Raleigh council still backing housing project

The Raleigh City Council today reaffirmed its support for a project that would place housing for low-income workers in the city's Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood.

The vote comes a day after the Wake County Board of Commissioners delayed voting on the same plan until Raleigh had revisited the issue.

The City Council's 7-1 vote allows Community Alternatives for Supportive Abodes to go back before the county commissioners to get approval to buy the George's Mews Apartments complex at the southeast corner of Glenwood Avenue and Washington Street.

The $2.14 million project is to be funded by the city, Wake County and state agencies. The City Council voted this summer to contribute $926,164 to the CASA project. Wake County is being asked to contribute $566,500.

It's unclear whether the Raleigh City Council's action today will satisfy the county commissioners. In tabling the issue Monday, Joe Bryan, the chairman of the Wake board of commissioners, said he wanted Raleigh leaders to hold a meeting to hear from opponents and supporters of the project.

The City Council did agree today to look into providing the existing residents of George's Mews more time to find other places to live if CASA buys the property.

CASA, which provides affordable housing for people with special needs, wants to turn George's Mews' 26 one-bedroom units into a mix of rent-controlled apartments and housing for the disabled. Eighteen units would be set aside for working people earning less than $31,000 a year. The other eight units would be for people receiving state disability payments.

A number of Glenwood-Brooklyn residents oppose the project, arguing that it will slow their neighborhood's revitalization and reduce property values by clustering two CASA projects nearby. CASA already operates a Cleveland Street quadruplex a block from George's Mews.

CASA's option to buy the property was scheduled to expire today. Debra King, CASA's executive director, told the City Council at today's meeting that she hopes George's Mews current owner will allow the offer to be extended.

Councilman Philip Isley was the only council member who voted against reaffirming support for CASA's project.