TAYON WILLIAMS DANCY

TOWN COUNCIL

TERRY MAHAFFEY

TOWN COUNCIL

DYLAN HALE

ToWN COUNCIL

No response submitted

ARNO ZEGERMAN

ToWN COUNCIL

The median value of owner occupied housing according to the Census Bureau 2020 is $371,200 and the cost is $1,990. The median cost for rent is $1482. I remember moving to Apex, NC out of college as a young adult, with a first time job and salary, yet I was able to afford to rent in Apex and buy my first home a year later. If I were a new college graduate now, I likely would not be able to live here in Apex due to affordability. Even now as I prepare for an empty nest, downsizing, and hopefully retirement in the near future, finding something affordable may become a personal challenge to overcome. The main drivers of affordable housing are land cost, appreciation of homes in the area, and fixed and variable cost of construction by builders.

• Increase access for young adults, essential workers and low-to-middle-income earners to be able to enter the Apex housing market using diversity of housing options and working with nonprofits to develop grant programs and community land trusts.
• Support affordable housing developer incentive programs to offset the cost of land or other increasing expenses to expand the access to affordable housing.
  
• Support the Apex Housing Rehabilitation Program which keeps people in their homes including the development of housing rehabilitation grant programs for older homes or accessibility features for vulnerable communities.
  
• Support mixed-income development and incentives for the construction of apartments and houses that accommodate our need for access to more affordable housing.
  

At the core of racial equity in housing is socio-economic status. I will work across state and federal level government where applicable to increase affordable housing grant opportunities for people of color and those desiring to age in place but are faced with decisions to leave Apex or choose between health necessity and living expenses. I would partner with organizations that teach and provide knowledge to the town and its

communities on developing a plan for home ownership. I will support mixed-income development to allow for more access to affordable homes across racial lines.

To support the renter community, I would support zoning modifications where applicable that will allow apartments in more locations. I would look for ways to leverage a voucher system to increasing affordability for low-income renters. I would establish policies that will support long-term home ownership for established renters and financial management planning.

I will carefully review proposals brought forward in meetings by the planning committee or developers to ensure that Affordable homes are at the forefront of the plans and not an after thought. I will work to establish or support partnerships with community land trust for affordable units.

Apex did an Affordable Housing Study a new fews ago, which identified a deficient of around 1000 units. The main drivers of this are rising land and home prices, related to a strong demand for housing from growth in the area. Rising construction costs also fit into the mix.

We responded by adopting and launching our Affordable Housing plan, which attacked the issue in a multifaceted way including gap financing for projects, an affordable housing fund for home repairs, and aggressively seeking affordable units as part of rezoning applications. All together we have secured commitments for around 500 units to be produced. Unfortunately, as we move to update this study, I believe we’ll find the need for affordable units has grown at the same rate of even faster than our efforts to provide them. We must be more aggressive - in particular I’d like to see Apex shift to getting more directly involved and acquire property which can be granted or sold cheaply for affordable units.

Voluntary inclusionary zoning is a tool we have used to advance more equity in housing. Ultimately I’d like to see some authorization from the state so Apex could codify some of these practices. It’s important for transparency in housing policies and rental polices so any discriminatory practices can be identified and eliminated. We have explored directly expanding our NDO (non-discrimination ordinance) to apply to housing and rentals, but have learned we do not have the legal authorizations from the state needed to pass such a law as other cities and towns do. I would support seeking such a local bill to allow Apex to directly regulate housing in a way that we could provide support for renters and buyers. I want for Apex to use some of our resources to begin a program for down payment assistance as well. Once our stock of affordable units is produce and and on the ground, there should be regular audits by Apex to monitor how those units are allocated to ensure it’s done in an equitable way.

Our best tool here would be expanding our NDO to support renters in Apex, as mentioned above. The classical response here; rent control, is not likely to be enabled by our current state legislature, nor do I consider it likely Apex will have the authority to direct subsidize rents. We have a utility assistance program. Ultimately increasing the availability of rental units is our best tool to alter the market dynamics at play here. Apex may ultimately have to build (and own) our own affordable units if we’d like direct control. I believe we’d be able to offer reduced rents for town employees as a sort of employee benefit.

During our rezoning hearings where affordable units are negotiated, part of that negotiation is the period the affordability is ensured. For rental units this is a zoning condition, but for a home, this could be a deed restriction. Ultimately getting low income individuals into a home where they can build equity and climb the housing ladder is not a bad thing. We do want to ensure the program isn’t taken advantage of by having people “flip” the units to market rate.

Apex's challenges, like our neighboring municipalities, is dealing with a confluence of factors that have reduced affordable housing stock.

1) The popularity of Wake County as a migration destination has attracted many affluent buyers. The development community has responded to this by building (high-margin) single family residences.

2) The surge in demand and pricing of new single-family homes have significantly increased property values, thereby pricing a lot of people out of the market.

3) Easily developable land is becoming more scarce. Builders must make additional investments in land acquisition and site preparation, which in turn increases the price of their product.

4) Stronger Development Ordinances requiring additional preservation areas, stormwater controls, etc. exacerbate land scarcity and property price increases.

5) More affordable housing developments like high(er)-density condos and apartments have lagged behind and existing inventory is depleted.

6) Property taxes lag significantly behind on property value increase. Additionally, municipalities typically lower tax rates once property values are re-assessed to avoid steep tax increases. That said, Apex has had to implement modest property tax increases to ensure solvency for the Town and fund town operations. In the latest budget a tax increase of $0.03 was implemented, resulting in an additional tax burden of $60 per year for a home with a tax value of $200,000. Although the increase is modest, any increase in tax disproportionally affects our lower/fixed-income residents.

First it's important to recognize the progress Apex has already made with regards to affordable housing. Certain zoning requirements have been removed from our Unified Development Ordinance for developments closer to the core of town. This encourages more and more high-density development near transportation options in town. Apex also has an Affordable Housing Plan, an Affordable Housing Committee, and we recently approved an Affordable Housing Policy to offer a 'menu' of incentives to developers to promote new affordable housing developments. Affordable housing is high priority for anybody on Apex Town Council, and the development community generally offers 5% of new units as affordable housing simply because we ask them to. Further, Apex is actively constructing an affordable housing development (Broadstone Walk - 163 units) and has two more that are planned and for which zoning was approved in 2022 and early 2023, yielding another ~100 units. Lastly, Apex has implemented and funded an Affordable Housing fund, as well as grant programs that help residents make critical housing repairs and age in-place

If elected, I will continue this progress through the following:

1) Protect the gains as described above. Oppose policies and legislation that may cause us to regress.

2) Seek to invest the funds in the Affordable Housing fund and ARPA funds, e.g. land acquisitions so that that land can be made available for affordable housing. Apex recently contracted an external agency to help identify suitable acquisition properties.

3) Expand public-private partnerships to encourage additional developments like Broadstone Walk. One particular area to explore is faith-based organizations. Many faith organizations have considerable land holdings that could be made available for affordable

housing development through lease-back constructions.

4) Work with the development community to deliver a better-balanced housing inventory. E.g. the upcoming Depot 499 and Veridia developments will offer a mix of single-family residences, townhomes and apartments. We need more developments like these so that affordable housing is available throughout Apex and not concentrated in specific areas.

5) Explore options to protect naturally occurring affordable housing, in particular existing mobile-home communities.

6) Explore options to collaborate with adjacent municipalities to make more affordable housing available. Affordable housing is a regional problem and can not be addressed by a single municipality alone.

Apex led Wake County in adopting a strong non-discrimination ordinance (NDO). Since its adoption several municipalities have bonded together to adopt a single NDO, managed by the County. Housing discrimination based on race is prohibited. The challenge with the NDO is that there is not a lot of public awareness about it, nor the issue resolution process. I will push for a communication campaign to raise awareness about the NDO, make it clear to landlords what their obligations are, and make it clear to renters what their rights are and how to file a complaint if required. Additionally, I want to work towards better enforcement. The NDO only makes sense if there is an enforcement mechanism behind it. Side-note: there are no specific housing discrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community in the NDO. This is another area of the NDO I'd like to work towards strengthening.

Part of the reason rents are increasing rapidly, is because of the extremely low inventory of rental units. High demand and low supply = high rents. Some of the afore mentioned developments in Apex, along with several other developments in-progress or planned, will significantly increase the number of apartment units. Many of these are rentable property. By increasing the supply and increasing competition, landlords are more restricted in their ability to raise rents. Although I have not yet explored this, I can also see us working towards legislation that ties rent increases to the consumer price index, e.g. to set a maximum allowable increase. We likely can not enact this within Apex alone, but we can lobby with our state legislators for laws to this effect.

Full disclosure. My wife and I are the owner of two rental properties. In the past 4 years we have increased rents only once to help us cover increased expenses like tax and HOA fees. Both our properties are under-market in terms of collected rent we vs market rate. We have chosen not to increase rents out of desire to help the people who rent our properties, as few other housing options are available to them. This is not part of my campaign, but I mention it here to demonstrate my mindset towards the renter community.

1) Ensure that proper restrictions are placed on new housing units that are offered as affordable housing. In general we ask for affordability restrictions to remain in place for at least 10 years, but are working towards 20 years.

2) As mentioned before, look to develop protections for the 3 existing mobile home communities in Apex, e.g. through updates to our land-use map.

HAROLD WEINBRECHT

MAYOR

No response submitted

SARIKA BANSAL

ToWN COUNCIL

RYAN EADES

TOWN COUNCIL

LORI BUSH

ToWN COUNCIL

DON FRANZ

TOWN COUNCIL

RACHEL JORDAN

TOWN COUNCIL

MICHELLE CRAIG

ToWN COUNCIL

Cary is in a unique position of transformation and growth. Rated as one of the most desirable places to live, green land is very limited and the land prices are going up due to the increasing demand. Cary is a magnet for companies and talent and it driving the market prices at this time.

There are near term and far term solutions that can be implemented. Near term can be handled by:

1) Reducing restrictions around ADUs - Accessory Dwelling Units which will help to the renters and homeowners from affordability standpoint.

2) Continue the partnership with the Builders to reserve a portion of the development with the AMIs that match the salary ranges of police officers, teachers, nurses, town of Cary staff members etc.

3) Support program and policies that provide assistance to those in distress or need due to life event and no longer able to afford in Cary

Other solutions

1) Partner with other municipalities or no profit organizations to identify potential opportunities to build communities that are affordable and accessible

2) Build solid transportation network to increase accessibility for the residents

Being a woman of color myself and part of a minority group myself, I find it is critical for us to implement stronger controls around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Town of Cary. My leadership and representation in the Council will help re-enforce the need for people to be open minded. I hope to be the change that I want to see in the overall system. Implementing policies to remove biases is critical for me as a person and leader.

There are various reasons for rising rent prices in Wake County including increasing cost for property owners to manage and maintain the property, supply vs demand, influx of companies and talent. As a Councilwoman, I will work with the property owners to get assistance for property maintenance to reduce the overall impact on the rents. Continue to support Cary Council's mission to partner with private firms or non profit organizations to address the need for additional units in and around Cary.

Invest in the relationships with non profit organizations and Cary's program - Healthy homes.

Our Affordable Housing need is significant, not unlike any of our surrounding communities and the Nation. Originally, Cary grew as a single-family, suburban community following the build out of the Research Triangle Park. And although 70% of Cary is residential, more people actually COME to Cary to work, than leave, every day.

The increase in housing costs for homes, apartments and other housing types keeps growing as supply is outstripped by demand, and the slowing down of building over the past decades has kept that supply limited.

Whether it’s places for various populations to downsize (think empty-nesters), to folks moving in, to normal turnover, the increase in property values coupled with rising mortgage rates and increasing rents, makes it difficult for so many. We are lucky in Cary – we haven’t had to increase our Tax rates in a number of years, but taxes will go up for many as the value of their homes increases.

Also, Cary has less than 12% of greenfield development left, land that is otherwise undeveloped, making it easier to build. That means that redevelopment and infill will likely be what we see sooner, rather than later. And redevelopment is often more costly and more difficult for neighboring communities.

As a member of the Wake County Affordable Housing Task Force, I participated in the creation of the Wake County Housing Plan, that we then leveraged to build our OWN CARY SPECIFIC plan for our community. Our plan specified a number of initiatives, some happening now, and some in planning mode.

First, we need to continue to fund and increase funding, for our rehabilitation program, “Healthy Homes” to help protect naturally occurring affordable housing, for middle income families and seniors, aging in place. I asked that the program monies be doubled this year, and the rest of Council agreed, allowing more folks to benefit.

I continue to partner with our development community, asking them to provide affordable units in new multi-family projects, and they have stepped up to make that a reality. I am planning on continuing that partnership, to bring more units online.

Our CDBG (Community Development Block Grant (a HUD federal program)) funding has been allocated to additional projects, making affordable housing projects come to fruition, and I’ll continue to look for more “surplus land” so that projects like 921 Maynard can develop and thrive. (And, working with our County and Congress representatives, to get funding for even more projects!)

I have asked our staff to update ordinances for us to review – as specified in the Housing Plan.

We need to review ordinances that will allow ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), and look at other ordinances, that might allow additional units to help the community.

Finally, we worked on a methodology for funding and allowing private funding for this effort. Similar to our “Play it Forward” campaign, and our “Payment in Lieu” – that allows entities to help us bring together money for a common good. I will work to make that program a reality this year.

Our housing plan speaks to equity – and ensuring we align to those values. I’d like us to have the program I initiated, the HRID (Human Resources, Inclusivity and Diversity Task Force), weigh in on our Housing Plans to provide feedback and engagement. They have their pulse on a number of diverse communities, and I’d be interested in their take on this important topic. CDBG programs require us to also follow federal guidelines, of which stipulate the importance of equity and inclusion in our program development.

Being a community without the ability to have Inclusionary Zoning in our “Dillon’s Rule” state, we are limited by what we can do. However, that doesn’t mean there is nothing we can do. I believe that adding density in key (pre-defined by our Community Plan) areas, will help address the supply/demand problem. And, continuing to partner with development to add affordable units, HAS been successful, and we need to continue that.

Adding real programs that can reduce a renter’s outlay of money, can also help. Better and faster access to transit, can reduce the need to use a car. More greenways and safer ways to bike can also help, so that people can use a bike for their commute, reducing associated car costs, and improving the health of our residents.

We work with our non-profit partners who have been phenomenal at helping our community. One program we are currently investigating is through the Raleigh Area Land Trust. That program helps homeowners put their land in a Trust Zoning, and then the increase in the homeowner’s housing cost is based on not on the increase in land value, but the home. That is a great way for homeowers to realize an increase in value, and provide generational wealth, while managing increased property taxes.

Through Dorcas, we implement the OASIS program, that helps folks struggling on paying their utility bills. I’d be interested in finding even MORE ways to help, and ideas that might come from all over our Cary community.

Affordability challenges in Cary are driven by two issues - 1) supply is not keeping up with demand. Fewer houses are for sale and for rent and the prices of what are available have increased; and 2) zoning restrictions (About ⅔ of Cary’s housing is single family detached.) We need to allow for more variety of housing including middle housing (townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes), ADUs, and apartments. Beyond that, a lot of people cannot begin to consider living in Cary if they have low wages.

To help with affordable housing, we need to increase housing stock. We must continue building relationships with community partners. One Wake for example has a well established network of faith based organizations that have a big focus on affordable housing. They are solution focused and can provide a lot of insight. In addition, many faith-based organizations are interested in donating land to build affordable housing. The Town of Cary needs to partner with them to help make that happen. Also, Habitat for Humanity has a huge volunteer list to tap into.

Specifically, I believe we need rezoning to allow for more variety in housing options in residential areas as specified above. Also, I was happy to see that despite legislation not passing related to Accessory Dwelling Units that the Town of Cary is gathering input from residents about ADUs. We need to increase the housing supply in areas near transit.

We have to bring everyone to the table (all partners in the community, Wake County commissioners, other municipal leaders, and residents) to learn from experience and make a better plan moving forward.towards racial equity. Creating the Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force in Cary was a good start in getting conversations started about issues of equity, but that task force is set to expire. We need to ensure that this task force becomes a permanent board or commission and that diversity, equity, and inclusion is considered in all of our work. We need to make sure that all of our other committees are working with the Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force and that each committee is diverse.

As I mentioned previously, fewer houses are for rent and that is adding to the increased rental prices. We need to increase the available properties for rent, and this may need some zoning changes. I am happy that we have our first town sponsored mixed income development property in the works, and I would like to see us work towards more opportunities like this in the future. We also need to continue to work with our partners to explore opportunities. For example, some churches are interested in putting affordable housing on their property. We need to see how we can work with them to help our community.

We need to work to continue programs that are already helping our residents such as Healthy Homes Cary to provide seniors assistance with home improvements and improve accessibility for those in need. In addition, we need to continue to work with partners such as county commissioners for additional help with affordable housing needs. Regarding property taxes, we need to make sure Cary residents know about the property tax relief which is authorized by the NCGA.

The demand for housing in Cary continues to far surpass the supply of housing. This is causing affordability challenges and is resulting in individuals being priced out of our community. The main driver for this is the increase in the number of people moving into the area mainly due to the great quality of life, lower cost of living in relation to other suburban areas, along with a robust job market.

There are direct and indirect methods our town council can use to increase access to affordable housing. First, the council can and should continue to directly invest in the creation of affordable housing units, like what was done at the end of 2022. The council should also continue to balance development efforts that will increase the supply of housing and indirectly work to provide additional housing options.

Access to housing regardless of race is a fundemental right and I will continue to support the existing policies that address housing discrimination.

While the town is limited by law on policies that pertain to monetary rent values, increasing the overall supply of housing will result in more options for renters and over time will lower rent values while also providing additional options for renters.

Cary has some great programs to help prevent displacement and support homeowners that may not have the financial means to continue living in their homes. I, along with my council colleagues, recently voted to double the funding for this program and I believe we should look to increase the funding even further as this is one of the best ways to partner with homeowners to address needs that may normally result in them being displaced.

Cary is one of the greatest communities to live in America. There are jobs here. There is opportunity here. We have good schools, wonderful amenities and award-winning parks and recreational facilities. We’re one of the safest places to live and we value the arts. We’re blessed to be located near RTP, the airport, universities and a relatively short drive from the beach or mountains. Being such, people want to come here. Those who already live here don’t want to leave because it’s such an awesome place. It’s a great problem to have, but a problem nonetheless.

This has created a huge demand for housing and supply is not keeping pace with that demand. As a result, home prices and rents continue to rise making it increasingly difficult for our children, young professionals, seniors, service workers, educators and first responders to afford housing in Cary. Make no mistake, those who work in Cary should have the opportunity to live in Cary.

The housing affordability crisis isn’t unique to Cary. It is a regional, state and national problem. And while we have investigated other communities for best practices to address this problem, there are no silver bullet solutions. So what do we do?

Housing. The first answer is the one nobody wants to hear. Build more housing. It is supply and demand 101. When demand is high and supply is low, prices naturally increase. While high interest rates have cooled things a bit, bidding wars for homes remain the norm, and I have yet to see someone sell their home below market rate/maximum profit to help the affordability crisis.

An adequate and diverse supply of housing will help to meet demand. No, it won’t stop home prices from increasing, but it can help slow the rate of increase. At this point however, can we catch up? Maybe, but doing nothing will only make matters worse.

Density is another tool in the toolbox. Land prices are a major factor in the rising cost of housing. By allowing more duplexes, triplexes, townhomes and apartments, builders can provide more housing units on the same parcel of land that a handful of single-family homes would otherwise occupy. Of course, everyone living in the adjacent single-family neighborhoods loves this idea (not really). Thoughtful planning around and consideration of existing communities can help achieve a balance that works for most everyone and helps to meet housing goals.

Yet what do we hear the most? “Stop the growth! I moved here because…” Congratulations. You, me, we are part of the problem. Most everyone in Cary moved here from somewhere else. Should we have turned on the no-vacancy sign before or after you got here? (not that we legally can) What about those who didn’t move here from somewhere else like our kids and grandkids who were born here? School aged children make up 25% of the population of Cary. They will need housing too before long – that is if we want them to stay here and remain close to family. I do. Our kids shouldn’t have to wait for someone to move or die before they can find a place to live.

Cary’s fastest growing demographic are seniors. People are retiring here. People want to and should be able to age in place. We desperately need more senior housing options so that as our parents and grandparents age out of their home, they have greater opportunity to stay in Cary and remain close to family. This hits home for me as I take care of my mother who suffers from dementia. The closest place I could find for her that was even remotely affordable (it isn’t) is in Fuquay-Varina.

During my time on the council I have demonstrated the political will to say "yes" when a project meets our community goals regardless the direction the political winds are blowing.

As mentioned above, the first step is to approve and build more housing to include duplexes, triplexes, apartments and townhomes.

Another strategy is transit. Increased investments in transit better helps folks afford the cost of living without incurring the costs of vehicle ownership.

The average car payment right now for a new vehicle is upwards of $750 a month – it’s around $550 for a used vehicle. That is insane. Add in fuel costs, insurance and maintenance and you’re now well over $1000 a month just to move about. Providing housing near transit facilities, employment centers or along transit corridors such as we are doing with the Laurel Street project (more on that later) can reduce or even eliminate folks’ need for a personal vehicle, or families may now be able to get by with one car instead of two.

We continue to invest in our GoCary bus service to include increased frequency, more service days, longer hours of service, and expanded geographic coverage. As demand/ridership increases - which it is - we will continue to do more. Increased investments in greenways, bicycle facilities and sidewalks also help to better connect communities and create additional mobility options for residents.

I also proudly supported the creation of Cary's Housing Plan. In partnership with our citizens, community organizations, our staff and council, we created The Cary Housing Plan and are now working to implement the recommendations of the plan.

https://www.carync.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/27689/637812174230530000

An important strategy in the plan is to identify under-utilized public lands for housing. Cary’s first project in this regard is the Laurel Street Project located at 921 SE Maynard Rd. This site was originally purchased in 2007 for a new water tower. We ended up not using the site as intended as we rehabilitated the Cary High School water tower instead. To make this project viable and best meet our community goals we purchased an additional 2-acre parcel from Wake County adjacent to East Cary Middle School to create a combined 7-acre parcel.

Laurel Street is the developer. Consistent with the Housing Plan, they are constructing a mixed-income development (half market rate and half workforce/affordable). A total of 130 units are proposed (65/65). This site was selected for such a multi-family project as it checks a number of boxes related to housing affordability. It is in walking distance of three schools, shopping, retail uses and employment centers and is situated along a major transit line and future bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor. The project also meets a number of our environmental goals to include solar which helps to reduce residents’ energy costs as well.

Council Member Bush and I, along with relevant town staff visited Laurel Street in Charlotte to check out one of their projects first hand. We were impressed with the quality of the development and amenities offered to their residents. Cary’s project will raise the bar even higher. I also support the mixed-income model as it is more inclusive and does not segregate folks. This is Cary’s first public-private partnership to provide workforce housing. It won’t be our last.

I have also worked with developers to get them to include workforce housing into their projects. While Cary cannot by state law require developers to set aside some of their units as affordable/workforce housing, we do use what leverage we have during the rezoning process to meet our community goals. To date this has resulted in dozens of workforce units recently approved with more on the way.

Nobody should be denied housing due to their race or ethnicity. I proudly supported the creation of Cary's Human Relations, Inclusion and Diversity Task Force and hiring of Ms. Rashonda Harris as Cary's DEI Manager.

The mission of the Human Relations, Inclusion and Diversity Task Force is to improve the quality of life and sense of belonging for the Cary community by making data informed recommendations, creating broader access, encouraging equitable (fair) treatment and promoting mutual understanding and respect amongst all people. Impacted citizens working together will do far superior work than elected officials and I look forward to seeing their recommendations once that work is completed.

We must also continue to look for additional public/private development opportunities such as we did with the Laurel Street project. Mixed income developments diversify our housing stock and makes them more racially and economically inclusive. Public investments must also be equitably distributed throughout our community. Lower income areas deserve the same parks, greenways and other amenities as affluent areas of town.

Keep Cary kind. Cary is home to residents from over 60 nationalities and we celebrate our diversity and the different cultures of those who live here.

The first answer is, as previously mentioned, approve and build more housing. An abundant supply of housing to include rental will help to keep costs in check. Increased investments in transit and transit oriented development will also help to reduce folk's cost of living. We must also continue to reduce the regulatory burden on multi-family developers and provide them assurance and stability in the development approval process. The higher their costs, the higher the rents. Public/private partnerships when appropriate to help bridge economic gaps. Continue to lobby the North Carolina General Assembly for increased municipal authorities as local governments know best the needs of it's citizens.

I have a proven record of supporting initiatives that provide housing assistance to folks. They include:

Healthy Homes Cary. This is Cary’s Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Housing Program which was revised and relaunched in early 2020. It has been a huge success. This program helps to maintain already existing affordable housing. It is a grant program operated through non-profit agencies, with the lead agency being Rebuilding Together of the Triangle. It combines up to $12,500 in grant funds per applicant with volunteer labor to do a large variety of improvements. Since 2020, approximately 80% of our participants have been seniors, so it is proving to be an important means of helping our citizens age in place. Our program was also adopted by Apex. Last I heard Wake Forest was considering it, and the Triangle Council of Governments (TJCOG) is now helping provide guidance to other communities interested in our concept. I supported doubling the funding for this program with the approval of the FY24 budget.

https://www.carync.gov/services-publications/housing/affordable-housing-initiative/housing-rehabilitation-program

Cary’s Oasis Utility Bill Program helps our citizens in need with emergency utility funds. Please consider donating to help others in need.

https://www.carync.gov/services-publications/make-a-payment/oasis

Community Development Block Grants: Our CBDG Program is distributed directly to non-profits for the purpose of building capacity, providing services and developing housing. This is typically $650,000 per year, however FY21 was $1,100,000 and FY22 is $1,400,000 due to additional federal COVID disbursements. This includes funding organizations such as Carying Place, Transitions LifeCare, Dorcas Ministries, White Oak Foundation and more.

https://www.carync.gov/services-publications/housing/affordable-housing-initiative/community-development-block-grant

We continue to partner with Habitat for Humanity. Their most recent project includes seven single family homes that were constructed on Trimble Avenue. These were developed as workforce housing, accomplished through a combination of smaller unit size, volunteer labor, and low-rate financing (in addition to CDBG funds provided a few years back). Many in the surrounding community opposed the project. When it was initially proposed, they were planning for around 20 townhomes if memory serves me right. In an attempt to garner area resident and council support, they ultimately agreed to reduce the density to 7 single family homes. I preferred the original plan as it would have provided more affordable housing to those in need.

I have also met with the folks at Cary First Christian Church to discuss an upcoming housing project of theirs and have offered my support for that as well.

Here in Cary, NC there are a mix of issues causing affordability challenges. We are lucky enough to be a place with a good quality of life and bountiful economic opportunity. Unfortunately this means that more people want to move to Cary then we have housing for and this has driven our housing prices up precipitously. Though our median house sale price has dropped slightly with high interest rates, the overall amount buyers will end up paying still puts us in a place that is historically unaffordable.

This is exacerbated by a "missing middle" problem that is common across US cities that started suburban but have grown into population centers in their own right. Much of Cary has been developed either as single-family homes with yards or as large luxury apartment complexes. While both of these are important housing options we desperately need more mixed density. I moved to Cary from Northern Virginia and, while that area also has a myriad of challenges, I admire the way they center housing around mixed use developments with apartments and condominiums near shopping with townhomes or duplexes of various sizes and, eventually, single family neighborhoods. This can allow for a mix of density while still maintaining walkable connections between all the different options and central gathering areas.

Cary has a rare opportunity with a progressive majority on the Wake County Board of Commissioners. They are currently willing and excited to work with us on affordable housing issues, which are endemic across Wake County. There are two changes that Cary Council members have already tried to implement and which were stymied by conservative voices on the council.

We need to increase the percentage of affordable units in new apartment buildings that we request. Right now we encourage only 5% of new developments to be reserved for affordable housing. Current council-members have proposed raising this as high as 50%.

Cary also has both a higher median household income and more expensive housing costs than much of Wake County but we use the same formulas for determining who is eligible for housing assistance. We could keep far more people in their homes if we raised the income limits for this kind of assistance so that they are more commiserate with Cary's incomes and home prices.

Cary has also just completed it's first town sponsored affordable housing development, but we can and should be planning far more of them. Only 1% of our city budget is currently being used in these types of programs and we have actually turned away money for initiatives that the Wake County Commissioners have proposed.

As I said in the former question, Cary also needs to be building more housing of varying density, however, this is complicated by the dwindling supply of unbuilt land in Cary and a long history of exclusionary single-family home neighborhoods with strong HOAs. Though I am in favor of allowing things like ADUs, in many neighborhoods in Cary changing the zoning doesn't matter because HOAs often have strong regulations on multi-family dwellings and ADUs. This means that efforts involving redevelopment and infill development will have to work closely with a multitude of voices to succeed.

Cary also currently has no plan for workforce housing that focuses on people who are essential workers in midrange jobs. While we are starting, far too slowly, to build a rubric for housing assistance for our residents who are considered low income, there is no plan for many of our citizens who are working hard at middle class jobs that our community desperately needs. Cary's current median household income is $140,000 and last month out median home sale price was over $600,000 but the median income for public school teachers is just over $50,000. I know this is a new focus in many municipalities struggling with affordability issues and I am very interested in programs that are tackling this issue.

Affordable housing initiatives have to go hand in hand with other efforts and these issues can sometimes be intertwined in complicated ways. Parking requirements directly impact the price per square foot of new building, especially apartments and condominiums. However, my district in Cary is currently a place with almost no transit options, so relaxing parking requirements can end up putting more stress on the people we want to be helping.

In the same vein, there are established equity issues in the way environmental and beautification efforts are usually prioritized in towns. Complicated building codes can make housing more expensive, but relaxing them too much can contribute to people who have the fewest resources being most impacted by local pollution, heat islands, flooding caused by inadequate stormwater systems, high electric or gas bills, and more frequent home repair needs. Amenities that help both transit and community building; like greenways, sidewalks, protected bike lanes, abundant trees, parks, and community centers; are also far more likely to exist in more affluent areas. The lack of infrastructure that makes a community more connected puts more stress on affordable housing developments and make it harder to integrate multiple levels of price and density in a single community.

This is such a complicated issue because of the long history of racially motivated exclusionary zoning from both local communities and our nation's government. In addition to problems just with zoning and refusing home loans to both people of color and, even, neighborhoods that have substantial numbers of minority residents, the US also has a history of community dis-investment that dates back to the Civil Rights era when many localities decided to invest in country clubs and private schools to avoid long overdue government-mandated segregation policies. This is even more troubling when there is an emerging mountain of evidence that neighborhoods have a dramatic effect on the long-term success of children.

I am in favor of efforts like the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which aims to specifically target tax breaks for refurbishing homes in distressed neighborhoods of color that have been historically subject to dramatic underinvestment. However, this is something that would only have effects in a small proportion of Cary, because of our history as a suburban, and exclusionary, community.

It is appropriate to use targeted subsidies both for helping residents of color stay in their homes or buy new homes with limited down payments. However, accounting for these long inequities should also be a part of every program a town implements. I am so thankful for the growing wealth of information about racial and neighborhood disparities that makes this a less daunting task.

There are also the second-order community effects that I mentioned previously. When evaluating not only housing programs, but also things like environmental, transit, and community amenities, a town government must take into account the ways communities of color have often been more impacted by the unpleasant side effects of development and had less access to the rewards.

Another facet in all of these issues is an endemic lack of access to legal avenues of protection for both home owners and renters that is often experienced by communities of color. One reason for this are historical wealth disparities that the US's long refusal to invest in local communities of color combined with the centrality of home ownership for building generational wealth in American society have exacerbated. To address this, I strongly support efforts to subsidize legal aid. Though it is ostensibly true that everyone has access to legal assistance, in practice a person's ability to pursue legal redress is almost completely determined by wealth. Legal access is also impacted by language access. This is a major existing problem in my particular district of Cary, which is extremely diverse and home to many immigrant communities. Many of these communities speak first languages that are not covered by federal translation requirements and this greatly impacts their ability to find housing or access community resources apart from whatever economic status they might hold.

There is some of the rising rents that can only be addressed with new building. However, I also support limits on the rates at which landlords can increase rent each year and strong tenant legal protections. In Cary, we also have a hotline for tenants who have issues with building quality and safety issues and we promise that retaliation is illegal. This is a good program but most of our residents do not even know about it.

Cary needs to ask for a higher percentage of affordable units in every development that is built here. At this time we generally request only 5% of our new developments be set aside for below market rate housing. We need to do better.

Cary's program for this is called the Healthy Homes Cary. I strongly support this program, but at this time to qualify for assistance a person has to be making 65% of the Wake County AMI, despite the fact that both AMI and housing prices are considerably higher in Cary than they are in all of Wake County. There is already a proposal backed by a minority of the council to make it easier for Cary residents to qualify for this program and I would enthusiastically vote for it.

BLAKE MASSENGILL

MAYOR

No response submitted

cHARLIE ADCOCK

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

No response submitted

BILL HARRIS

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

No response submitted

MIKE FERRIG

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

No response submitted

ELIZABETH PARENT

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MARILYN GARDNER

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

No response submitted

Lack of diversity in development types and ordinance restrictions.

Update the ordinance to allow for ADU's to be utilized as full-time residences. Create a community land trust plan. Incentivise employer-assisted housing programs.

Increasing opportunity by diversifying our housing options and implementing a community land trust.

Coordinate with local organizations to review what we can change to support all renters/homeowners.

Continue a connection to ensure we are consistently progressing as our community's housing needs evolve. I would also love to volunteer!

MILTON GUPTON

MAYOR

No response submitted

DEMIAN DILLENGER

TOWN COUNCIL

No response submitted

ELMO VANCE

TOWN COUNCIL

BRIAN DENNIS

TOWN COUNCIL

No response submitted

ReX WHALEY

TOWN COUNCIL

No response submitted

PHIL MATTHEWS

TOWN COUNCIL

Land is very expensive, building cost are very high, plus high interest rates.

In Garner we are working with Wake County providing $750,000 on a work force housing project in North Garner and encouraging developers to keep costs as low as possible.

I am running for re-election and we have never had an issue with this in Garner.

We already have at least 5 large apartment developments under construction in the Greater Garner area.

We are already encouraging landlords to keep rates as low as possible. Wake County is just an expensive place to live.

It is a combination of items driving affordability challenges. From the shortage of housing driving up cost, to increase of high paying employment centers within the region, are several reasons for the current challenges within the area.

Look for opportunities for joint partnerships with developers who have a focus on providing affordable/workforce housing. I will encourage developers to look early in their planning process at including affordable/workforce housing in their development plans.

I will advocate for fair and balance housing practices for all parties involved.

I will continue to advocate for affordable housing in the area of considering rent also.

I will continue to advocate for developers to include affordable has a part of their business model.

STACi ALMQUIST

TOWN COUNCIL

ANNIE DREES

TOWN COUNCIL

DANIELLE HEWESTON

TOWN COUNCIL

No response submitted

BRIAN DENNIS

TOWN COUNCIL

No response submitted

SCOOP GREEN

TOWN COUNCIL

BRIAN NORMAN

TOWN COUNCIL

No response submitted

CHRIS DESHAZOR

TOWN COUNCIL

TRAVIS GROO

TOWN COUNCIL

JACK TURNWALD

TOWN COUNCIL

Single family homes, townhomes, apartment complexes Affordability comes from low availability, access to employment, property taxes

Every new development should have sets of units that are deemed affordable and should be managed by a division that is for affordable housing similiar to the Mount Laurel law in New Jersey. These properties are to remain for those within a certain income level in each development.

Housing should be provided on a first come, first serve basis. It should have nothing to do with race. I think that names should not be given, instead a number should be assigned to people who apply so you only see their credentials and nothing revealing about them is provided.

Renters are an important part of the state. There should be rental assistance available for the community and ensuring tha tthey have appropriate housing and that it is maintained well.

Ensuring that loan rates stay down and that people are able to get fair values for their homes. Homeowners should be able to take loans against their homes if they need it.

Holly Springs is a thriving community. The census data states that in 2007 there were 19.7K people. Currently, there are 49K plus residents. This is a substantial amount of growth in under 20 years and house prices are currently rising. Holly Springs is a thriving area in Wake County with great schools, greenways, parks, and recreational activities for families and individuals. We are investing in our infrastructure and getting new businesses in town. With this growth, the demand for housing has risen and the supply is low. This demand drives house prices with a median house price in Holly Springs in 2023 at $416,000. As house prices have risen some wages have not, many of our teachers, first responders, and others new to the workforce cannot afford to live in Holly Springs where they work and are therefore forced to drive further away which adds to our traffic problem. Holly Springs has worked hard to bring in more businesses such as Amgen and Fuju film, however, it takes time for those industries to affect the tax base truly. With an influx of new people in the community, Holly Springs needs various housing types from multi-use to single-family. Another driver is an aging population. Some of our residents are moving towards retirement and as taxes increase, this can make staying in a home for seniors cost-prohibitive. These are some of the major drivers of housing affordability in Holly Springs.

Holly Springs participated in a Housing Affordability Study in 2022. The study was made up of members of the community, members of the town council, members of the planning board as well as members of the town staff. I was a member of this committee as the chair of the Holly Springs planning board. This study was approved by the planning board but not approved by the town council. This study gave various solutions and partners to assist with housing affordability. If elected, I will pursue revitalizing the Housing Affordability study and researching methods to work with the community, town staff, and developers to create avenues for affordable housing. One of the first issues to accomplish is to get an understanding of affordable housing. There are multiple definitions of Affordable housing and many perceptions. Holly Springs is a diverse community where all people can live. If we can explain what is meant by affordable housing and rekindle the affordable housing plan, we can work to develop solutions that will assist in developing affordable housing options in Holly Springs.

To advance racial equality, we must work to ensure that there are businesses that are coming to the local area and offering fair-paying jobs for individuals. In addition, as a town council member, I will work with the town staff and developers to ask questions about programs to ensure equality. In addition, we must ensure that our local staff is diverse as well as a diverse leadership. Developers cannot be forced to offer affordable housing but the town council and staff can work with the developers to find incentives and solutions to help the town. In addition, as a town council representative, I am willing to work with other government agencies to find solutions to bring programs and housing to Holly Springs.

This is yet another complex issue. As a Town Council Representative, we have to first work with the developers of new complexes to first, offer affordable rental options and secondarily ensure that these are longer-term solutions. Developers pass along fees charged by the town which can drive up rental and house prices. Housing affordability does not have to be solved in a vacuum. It cannot be solved in a vacuum. For success, the town leadership must bring key players to the table and demand solutions to ensure we can create rental units that allow people to live where they work. Another angle is to work to bring better-paying jobs to Holly Springs by working to entice additional businesses that pay well. Finally, we should partner with Wake Tech and have programs that allow residents to have more skills to work at higher-paying jobs. With all of this in mind, we must find diverse housing options that allow our residents to live where they work.

Holly Springs continues to grow substantially year over year. As new companies and families migrate to the area, we have seen the price of housing continue to outpace wage increases. The biggest driver of affordability challenges here in Holly Springs are the types of developments available and housing supply.

I will advocate to create a housing affordability advisory committee to make recommendations on policies to address housing affordability generated from the community. I would also seek out partnerships with local non-profits and employers to evaluate opportunities to partner together to create more affordable housing in Holly Springs.

I will pursue data collection to identify places in Holly Springs neighborhoods and communities where racial disparities exist. I will fight for all neighborhoods to be well resourced, and all residents to have equal access to amenities and opportunities in the community.

The lack of affordable housing to the rental community causes a supply gap, forcing this population into rental properties that are over 30% of their income. Growing the rental property supply will reduce this gap and provide more communities within housing within their budget. By creating a standardized development negotiation strategy with the planning board, we can prioritize this housing shortage and build more units into future development plans.

Currently, Holly Springs is a predominantly single-family housing neighborhood but there’s a growing number of townhomes and apartments. Despite the growing diversity of homes, the price of a rental of a home is around $2300. A townhome is close to the same amount. A tenant would need to make close to $90,000 per year to afford it. Holly Springs is a high-demand town with several biotechnology firms moving into it. The high demand drives the prices. Currently, there’s at least one complex for those who rely on federal/state assistance.

In order to create a balance of home prices, the town council will need to work with landlords to set aside some apartments and townhomes with a rent that is more affordable for those making around $40,000. This is the salary of a school teacher. Obviously, this requirement would have to be instituted as part of the UDO so developers would know about this plan before it is presented to the board. We need to support/encourage homeowners who have more than a quarter of an acre to build mother-in-law quarters (or tiny homes) on their land for potential tenants (of course this depends on their HOA/covenant).

The demographics of Holly Springs changes as it grows and more industries move into town. While the racial makeup of the town isn’t even, it keeps changing with the growth. It is important for the town to create events to celebrate the different diversity groups within the community. These acknowledgements create a feeling of inclusivity and attracts people from all walks of life.

State law prevents town governments from weighing in on rental prices. As a member of town council, I can work with my state representative to file and encourage passages of laws that would allow the town to weigh in on the issue to help with affordability. Senate Bill 225 that was filed during this current session would be a set in the right direction.

This isn’t something I am overly familiar with so after doing some research I agree with the chart created by the North Carolina Justice Center <https://www.ncjustice.org/publications/n-c-property-tax-relief-helping-families-without-harming-communities/> . The chart focuses on financially supporting Veterans with disability and our senior/elderly population by helping to off-set the cost of property taxes. This is something the town could implement.

Supply and demand cause the price of homes to go up and down. Right now we have a shortage in Holly Springs, and throughout Wake County, thus creating a price increase. Property taxes are also a cause housing affordability. Zoning restrictions can also cause price variations

With the current high inflation, housing affordability is on people's minds. As the Town continues to grow it’s vital to allow for various types of homes, and allow for builders to have the freedom to be creative in the development of affordable rental units. I propose we place a 3% cap (per year) on home tax assessment values, so the people of Holly Springs can afford to stay in their homes that they love.

Equality is a big deal for me, and my campaign. If elected, I will ensure that diverse housing and affordable living is at the forefront of what we do. It's extremely important to allow for ALL people with various incomes and lifestyles to be able to live in Holly Springs. I will strive to maintain an inclusive environment, so long as I have the ability to make a difference in this area. I want this city to be a place where ALL are welcome!

Rent is way too high, I agree! We must build more, and must allow for affordable and sustainable living situations. We must bring down the costs by being intentional with our new developments, and allow the builders to be creative and create a more affordable supply.

I mentioned this in the first question. I propose we place a 3% cap (per year) on home tax assessment values, so the people of Holly Springs can afford to stay in their homes that they love. The assessments are driving people out of house and home, and they have nothing to do with the actual value of the property. A cap would help folks know to to expect, especially those on a fixed income.

I believe it is necessary to closely examine our UDO and reevaluate where we may be creating barriers to housing affordability in the area. Additionally, we need to explore the many options put forth in our recent housing affordability study such as: zoning more land for attached and multifamily housing, pursuing strategic partnerships, implementing a Utility Allocation Plan that prioritizes housing affordability, piloting an owner occupied rehab program, and using the development approvals process to prioritize developments that meet our housing affordability needs. We are also missing out on opportunities to collaborate with our Wake County Commissioners and the programs they offer toward greater housing affordability, down payment assistance, and home repair assistance.

Holly Springs has been heavily impacted by gentrification and development choices have resulted in the displacement of Black residents who have long lived in the town. In some cases eminent domain has been imposed and residents are offered "fair market value", but with no development being prioritized in a similar price range, this ensures that families have no choice but to go elsewhere. In order to advance racial equity in Holly Springs, we have to examine the historical harm that's been done (displacement, the placement of the dump, etc.) and apply an equity lens to determine where harm repair is possible and where ongoing harm can be stopped. We have to prioritize having an available range of housing types, providing assistance programs that can help longtime residents stay in their homes instead of being priced out of the area, and uplift the lived experiences of folks who have experience racial inequity in housing in order to find solutions. Both to advance racial equity in housing and equity in town decision making, I'd like to see the town establish an Equity Committee.

Across North Carolina, municipalities need to continually lobby the legislature to remove preemptions that impede municipalities from utilizing some of the tools available to increase access to affordable housing and reasonable rental costs. Rents in Holly Springs have grown by 56% since 2010. In general, Holly Springs needs to increase the number of rentals available in the area. We should also look at utilizing programs to assist low-income renters with housing related legal disputes as well as better connect renters to areas of employment with access to intra-town transit. with local organizations to review what we can change to support all renters/homeowners.

I think it's important that we approve developments that offer housing variety which will impact costs in the area. Additionally, we need to spend responsibly with tax impacts in mind and collaborate with County Commissioners on Wake programs that prevent displacement.

JESSICA DAY

MAYOR

No response submitted

BENJAMIN MCDONALD

TOWN COUNCIL

STEPHEN MORGAN

TOWN COUNCIL

No response submitted

We have a lot of car dependent, single family housing that drives up the cost of living. Additionally the lack of reliable, frequent public transit is an obstacle to approving car-free density.

- Planning a high density zone along the future BRT line.

- Create a regulatory environment that encourages dense, mixed use, walkable neighborhoods.

- Advocating for the extension of BRT and creative solutions like micro-transit.

- Continue partnering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity (Flowers Place) and Raleigh Rescue Mission (Project Hope) to purposefully integrate supportive housing options in our community.

- Investigating the land trust model for possible use in Knightdale.

By exploring the land trust model we can created affordable housing while allowing homeowners to build equity and generational wealth. We are also working to invest public dollars in our all parts of Knightdale so that both new and established communities in Knightdale have access to high-quality public amenities.

I am advocating for a tenants bill of rights or similar for Knightdale as well as a grievance process for renters.

As previously mentioned I support continued partnerships with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and I am advocating for a land trust model development in Knightdale.

PATTY CHENG

TOWN COUNCIL

ANNE ROBOTTI

TOWN COUNCIL

No response submitted

SATISH GARIMELLA

TOWN COUNCIL

SUBBA MADIREDDY

TOWN COUNCIL

No response submitted

LIZ JOHNSON

TOWN COUNCIL

Housing in Morrisville has led Wake County in quickly appreciating so that most first time homeowners essentially are NOT able to purchase property in Morrisville. This has been greatly influenced by Wake County's rapid increase in property assessment valuations based on recent sales and significantly Increased Taxes every year since 2019 by Wake County Commissioners, and Morrisville Town Council. In 2021 Morrisville Town Council Raised Taxes by 3 cents/ $100K of property valuation or about a $120 increase for a $400K house in 2022. Then Wake Co Commissioners raised taxes further in 2023 by .2.5 cents or $100 for a $400K house. The average property tax bill has increased several hundred dollars a year just in the last 4 years!

Compound that with limited property available for development in the "Heart of the Research Triangle Park", more investors and out of state investors who want to buy up our local properties because they appear to be good investments compared to other parts of the country, and the State of NC growing by over 140,000 people moving into NC each year. My own neighborhood in which homes were selling for less than $250K 8 years ago are actually selling for about $500K today. I have friends in their 40's who are not able to buy a home of their own.

I am a fiscal conservative who will advocate for NO Tax Increase in the next 4 years. Our Town Council needs to provide justification and details for all the projects currently on the books with more detailed strategy and milestones for efficiently moving along and prioritizing CIP projects with Better Rate of Return (& Quality of for Morrisville Citizens. I would specifically look to provide innovative, less costly housing for moderate income residents who would like to live in Morrisville even if they work in the service industry, in our school system, or for our public service departments. While developing diverse housing options of all types is important a special task force to provide more affordable, innovative housing and considerably more reliable public transportation nearby is required. I will make it a priority.

I would appoint people interested in Innovative and Affordable Housing to serve on the Morrisville Planning and Zoning Board and, discourage those PZB members who are against options for affordable housing to be re-appointed to the Board.

I think the best way to advance racial equity in housing is to keep taxes and the Cost of Living Low in Morrisville. Without divisions for the wealthy who can afford to continue living in Morrisville and those who can not afford the regular cost of living increases, we will naturally continue to encourage diversity in our "centrally located" town.

I would insist on more fiscal responsibility from Town Council, Develop more livable-walkable areas where vehicular access would not be required. And provide for more reliable public transit that serves High-density developments and not just neighborhoods with only 2-car garages like Savannah, Ridgemont, and Downing Glen.

Wake County Government is notorious for increasing taxes by raising the appraised property value of homeowners who intentionally provide affordable housing for lower income residents and the elderly. The Increased taxes cause the property owner to sell (like the former Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel) leaving many elderly people without housing. Then Wake County will raise taxes to build affordable housing units for the people they have displaced. I would advocate for ways that government can accommodate and allow for more privately sponsored affordable housing or possibilities of public-private partnerships in providing for affordable housing.

I will make it a priority for affordable housing developments as well as affordable housing units to be approved and available near our transportation hubs and reliable public transportation. Morrisville plans for high density housing without vehicular access near the McCrimmon-Church St. Transportation Hub.

I would advocate for owner-occupied apartment style Condominiums that allows for more fiscal control over housing costs over that of renting.

Morrisville is just 8 square miles and its very popular for the industries and employees as location could not be any better , close to RTP, RDU and centrally located between all 3 universities. New Townhomes are close to 1/2 Million and some of the single family are close to 1 Million , so Yes affordability challenges are there not only for people who under AMI but also to fresh graduates , seniors with fixed income and service industries people . Land is one of the main issue and lack of housing stock is driving the costs . Apple Campus next to Morrisville is not helping to keep the costs low either.

We have implemented the affordable housing policy and we are working on how to fund them and the will of the council is going towards the ownership of housing. Also have plans to buy land and partner with non profits like Habitat for Humanity

Yes

I agree the rents in Wake County especially in Morrisville are going off the roof , we have worked with some of the Apartment complex as part of the rezoning asking for 5 to 10 % of affordable units for workforce who are employed in Town of Morrisville or Wake County and school systems.

I will allocate money in the budget as we can implement the polices we have put forward

As Morrisville begins to reach build out, the number of new housing developments has slowed. Future new housing will most likely be concentrated in our Town Center (groundbreaking is anticipated in 2024) and the Transit Orient Development District (TOD). Both of these areas are identified for high-density mixed-use development and will include affordable housing options. The TOD project is designed with a regional passenger rail station in mind.

While many factors play a role in the affordability challenge in Morrisville, supply and demand is a major driver. The Town of Morrisville’s affordability challenges are exacerbated by our desired location to high paying employment in our town, and surrounding locations like RTP, and our limited land mass. Morrisville is less than 10 square miles, and the price of the remaining undeveloped property has skyrocketed along with existing housing stock.

In 2019, Morrisville contracted with a community planning and strategy firm to complete an Affordable Housing Plan for the town. The plan outlined recommended actions that we could pursue to specifically address the housing challenges in Morrisville. In 2022 we began work on a toolkit to 1) incentivize the development of affordable housing units, 2) pursue a public housing choice program focusing on down payment assistance for municipal employees and educators, and 3) explore options for donating land to an affordable housing developer.

On August 22, 2023, Council adopted an affordable housing development incentive policy for both multi-family and single-family development. With this policy in place, we have the ability to negotiate for a mix of affordable units to be incorporated into future development across town. We also signal to the development community that affordable housing is important to our community.

The next steps are to pursue the public housing choice program and work with an affordable housing developer.

As a Morrisville Council Member, I have demonstrated the importance of equity in housing. I will continue to work with private and non-profit partners to provide affordable housing units in a variety of choices. I along with a majority on Council worked with several apartment developers to include units at below market rate to renters earning below the 80% AMI. These units are located throughout the complex, and identical in finishes and options.

I was a supporter, and worked on the construction, of Habitat for Humanity’s homes in Morrisville several years ago. Council has directed staff to work with an affordable housing developer on identified town owned land for potential future builds. It is my desire that we add more Habitat for Humanity families to our Morrisville community.

I supported the Non-discrimination Ordinance that Council adopted to ensure everyone is treated fairly, without bias or discrimination.

We cannot talk about racial equity in housing without including transportation are a part of the equation. I am a proud supporter of our 2-year-old bus service, the Morrisville Smart Shuttle. The Morrisville Smart Shuttle provides our residents and visitors with free on-demand transit throughout our town. It offers 16 stops strategically located throughout Morrisville. The Shuttle provides one stop at the Regional Transit Center near RTP to connect to Go Triangle service.

I will continue to look for ways to support equity in housing, including a mix of housing options to be more inclusive.

As mentioned above, I have taken steps to work with private developers to incorporate long-term affordable housing units in Morrisville. In my opinion, offering rental units at below market rate is an important piece of the equation to addressing housing choice. I will continue to advocate that a rental assistance solution be included in Morrisville’s affordable housing toolkit.

I am committed to working on the next steps as outlined above and have consistently advocated for long term affordable housing units. Pursuing a public housing choice program and working with an affordable housing developer are important and I want to make sure we are adding affordable units in Morrisville with this plan. I am also looking forward to a potential partnership with Wake County. Town Council members met with Wake County elected officials and their staff to begin this work. I am excited about this opportunity to partner and add more affordable housing units to Morrisville.

RONNIE CURRAN

MAYOR