Wake board weighs affordable housing in Raleigh neighborhood

RALEIGH -- The Wake County Board of Commissioners is likely to vote today on whether to help finance a housing development for low-income workers in one of Raleigh's historic neighborhoods.

The commissioners are being asked to contribute $566,500 to help Community Alternatives for Supportive Abodes buy the George's Mews Apartments complex in the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood. The apartments are at the southeast corner of Glenwood Avenue and Washington Street.

CASA, which provides affordable housing for people with special needs, wants to turn 26 one-bedroom units at George's Mews 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.

The $2.14 million project would be funded by the city, Wake County and state agencies. Raleigh's City Council has already agreed to contribute $926,164.

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.

Residents have also complained that they did not find out about the project until the last minute. They say their concerns should be adequately addressed before the project moves forward.

Any delay in approving the project would likely kill it. CASA's option to buy the George's Mews property expires Tuesday. The project has received support from some Glenwood-Brooklyn residents, as well as a number of advocates for affordable housing. Last month the county's Housing and Community Revitalization Committee unanimously recommended approving the project after hearing from more than a dozen people on both sides of the issue. The Wake County commissioners meet at 2 p.m. in room 700 on the 7th floor of the Wake County Courthouse, 337 S. Salisbury St. A public comment period for citizens runs from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.