Raleigh is rezoning city-owned land around Eliza Pool Park off Fayetteville Street to build a new affordable housing complex. The need for affordable housing near downtown was identified by local officials as part of the Dix Edge Area Study
IT HAS BEEN A TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE. WE WILL HAVE A LIVE REPORT COMING UP FROM THE LIVE CENTER JUST A FEW MINUTES. >>> YOU CAN STRETCH YOUR PAYCHECK AND WAKE COUNTY MORE THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE. THAT IS ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY FROM SMART ASSET THAT COMPARES PURCHASING POWER AND ACCESS IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES. NEARLY $1600 TWICE A MONTH. WAKE COUNTY CAME IN SECOND AND ORANGE COUNTY CAME IN THIRD. UNION COUNTY NEAR CHARLOTTE TOPPED THE LIST. >>> SOME FAMILIES CANNOT STRETCH THE PAYCHECK FAR ENOUGH. 1 INNUMERAL FOR HOUSEHOLDS RENT OR OWN AND STRUGGLE TO AFFORD EACH MONTH. THE CITY OF RALEIGH IS TRYING SOMETHING NEW. WE ARE LIVE TO SHOW HOW COULD HELP HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES. >> Reporter: IT STARTS WITH THE REZONING CITY OWNED PROPERTY LIKE THIS ONE HERE NEAR DOWNTOWN. MOST OF THESE ARE ZONED AS SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. THEY ARE PLANNING TO REZONE FOR DENSER DEVELOPMENT. >>> THEY WANT TO CREATE A COMMUNITY. >> IT IS A INCUBATOR. >> Reporter: SHE’S ONE OF 15 GROUP LEADERS THAT ARE FEELING PRESSURE. >> IF IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE YOUR COMMUNITY ANYMORE, WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS? >> Reporter: THE BIGGEST QUESTION HERE FROM HER NEIGHBORS, CAN WE AFFORD TO BE HERE? >> THE CITY IS TRYING TO GET MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS OFF THE GROUND. THEY FLEW OVER THIS LAND. THERE REZONING THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BUILD NEARLY 400 AFFORDABLE UNITS. >> IT HAS BEEN A WAY TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CREATE LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY SO THAT THE CITY MAINTAINS OWNERSHIP. >>> THE CITY IS DOING THE SAME WITH THIS LOT NEAR DOWNTOWN. ONCE THEY’RE REZONED, PROBABLY WILL SELECT A DEVELOPER. >> THE CITY SPECIFIES HOW MANY UNITS AND WHAT LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY SHOULD BE TARGETED FOR THOSE UNITS. >> Reporter: THAT LEVELS 80% OR BELOW THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. A FAMILY OF THREE CAN MAKE UP TO $60,900. A FAMILY OF FOUR CAN EARN UP TO $76,500. >> WE WERE TRYING TO GET OUT OF OUR ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT WITH THE BABY. >> Reporter: HER GROWING FAMILY MOVED IT TO SOUTHWEST RALEIGH SIX YEARS AGO. >> EVERYBODY’S LOOKING AT OUR PART OF TOWN AS BEING A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, THAT IS GOOD BUT IT COMES WITH A LITTLE BIT OF FEAR ABOUT HOW IT IS GOING TO BE. >> Reporter: THE CITY HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SAME REZONING PROCESS US DEVELOPERS DO. YOU CAN SEE THE MEETING FOR THIS. COMING UP IN A WEEK, THAT
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