North Raleigh Today

Raleigh City Council on March 19 took three separate actions to support affordable housing in our community.

Approval of $750,000 in gap funding for the completion of 90 affordable rental units at Thrive South End, as well as funding to completely rehabilitate an apartment complex used for emergency shelter, and the rezoning of property with conditions that include the construction of at least 10 affordable housing units, are steps taken by the City Council to address the pressing need for affordable housing in Raleigh.

"The City originally committed $2.1 million for the Thrive South End project in 2021," said the report. "Unexpected cost increases have led to a request for gap funding, bringing the City’s total investment to $2.85 million. This development, located at 420 Chapanoke Road, is within half a mile of a future bus rapid transit (BRT) stop."

Funding for the apartment complex, located at 110 Athens Drive, is in the form of a forgivable loan to cover extensive renovations. "A $150,000 grant was previously awarded for basic repairs to the building, bringing the City’s total contribution to $396,200. All contributions have been funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)."

The rezoning of property at the intersection of Garner and East Tryon Roads to Residential Mixed-Use allows for a greater variety of housing types, with the condition that at least 10 affordable housing units must be constructed. This initiative aims to benefit individuals and families at or below 60 percent area median income (AMI) for at least 30 years.

"Creating and preserving affordable housing continues to be a key priority for the City of Raleigh," emphasized the report. "These actions represent pieces of the affordable housing puzzle, which are complex on their own and combine to ensure that affordable housing options are available in our community."

For more information on Raleigh's affordable housing initiatives, visit Raleighnc.gov and search "affordable housing."