August 4th Newsletter
RaleighForward needs your help building a sustainable platform. RaleighForward consistently delivers results by producing and delivering accurate, informative newsletters and a regularly updated website. RaleighForward also sponsors programs and social events that bring like-minded people together to help make Raleigh an even better place to live, work and play.
If you want to see RaleighForward’s work continue, please donate today. If you prefer to donate your time, email us at eric@raleighforward.org.
There’s lots of work to be done, particularly as the City Council election approaches, so please DONATE or reach out!
Eric Braun, Founder
Innovation on the Greenway at Lake Raleigh
RaleighForward recently learned of an innovative business operating along the Raleigh greenway called The Bike Library. It’s a grassroots bike shop housed in a repurposed shipping container at Lake Raleigh that offers bike rentals, repairs, and refreshments. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM to 6 PM, TBL has expanded since its January launch and May opening to include watersports rentals and weekly events.
Dedicated to sustainability and enhancing Raleigh's greenway network, The Bike Library serves as a community hub promoting sustainable transportation and transforming the greenways into vibrant local attractions.
It would be great to see the City allow this kind of “micro retail” along more greenway segments. Doing so would create more opportunities for small-scale retail, while also enhancing public safety by activating additional areas along Raleigh’s greenway system.
To learn more about The Bike Library, click here.
RaleighForward Solicits Input with its Inaugural City Council Candidate Questionnaire
To inform voters about Raleigh City Council and Mayoral candidates, RaleighForward asked its newsletter readers for help in developing a candidate questionnaire. The following questions were submitted to all Council and Mayoral candidates. We will publish all responses after Labor Day.
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.
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?
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?
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?
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?
What is your vision for how Raleigh’s built environment should evolve over the next 10 years?
How would you change the way the City's Office of Community Engagement operates?
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?
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you or your campaign?
Articles of interest:
This will be no surprise to those in the development business, but a recent academic study shines light on the significant impact extended entitlement processes and the associated uncertainty has on the housing market. The authors of the study suggest that reducing approval times and associated uncertainty by 25% can increase housing production somewhere between 11.9% and 33%. To read the full study, click here.
While Raleigh has made some progress over the last couple of years in producing new residential housing units (mostly rental), going forward, new housing permits for Raleigh are expected to dip by about 16%. According to this Axios story, that may mean the lull in rent increases could be coming to an end sooner rather than later. There is no sign that the extremely low inventory of “for sale” residential units is going to ease any time soon.
According to this Washington Post story, homelessness among those with full time employment is increasing due to rising interest rates and lack of affordable housing.
The City of Denver recently published findings from its Universal Basic Income program. The findings include a reduction in the number of nights participants spent unsheltered, increases in overall financial stability, as well as reduced public costs related to lower emergency room visits, hospital stays and jail time. To read more about the study, click here. In contrast to Denver’s positive outcomes, another recent study showed less positive results of guaranteed income programs on employment outcomes.
Dare and Hyde Counties are building affordable housing reserved for teachers in order to address critical housing shortages. Click here for more information.
The median price of real estate increased in June by $1,000 to $471,000 according to the Wake County Register of Deeds. Click here for details.
A recent study claims NC experienced one of the largest home ownership declines in the Country.
This link to “Fresh Ideas to Increase Housing” from the Federation of American Scientists has some great articles worth exploring.
This report shows that the Raleigh Metro is one of the top 4 places for recent graduates based on affordability, salaries and employment opportunities. The other three other metros: Baltimore, Austin and Atlanta.
This study reviewed hundreds of academic papers on rent control and concluded that while there are positive impacts on keeping rental rates lower, the negative impacts of such policies far outweigh those benefits.
Items of interest in the week ahead:
City Council remains on break until August 20, 2024. However, there are still programs and input opportunities available:
Register for Raleigh’s Affordable Housing Summit on August 17. Their keynote speaker is Gregg Colburn, author of Homelessness is a Housing Problem.
The City is hosting informational sessions on August 5 and 8th related to Text Change TC-7-22, which will legalize “co-living” arrangements under the City’s Unified Development. Co-living generally offers individuals who are unrelated a private living space within a home or apartment, along with access to a communal kitchen, bathrooms, and living areas. Co-living is a newer term for what used to be called a “boardinghouse.” For more information about the input opportunities, click here.
The City is updating its Parks and Greenway Plan and wants your input. This survey is open until August 16, so please take time to share your thoughts.
Other Items of Interest:
GoRaleigh will start fare collections on September 1, 2024. For more information, click here.