February 16th Newsletter
RaleighForward and WakeUp continue working with the National Civic League on a program exploring emerging trends in community engagement. The event will take place on March 20 at 5:30 pm at the Raleigh Housing Authority Community Room located at 971 Harp Street, Raleigh, NC, 27604.
If you are interested in sponsoring this event or future events, please reach out to eric@raleighforward.org or consider donating here.
Exciting news from our friends at CityBuilder! Their new grassroots pro-housing news and advocacy organization is launching soon, and we’re proud to share that RaleighForward’s founder serves on their board. We’ve also partnered with CityBuilder to republish and amplify our work—because stronger collaboration means a stronger movement. Get an exclusive first look here.
Articles of interest:
Sunday, February 16th
Hello,
RaleighForward and WakeUp continue working with the National Civic League on a program exploring emerging trends in community engagement. The event will take place on March 20 at 5:30 pm at the Raleigh Housing Authority Community Room located at 971 Harp Street, Raleigh, NC, 27604.
If you are interested in sponsoring this event or future events, please reach out to eric@raleighforward.org or consider donating here.
Exciting news from our friends at CityBuilder! Their new grassroots pro-housing news and advocacy organization is launching soon, and we’re proud to share that RaleighForward’s founder serves on their board. We’ve also partnered with CityBuilder to republish and amplify our work—because stronger collaboration means a stronger movement. Get an exclusive first look here.
Articles of interest:
How Zoning Ruined the Housing Market in Blue-State America, via the Wall Street Journal.
Axios Raleigh did an interesting article on how much income you need to live comfortably across North Carolina. Per the article, residents of Wake County need to make about $111,000. Here’s the article, citing the Budget & Tax Center.
We’re Headed to a Landlord-Friendly Era. Expect Higher Rents, via the Wall Street Journal.
Why American Mobility Ground to a Halt (hint: think housing supply), from Bloomberg.
New Housing Does not Have to be Affordable, Which is Good News, from the Cornerstone Substack.
How Housing and Community Development Advocates are Preparing for Trump, Shelterforce reports.
How Local Governments are Closing the Financial Gap for Affordable Housing Developments, from the UNC School of Government blog.
Why Americans are Moving in with Strangers Twice Their Age, from Vox.
Why are we Fighting (Over Housing Policy), via Reason.
How Single-Stair Apartments can improve Fire Safety, via CITYBUILDER.
Raleigh Country Club moves to block townhome project, from the Triangle Business Journal. Check out RaleighForward's page dedicated to the Missing Middle issue in Raleigh, including other litigation seeking to invalidate the Missing Middle ordinance here.
From the Data Department:
The NC Chamber issued a report related to housing in North Carolina. It confirms what we already knew: The State is not producing sufficient for-sale or rental units to meet the overwhelming demand across the State. The report concludes that the State will be over 764,000 units short of what’s needed by the end of 2029 without substantial reforms. For Wake County Alone, the Report estimates the combined for-sale and rental housing gap will exceed 110,000 units almost evenly split (see Addendum A-3 of the Report).
The North Carolina Budget and Tax Office released its 2025 Living Income Standard that explores how much income people in NC need to make to live comfortably. Here is a link to Wake County.
The State Budget Office released its Consensus General Revenue Fund Forecast. If you’re interested in the State’s anticipated revenue, especially given the need to help address the damage done by Helene, you should read this report. What is clear is that with so much funding being diverted to address Helene damage and future revenue remaining flat due to recent income tax cuts, there will be very little additional revenue for the balance of State operations.
Items of interest in the week ahead:
Raleigh City Council meets on Tuesday, February 17 and 18, 2025. Here are a few items of interest:
Council will hold a budget work session on Monday, February 17 at 4:00 pm. Staff will review the results of the City’s engagement effort related to budget priorities. Additionally, staff will preview the City’s Capital Improvement Plan and long-term financial plan. Click herefor the agenda item.
During the 11:30 am work session on February 18, staff will review the City’s current stormwater program and how related capital improvements are determined and financed. Click here for the agenda item.
During the regular meeting on February 18, Council will be asked by staff to authorize the City Manager to sign various permitting applications related to the relocation and construction of Fire Station #1 downtown. The new station will be located at the intersection of Salisbury Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Clickhere for the agenda materials.
The owners that formerly sought rezoning for an assemblage located adjacent to the proposed Smoky Hollow Park is asking Council to waive the 24-month waiting period to file a new rezoning. The prior rezoning case (Z-54-22) was denied by Council. The prior request sought to rezone from Industrial Mixed-Use 20-Stories to Downtown Mixed-Use 30-Stories Urban General. The rationale for seeking the waiver is due to a subsequent Comprehensive Plan Amendment and an offer to donate $1.2 million for affordable housing. This is a key location and the prior rezoning case generated enough neighborhood opposition to lead Council to defeat Z-54-22. Given the property location, it should develop with substantial residential density and commercial intensity appropriate to its location near transit and a proposed public park. Here is the link to the 24-month waiver request.
Council will be considering nominations for the Planning Commission, as well as other City Boards and Commissions. Click here for the agenda item. If you are interested in serving, reach out to your City Councilor and click here for more information. The City needs diverse, qualified voices serving on Raleigh’s Boards and Commissions that are willing and able to devote the required time and energy serving.
Other community meetings and items of interest:
The City continues to gather input for developing its next Comprehensive Plan. On February 19th, the City is presenting “A City in Motion: Traffic and Transportation Solutions.” If you are interested in learning more about this topic and providing input, click here.
The City’s Police Chief is retiring and the City is seeking resident input regarding the next Police Chief. Please take this survey before 2/22/25. The responses to this survey will be used in the February 24 meeting of Police Chief Candidate Finalists event set forth below.
Come meet the finalist candidates for Raleigh’s next Police Chief on Monday, February 24 at 6:00 pm at the Martin Marietta Performing Arts Center. For more information, click here.
The City is seeking input from citizens about redevelopment of the Former DMV Site. You can provide feedback at the survey link here.