News Summary
Asheville is confronting a severe housing crisis that has persisted for 30 years. In light of rising homelessness, local developers, like Barry Bialik, are advocating for changes to city codes to permit more affordable housing options. Despite proposed amendments aimed at increasing housing accessibility, the Asheville City Council has postponed decisions until February 2025, creating urgency among developers amid community concerns over legacy neighborhoods and potential long-term impacts.
Asheville Grapples with Housing Crisis as Council Deliberates Changes
Asheville has been wrestling with a housing crisis for a staggering 30 years, and the situation has reached critical levels recently. With homelessness on the rise, local developers are stepping up, pushing for amendments in city codes to create more affordable housing options. One such advocate is Barry Bialik, a developer specializing in tiny homes, who has taken it upon himself to rally for change.
A Local Developer’s Mission
Bialik has been working on amending city ordinances for the past two years to facilitate the development of affordable housing units. His proposed amendments aim to modify cottage development restrictions and ease the regulations surrounding flag lots, which are smaller plots of land that can be tucked away in neighborhoods. Other potential changes include allowing front doors that do not necessarily face the street and permitting a variety of sewage systems to suit different types of housing developments.
While public hearings held in September 2024 attracted attention, the Asheville City Council chose to postpone a vote on these important changes until February 11, 2025. The council decided to await the outcomes of the Missing Middle Study before taking any further action, creating a sense of urgency among developers, as many voiced the increasing need for housing stock during the comment sessions.
Concerns About Community Impact
Despite the drive for change, not everyone is on board with the proposed amendments. Some local residents are worried about the potential impact on legacy neighborhoods and have raised concerns about the accusations of racial targeting regarding the proposed housing developments. Understandably, emotions are high as the community struggles with its evolving identity amidst these challenges.
The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
Bialik’s frustrations boil over when considering the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which hammered Asheville and left around 100,000 homes either severely damaged or completely destroyed. The storm intensified the already alarming rates of homelessness, triggering a sharp increase in evictions and revealing a critical lack of emergency shelters in the area. To add to the woes, many affordable units are becoming uninhabitable due to issues like mold, further straining the housing market.
Currently, an alarming number of nearly 4,900 families have turned to FEMA’s temporary shelter assistance, with 59 families currently living in temporary trailer housing. Residents are also feeling skeptical about the government’s capacity to provide effective solutions, growing disillusioned due to prior experiences and perceived insufficiencies in local responses.
Building a Roadmap for Affordable Housing
In the face of these pressing issues, city officials have allocated more than $1 million for rental assistance following the storm, yet they face criticism for the lack of a comprehensive recovery plan. Still, various temporary and long-term housing assistance programs are being implemented by both the city and county to tackle the urgent housing needs.
Asheville’s plan to address affordable housing issues aims to reduce barriers to homeownership and enhance rental affordability through continued community engagement. This 10-year roadmap outlines specific goals intended to increase the availability of affordable housing while safeguarding the rights of existing residents against the surge of rising rents amidst the prevailing economic displacement.
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Additional Resources
- TribPapers: Will Tiny Homes Help Alleviate Asheville’s Longstanding Housing Crisis?
- WLOS: Asheville Unveils Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan
- Mountain X: Mountain Housing Woes Headed for Crisis
- NC Newsline: Cary Says No to Affordable Housing Bond
- Blue Ridge Now: Four Ways to Increase Affordable Housing Issues in Western NC
