Properties to redevelop property near Moore Square to include affordable housing and uses designed to revitalize Moore Square. Read it in the TBJ. For more detail about all the proposals the City received, click here.

4. The Raleigh Housing Authority announced a partnership to assist with its planned redevelopment of the Heritage Park Community located across Western Boulevard from Dix Park. The redevelopment will likely include mixed-use and mixed-income components, while substantially increasing the overall number of affordable housing units beyond the existing 118. Via the News & Observer.

5. Raleigh’s skyline is in for more changes in the coming years. Via WRAL.

6. One of the major barriers to low-income renters finding housing is the lack of landlords willing to accept Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly called Section 8 Vouchers). Cities like New York are seeking ways to incentivize landlords to accept vouchers. Via Bloomberg.

7. Wake County’s October median real estate price drops $5,000 to $460,000. Via Wake County.

8. This is an interesting article discussing displacement and “green gentrification.” Via Bloomberg.

9. Just because a community is intended to be affordable does not mean it can’t be really energy efficient. Via Bloomberg.

10. Can a “Mansion Tax” lead to more affordable housing? It’s debatable. Via Bloomberg.

11. Here’s a Shelterforce article that describes various forms of tenant protection tools around the country. As affordability continues to pressure lower-income households, these tools are likely to gain more attention (though most are not available to North Carolina cities). Via Shelterforce.

Here is what we will be watching this week:

The City is seeking input to help with planning the future Bus Rapid Transit. Please consider taking the following City surveys:

• Southern Station Area Planning Survey (CLICK HERE)

• Western Station Area Planning Survey (CLICK HERE)

City Council Meetings:

There are no City Council Committee meetings scheduled for the week starting November 21. The recently elected City Council will be sworn in on December 5 at 6:00 pm at Raleigh Union Station and it will hold its first meeting on December 6 where the Mayor will announce new Committee assignments.

Planning Commission Meetings:

Planning Commission meets on Tuesday November 22, 2022.  Here are the cases on the agenda that we found most interesting:

1. Rezoning Z-17-21 is an infill request to rezone approximately 17.96 acres to allow for added density within an existing senior living community.  The property is located in the Midtown area on Whitaker Mill Road and Bernard Street.  Here is a link to the full agenda package.

2. Z-68-22 is a rezoning request for .87 acres located at W Jones and N Boylan Ave.  The property is currently zoned Office Mixed-Use 3-stories with a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay. The applicant is seeking to upzone the property to Office Mixed-Use 7-stories with a Transit Overlay District.  More information on this request can be found here.

3. Z-65-22 is a request to rezone approximately 2 acres from Neighborhood Mixed-Use 7-stories with a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (“NCOD”) to Downtown Mixed-Use 20-stories (with removal of the NCOD). Part of the property is listed on the National Historic Register and designated as a Raleigh Historic Landmark. The property also includes the Char-Grill. Here is a link to the full agenda packet for the case.

Other meetings of note:

1. With the recent controversy surrounding the City’s Missing Middle regulatory reform efforts, staff has scheduled various meetings and workshops to explore and inform residents about how those reforms fit into the City’s overall effort to provide more housing choices and opportunities to all Raleigh residents.  If you are interested in learning more or participating, you can find additional information here.

2. Raleigh is making significant progress implementing Bus Rapid transit, which is a key component of the Wake Transit Plan approved by voters in 2016. There is a BRT “Ask a Planner” event scheduled for November 29 at the GoRaleigh Station located at 214 S. Blount Street from 9-11:00 am. For more information, click here.

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