April 13 Newsletter
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Update: Lawsuits Challenging Raleigh’s Missing Middle Housing Reforms
Given the recent news that the developer of the Hayes Barton townhome community received approval of an amended plan for 17 townhomes, we thought it was time to provide an update on all of the Missing Middle litigation. As readers may recall, this proposed project spawned the first lawsuit challenging Raleigh’s Missing Middle reforms.
These reforms (TC-5-20 “Missing and Middle 1.0”) and (TC-20-2021 “Missing Middle 2.0”), along with (TC-3-22) aim to increase housing supply by allowing townhomes, duplexes, and similar multi-unit dwellings in areas that historically permitted only single-family detached homes. Several other proposed developments have prompted challenges to specific project approvals, as well as possible challenges to the underlying Missing Middle reforms.
» Click here for further analysis from RaleighForward.
Articles of interest:
America’s Most Exclusive Suburbs are Finally Building More Housing, Bloomberg reports.
Syracuse is exploring how it might use the “mixed-income” housing model like that utilized in Montgomery County, Maryland to build more affordable housingwithout federal government subsidies. Massachusetts is trying a similar approach.
Why America Should Sprawl, from the New York Times.
Zoning Reforms Can Mean More Homes, Lower Costs for Arizona, according to Pew.
The Secret Formula For Faster Trains, from Bloomberg.
Lottery-Selected Democracy: Redesigning Governance from the Ground Up, from National Civic League.
Comparing Citizens’ Assemblies Across the United States, from New America.
Social Infrastructure, Community Organizations and Friendship Formation: A Scoping Review. Read it here.
Can Strong Social Infrastructure Cure the Loneliness Epidemic? Read more.
Community Engagement Trends for 2025 from Social Pinpoint.
From the Data Department:
The median price of real estate in Wake County rose $5,000 to $452,000. Click herefor details.
The apartments located at 1505 Hillsborough Street sold for $70,500,000 on March 19, 2025. It contains 150 units, so that puts the price at about $470,000 per unit.
Items of Interest in the Week Ahead:
Raleigh City Council meets on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Here are a few items of interest:
During Council’s 11:30 work session, staff will provide an update on the City’s affordable housing plan. Here is a link for more details.
The developer of Raleigh’s RUS Bus facility is seeking to change a zoning condition that currently requires the construction of 20 residential units reserved for people making 80% of Area Median Income. The developer now seeks to modify the zoning condition to give the developer the option to either reserve 10% of the total residential units built for people making 80% AMI or pay $40,000 per unit for 10% of the total residential units built. This change was likely prompted by changing economic circumstances since the developer was chosen as the lead developer for the RUS Bus project. For more details, click here.
Staff will update Council on the recent study examining the viability of using tolls to convert US Highway 1 into a controlled access highway between I-540 and the Town of Wake Forest. For more details, click here.
The City and County issues a notice of funding availability designed to build or preserve affordable rental housing. The City received 17 applications seeking $55 million. After reviewing all applications, staff recommends funding allocations to 6 proposed projects totaling $17,500,000. For more information, click here.
Council will continue the public hearing on the proposed rezoning of the property surrounding the Lenovo Arena. The rezoning involves over 80 acres of land surrounding the arena. The development will allow for up to 40-story buildings and a variety of land uses, including affordable housing. Click here for more information.
Other community meetings and items of interest:
On Tuesday, April 15 at 6:00 pm, there will be a presentation and community conversation called “Rooted and Growing: Neighborhood Change.” The program is at Watts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. This is an ongoing series the City is sponsoring to gather input for developing the City’s next Comprehensive Plan. For more details, click here.