Fans of affordable housing may recall the recommendations of the City Council-appointed task force on the issue. (See the full report here.) A key recommendation: Adopt inclusionary zoning policies. Another: Turn the temporary Affordable Housing Task Force into a permanent advisory commission -- along the lines of the Arts Commission and the Convention Center Commission -- so that affordable housing doesn't disappear from the city's radar screen with the expiration of the task force.
Here's an update. Inclusionary zoning's going nowhere. And just to make sure it doesn't, the Council voted last week to take no action either on the idea of a permanent commission. Without any debate whatsover, the Council accepted the position of its Budget & Economic Development Committee, wherein Mayor Meeker (according to the May 26 minutes) moved that the proposed Affordable Housing Commission be wrapped up and deposited in the nearest trash can. All in favor: Meeker, James West, Nancy McFarlane and -- after some futile speculation about what else might be done -- Thomas Crowder.
Meeker's stated rationale, by the way, is that the county will address affordable housing, starting with an all-municipalities summit in September, so Raleigh needn't rush ahead. So -- put the affordable units out in the boondocks first? or in Holly Springs?