Livable Raleigh recommends adding these two NC Building Code Amendments to the City of Raleigh’s Legislative Agenda: adopt global elevator standards and permit single stairway buildings. Both of these code reforms are gaining traction in the United States. They open up new opportunities for moderately scaled apartment and condo buildings in walkable urban settings that are more affordable and more accessible without sacrificing building safety.
Some City Councilors are tireless boosters of discredited supply-side affordability theories: They cheer when the market ticks up , and they cheer even more when the market ticks down.
Navigating Raleigh’s affordable housing webpages feels like a frustrating maze. There’s good information, unfortunately, it’s buried under confusing web design, esoteric labels, scattered across too many disconnected pages or missing altogether in outdated reports.
“We’re growing! we’re glowing!” the press release says. The Mayor’s got plans and a very nice suit, Telling us Raleigh is “ripening fruit.” Just remember, dear Leader, amidst all the hype: If you don’t fix the potholes, the fruit’s overripe.
Just wanted to let you know that the new website looks great and that I totally agree with your Agenda for Affordable Housing, especially having developers required to help solve this.
The public housing at Heritage Park serves some of Raleigh’s lowest-income families. Any effort to expand housing opportunities must continue to ensure: *No loss of deeply subsidized units *A meaningful right to return for current residents *Continued income-based rents *Protection against displacement *Preservation of community identity
Highlights from the March 17 Work Session and Afternoon Session
Work session focused on proposed 2026 housing and transportation bonds. Public comments focused on Homelessness and Affordable Housing, Greenways, Election issues, trees, and public safety
Let’s move on from self-serving and counterproductive supply-side theories used to justify massive developments that are violating our neighborhoods and our adopted growth plans. Instead, let’s work with Wake County’s Affordable Housing Director toward solutions described in Livable Raleigh’s Affordability Agenda, to produce much more affordable housing and more growth according to our adopted plans.
Across the country, the price of housing of all kinds is increasing dramatically, with the result that people of lesser and moderate incomes are paying half or more of their disposable income for housing and utilities. In sum, we have an affordability problem.