October 15: What we’re reading this week
Some articles we found interesting this week:
This is an interesting podcast that explores the “urban doom loop” that could impact midsize cities and some creative ways to prevent it. Listen to it now.
This Wall Street Journal article focuses on the “Californization” of the Texas Housing Market. The author also mentions Raleigh in the article, including quotes from Carmen Cauthen, author of Historic Black Neighborhoods of Raleigh.
In light of recent announcements about ballooning costs of Raleigh’s Six Forks Road improvements and its planned civic campus, we found this article interesting. Silicon Valley Subway Costs Poised to Surge Past $12.2 Billion, via Bloomberg.
Preparing Underinvested Communities for New Funding. Read more from ShelterForce.
Gentrification and displacement are common themes that have arisen as Raleigh continues implementing the 2016 Wake Transit Plan, including the New Bern Avenue BRT and associated Transit Overlay District rezoning. This ShelterForce article from 2020 explores why low-income communities often oppose new development.
One of the benefits of adding a variety of mixed-income housing along high frequency bus routes and BRT lines is it reduces dependence on car ownership. Here is an interesting article exploring the cost of owning a car: How the Costs of Car Ownership Add Up, via The New York Times.
One Solution to the Housing Crisis: Shrink Roads. From FastCompany.
Striking the Right Balance to Attract Affordable Housing, via the Minneapolis Fed.
Given Raleigh’s increasing homeless population, this article seems relevant. Roanoke’s Homelessness Spike tied to Rising Rents, end of Pandemic Relief.
Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers are one of the primary tools available to house people making incomes at or below 50%AMI. Unfortunately, there are very long waiting lists for people trying to use vouchers because private landlords are reluctant to accept them. This ShelterForce article looks at what reforms would be necessary if Congress were to fully fund the voucher program.
Bonus Read: There continues to be talk around how community land trusts can be a key source of affordable housing and community stabilization. This literature review does an excellent job exploring how community land trusts can help improve the social fabric of communities.
From the Data Department: Wake County’s median real estate price dropped in September by $5,000 to $450,000, via Wake County Register of Deeds. Find the latest on this and more on our RaleighForward Data page.