Locals gather to hear Community Leaders discuss mass upzoning plans for New Bern Ave

Raleigh City Council will hold a special Public Hearing on the proposal – Tuesday, January 30 at 7PM

An overflow crowd turned out Sunday afternoon for Livable Raleigh’s public forum to discuss a proposed upzoning of more than 700 properties along the New Bern Avenue corridor. Emcee Bob Geary introduced the topic and then handed the program over to five local community leaders, including local historian and author Carmen Cauthen, Attorney and Law Professor Yolanda Taylor, Fair Housing Advocate Octavia Rainey, Community Activist Wanda Hunter, and Former Chair of the Raleigh Transit Authority Tolulope Omokaiye.

Also in attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan Melton and City Council members Stormie Forte, Corey Branch and Megan Patton, as well as Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe.

The resounding message was to ask City Council to deny the rezoning request (Z-92-22) and to put the TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) into committee for modifications. Panelists and audience members alike expressed concern about the displacement of an entire minority community.

Attendees were encouraged to attend the upcoming public hearing on January 30 at 7pm at the Raleigh Municipal Building.

CBS17 covered the event on both their 5:30 & 11:00PM broadcasts

Watch it here: Raleigh Crowds gather to hear about New Bern Ave Corridor plans