September 13, 2026 Newsletter

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RaleighForward, CityBuilder and WakeUp Wake County are co-hosting YIMBYTOWN Raleigh 2026 from November 17-19. For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.

Two Bonds, One Ballot: What Raleigh’s Housing and Transportation Bonds Would Fund, and Why They Don’t Require a Tax Increase

In RaleighForward’s August 30 newsletter, we took a closer look at Raleigh’s new Strategic Plan and the priorities that will guide the City over the next several years. Among those priorities are two issues that impact Raleigh residents every day: housing and transportation. This November, voters will have a direct say in how Raleigh invests in both.

When Raleigh voters fill out their ballots this fall, they will find two City bond questions: a $101.5 million Affordable Housing Bond and a $101.5 million Transportation Bond. After a May 19 public hearing, City Council approved both bond orders for the November 3 election. Each question is decided separately.

Together, the bonds authorize $203 million in borrowing, and according to the City, that debt can be repaid without raising the property tax rate. Understanding why requires a look at the ballot itself, the projects, and a financing approach the City calls “steady state.”

RaleighForward recommends supporting these bonds. Read the full analysis.

Articles of Interest:

1. The latest update to the Wake Transit Plan includes $1 Billion for enhancements to the local transit system.

2. As the first phase of the City’s Civic Campus (new municipal building) nears completion, the City is planning to improve Nash Square with the goal of creating a more dynamic public square at the City’s “new front door.”

3. North Carolina is mentioned in this New York Times article as being the only state in the Nation that has made substantial progress in addressing housing affordability. The report referenced in this article can be found here.

4. According to this August report from the Pew Charitable Trust, mortgage underwriting standards have become so restrictive that they exclude financially ready homebuyers.

5. This is an interesting take on “urban design” that suggests cities should focus less on prescriptive mandates and more on creating the conditions that allow cities to evolve and adapt.

6. Mack Paul (a member of the RaleighForward Advisory Board) and his father, Allen Paul (who died in May), recently completed a book about the history and future of Research Triangle Park titled, “Miracle Road: The Story of the Research Triangle Park.” While the book goes on sale in October, here is an excerpt, along with an interview with Mack from Site Selection.

7. Pew Research report confirms that building homes near jobs, stores and transit creates efficiencies that save public dollars.

8. The 2026 State of the Nation’s Housing by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University explores the current state of the housing market, and explores what might move the housing market in coming years.

9. Can Mixed-Income Housing Advance Housing Supply, Affordability and Opportunity? This report from the Urban Institute explores the benefits and limitations of the emerging mixed-income housing trend.

10. Construction Robots are Taking on America’s Housing Shortage.

From the Data Department:

City Council’s next meeting is Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Here are a few items of interest:

1. During Council’s 11:30 work session, staff with Raleigh Water will provide an update regarding current drinking water resources, future needs, and potential new water resource options. Click here for the agenda materials. Our friends at CityBuilder recently addressed the water supply issue in the Triangle.

2. Council will conduct a public hearing on rezoning Z-22-26. This rezoning involves approximately .93 acres of property located at Bragg Street and East Street. The request will maintain the base R-10 zoning district and remove the NCOD. Proposed conditions mimic the NCOD and require a minimum front yard setback between eight and ten feet, a front entrance facing the primary street, limiting the view of upper-story entrances from the public right-of-way, and restricting parking to the side or rear of the building. Generally, the request will increase permitted building height (28.7 feet under the NCOD compared to 45 feet under R-10) and expand housing variety.

   Planning Commission voted 7-3 to recommend approval.

3. Council will conduct a public hearing on Z-17-26. The rezoning involves a 3.57 acre parcel located at 5507, 5511 Hillsborough Street & 0, 5508 Western Boulevard. This is a city-initiated general use case with no proposed zoning conditions.

   Current zoning: Industrial Mixed Use-3 Stories & Residential-10 both with Transit Overlay District & Special Residential Parking Overlay District (IX-3 w/TOD & SRPOD & R-10 w/TOD & SRPOD).

   Requested zoning: Residential Mixed Use-3 Stories with Transit Overlay District & Special Residential Parking Overlay District (RX-3 w/TOD & SRPOD). The stated purpose of the rezoning is to position the property so it can be developed with affordable housing.

   Planning Commission recommends approval of the request (7-0).

4. Council will conduct a public hearing on Text Change TC-4-26. The change will amend Raleigh’s UDO to conform to state enabling legislation related to minor and exempt subdivisions. If approved, it will eliminate some of the administrative burdens and associated costs for small-scale, residential infill development.

Other items of interest:

1. Take the Wake Transit Plan Survey by September 15! If you want to help influence the ongoing implementation of the Wake Transit Plan, please take this survey.

2. Register for the NC Affordable Housing Conference scheduled for October 22-23 at the Raleigh Convention Center.

3. Current City Manager’s report can be found here.