Why my neighborhood?
This week, I found a bright red ALERT on my doorstep warning me that CASA with funding from the City of Raleigh and Wake County is attempting to purchase George’s Mews Apartments (corner of Washington St. and Glenwood Avenue) to convert it into subsidized housing. It’s in the heart of Glenwood’s Brooklyn neighborhood, 5 blocks from Hayes Barton, 1 block from Bishops Park and across from Fletcher Park. This is my neighborhood. This was the first time I had heard of the project.
I haven’t been the most “engaged” homeowner. In fact, I didn’t even attend last Wednesday’s community meeting with city leaders because I was working. But I am a concerned resident. I am surprised to learn that this project has been kept under wraps and that most of my neighbors, many of which are engaged HOA members, had not heard anything of these plans before now. The anonymous flyer urged residents to come to write and call all members of the Wake County City Council, County Commissioners and CASA to speak out against the development.
The CASA Website states that, “CASA is an independent non-profit housing development corporation which develops, owns and manages decent, safe and affordable housing for special populations in Wake County. Working through credible referral channels, CASA has housed over 700 people who face the daily challenge of living with a mental, developmental, or substance abuse related disorder.”
$926,164 in funds will be used for the acquisition and rehabilitation of a 26-unit development at 615 and 625 Washington Street, known as the George’s Mews Apartments. Funding for the project is close to being approved but has not been finalized by the City Council or the County Commissioners.
What are the consequences if the project’s approval is finalized?
This is what I do know:
Few communities welcome subsidized housing, with one of the most commonly voiced fears being reductions in property values.
The folks that left the ALERT on my doorstep claim that the project with negatively impact adjacent property values, does not support the city’s goal of downtown growth and revitalization and could increase chances of crime in the area.
The probability of these things worry me. I am very proud to be a homeowner. I live in a walkable neighborhood with pretty homes, a nearby park and pools. I am proud to say that property value in my neighborhood has gone up significantly since I purchased 4 years ago. I truly do love my neighborhood and feel safe when I walk down the sidewalk at night. I am walking distance from Cameron Village and Glenwood South. So many pluses here…I don’t want to risk losing that.
So my questions are…Why the short notice? How is it that I only learned of this new project from my neighbors and why only during the last week? What can I do about this? How can I find out more?
In a last ditch effort to learn more and try to make a difference, I have written emails to our county and city leaders and plan to direct them to my blog to see if any of them are moved to answer any of my questions.
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Look at Old Town Alexandria, VA - Geo.Washinton’s home. Right in the middle of high price THouses and historic rowhouses is a several block area of “The Projects”. You all should check this and other,similar cities for crime statistics around these areas. Don’t know if housing is affected here, since this is PRIME real estate area.