‘Some of the worst public housing in Wake County’

Commissioners discuss town’s strategic plan

Friday morning the mayor and five commissioners began their annual retreat by making sure the strategic plan which will guide their decisions does say what they want said and done.

It was interesting but not attention-grabbing until they got to the goal of creating accessible housing options and statement two: Advocate for the redevelopment of quality public housing.

Commissioner Chad Sary said the nation is in the middle of a housing crisis and burst out by saying, “We have some of the worst public housing in Wake County in Wake Forest,” and said it is very important for the town to work on that issue.

“That’s a passion of mine,” Commissioner Keith Shackleford chimed in. He has served on the board of the Wake County Housing Authority recently and said redevelopment of the public housing stock in town may have to be something that is done in partnership with the town.

He said the two developments that were built in the 1950s were “rehabbed army surplus.”

(They were sheathed in brick. The 25 duplex units on West Chestnut Avenue were originally designated as for white tenants; the 25 duplexes on North White Street were originally for black tenants. There are also 123 townhouse units on North Allen Road that were built in the 1980s and 1990s without racial designation.)

“We need to have an active plan for the redevelopment of public housing,” Mayor Vivian Jones said.

Commissioner Jim Dyer said it is possible to have subsidized housing in housing developments without people being able to identify them as such, but Town Manager Kip Padgett said a lot of that is available only in larger cities. “Our Wake County Housing Authority does not have the number of housing to qualify for that.”

The talk went on to preserving naturally occurring affordable housing which goes from one owner to another owner, and the mayor said the town could use the Unified Development Ordinance to require that those houses remain.

In talking about town services, the mayor said she wants a program in town working with the high schools. “If we can help them get a good job, that will keep them from failing later.” She also talked about giving students an opportunity to work in the town electric department or public works. “Young people that love Wake Forest, grew up here and want to stay here.”

She also said the town should be very careful “not to let zoning and planning inhibit business. We want businesses to be here, and that includes making it easy to do business here.”

Jones recently attended a transportation summit sponsored by the state Department of Transportation. During it, she said, someone from Wilson told the group that the city stopped using buses and hired a company that provides 12 cars and drivers who will take people to appointments, shopping and other destinations and charges $1.50 per trip. Cars and drivers also drive around, stop to ask pedestrians if they want a ride and take them if they say yes. That is one form of the micromodal and micro transit she says is the future.

Commissioner Nick Sliwinski said it might alleviate the downtown parking problem.

Commissioner Keith Shackleford said the town should consider an annual revenue stream for transportation.

Commissioner Adam Wright said the town needs to consider enlarging the current Renaissance Centre or building a new one because this one does not have the facilities or space to accommodate a major production such as a touring “Hamilton.”

All these topics and more have been on the table for months as the town board has been examining its priorities and strategic planning goals. The town board and staff have met for a session. There have been four virtual focus groups which went through all the overall topics – town services; transportation and infrastructure; accessible housing; safe, diverse and welcoming community;

and community and economic prosperity.

The Raftelis group and facilitator Michelle Ferguson have compiled all the opinions and ideas into a notebook. The mayor and commissioners are expected to make final choices about the wording and ideas and vote on the finished product soon.

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