‘It’s our moonshot.’ New Raleigh mayor seeks bond for affordable housing, Dix Park
In Mary-Ann Baldwin’s official first act as Raleigh’s new mayor, she is calling for a bond to help pay for affordable housing and starting construction at Dorothea Dix Park.
Baldwin’s call to action came Monday night as the 2019-2021 City Council was sworn in at Raleigh Union Station. New members on the council are Jonathan Melton, Patrick T. Buffkin, Saige Martin and David Knight.
Nicole Stewart, David Cox and Corey Branch are returning council members.
Baldwin didn’t provide the amount or any details of what she is calling the “Quality of Life” bond. The council will hold a special meeting on affordable housing on Dec. 17.
“Back in 1962, President John Kennedy challenged the nation by declaring we would go to the moon,” Baldwin said in her speech. “Not think about it. Wish for it. Or do it if it was convenient. But we would do it. It’s with that spirit of determination that I’m asking all of you to get ready for Raleigh’s version of the moonshot.”
Baldwin said the bond will be “well-crafted, created with public input, supported by our partners and informed through polling data.”
“But it will be big,” Baldwin said. “It will be bold. And we will need your support. This initiative will set the stage for the Raleigh of the future and determine what our city will become over the next decade. It’s our moonshot. Something we, as a city, must do.”
Dix Park
The first phase of Dix Park includes the creation of a “plaza and play” area along Lake Wheeler Road with play spaces, plazas and cook-out areas, according to the park’s planning documents. Historical homes in that part of the park would be renovated and could be turned into a children’s arts and cultural center.
Phase one also includes widening and expanding the Rocky Branch Creek that runs along the park; creates a land bridge over Western Boulevard to connect Dix Park to Pullen Park; a multi-use path along Lake Wheeler; and restoration of the historic cemetery.
“Mayor Baldwin and the entire incoming council have been clear and strong in their support of Dorothea Dix Park, and in their belief that it will have a profound, positive impact on our quality of life,” said Sean Malone, president of the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy, in an interview before the event. “A November bond to support construction of phase one, coupled with donations at every level from individuals and organizations throughout the region, is critical to our community’s ability to truly create ‘a park for everyone, built by everyone.’ 2020 is going to be an exciting and important year for our city.”
The timeline for the first phase is likely more than 10 years.
The bond will also include maintaining and building the city’s parks and greenways “in an equitable way,” though no other details were provided.
Affordable housing
The idea of an affordable housing bond has come before the city council before. The former council was split on whether to pursue an affordable housing bond for the 2019 October ballot or in March 2020.
Some, including former Council member Russ Stephenson, wanted a bond that would focus on acquiring land along transit routes for affordable housing; money to support developers building affordable housing; and helping residents fix or buy a home.
Others, including former Mayor Nancy McFarlane, said the bond didn’t have the backing of key organizations like the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and WakeUP Wake County. Those organizations normally spend millions to support bonds, but they said in a joint letter that the council’s previous proposal didn’t have enough community input.
The city’s last parks bond was in 2014 at $94 million, while the last housing bond was in 2011 for $16 million. The city stopped seeking affordable housing bonds after it raised the property tax rate by 1 cent in 2015 to fund its affordable housing efforts. The city also raised property taxes by the same amount to support the purchase of Dix Park.
Durham voters approved a $95 million affordable housing bond last month while Charlotte approved a $50 million bond last year.
A 1-cent increase to the property tax rate would allow for a $76 million bond.
Diverse council
Baldwin celebrated the council’s diversity and shared values in propelling the city forward.
“Over the next two years, we will demonstrate what can be achieved when a group of dedicated public officials and residents put aside their egos and personal agendas, and work together to create a city of progress, innovation and compassion — for all our residents,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin is the city’s third woman mayor. Martin and Melton are the first openly gay council members to be elected to the city council with both defeating incumbents in their respective districts. Martin, who is half-Puerto Rican, is also the council’s first Latino representative. (No women of color have ever been elected to the council.)
Martin said some members of the LGBTQ community remember when Raleigh wasn’t as welcoming as it is now.
“So many of them had tears in their eyes,” Martin said. “And that they are able to see someone from that community running for office, let alone winning, it’s a reminder to me that I am part of a larger family and I owe so much to the success of people coming before me.“
While many of the council members stood with their families to be sworn in, Martin stood with the parents of Soheil Mojarrad, a man who was fatally shot and killed by a Raleigh Police officer earlier this year. Martin said their presence was to honor Mojarrad and to honor one of his campaign promises of addressing police accountability.
Mojarrad was shot after a police officer was searching for a man accused of stealing a cell phone. The police said Mojarrad was carrying a knife and moved toward the officer, despite commands to stop.
After the ceremony, the family spoke to Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown and shared an embrace.
The council’s first meeting is at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The 2019-21 City Council is:
▪ Mary Ann Baldwin, mayor
▪ Jonathan Melton, at-large
▪ Nicole Stewart, at-large
▪ Patrick Buffkin, District A
▪ David Cox, District B
▪ Corey Branch, District C
▪ Saige Martin, District D
▪ David Knight, District E
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 6:30 PM.
