Comment Archives: Stories: News: Durham County
Re: “Durham's affordable housing crisis”
Durham Independents make good points.
The original slide began with HUD and apartment complexes in the 1960's. Since then, the government intercession has ballooned into a real estate/banking nightmare, capped by the housing bubble and banking crisis crash of 2008.
Basic financial assumptions of sound business practices were abandoned when banks were forced to make bad loans to unqualified people. The concept of affordable housing is an oxymoron by previous bank lending ratios of annual loan payment to gross income. Recently, this ratio was 35% plus, with a 50% total debt payment cap. Previous ratios were 25% for mortgage and 35% for total debt payment..
Affordable housing is neither since it tries to fit wage earners into houses they cannot afford by sound income to debt ratios. A person making $ 25,000/year can afford a $ 6125 annual house payment, which would afford a dwelling worth approximately $ 82,000. This price would afford a mobile home on a rural lot, not a $ 150,000 to $ 200,000 house in a nice subdivision.
Beside that fiscal limitation, affordable housing reduces the value of surrounding homes because the program through outfits like Habitat for Humanity control the selling price and lower its value in the neighborhood.
And the main point is that we taxpayers must support this program. We are encouraged to donate to Habitat because of some dream that we owe them something.
While I support helping out people who need a hand, I can not support flawed programs which will bankrupt America's future and prosperity.
PS: the president had nothing to do with the actions of Congress in creating the crash. Remember the number 17.
Re: “Durham's affordable housing crisis”
Interesting article, though it would be nice to hear some actual solutions proposed:
First, as for why "the private market doesn't build housing for the extremely low-income people", why would they when they are crowded out by DHA, NCHFA, Land Trust, Self-Help, sketchy politically-connected development corporations, and others? Unfortunately many of these organizations don’t know anything about housing, and provide services at either sub-par standards, or take public money on the promise of mass improvements only to see it float away (see Bill Bell’s UDI; California is full of these money sucks). So long as this is the statas quo, low income housing will be in short supply.
Second, lets recognize the fact that low income housing used to be provided by the marketplace and now is not. Why is there no discussion of the transition’s downside? The market is so distorted and subsidized no one in their right mind would enter it at market rates. Hence, Lincoln Apartments.
Third, your calculations assume one-income households. Wouldn't it behoove someone making $9 and hour to pool resources with others for better housing? Extended family living was the norm in the past. Any head of household would prefer to live alone, but living alone is not a constitutional right.
Fourth, if you get what you pay for, low-income housing is going to be lower quality. $350/month is not going to put you in West Village. Higher quality housing comes from higher rents, which can be attained through more work, better work, pooling of resources, and more supply.
Rather than complain about the status quo, it would be nice to hear the Independent wax on how we increase this supply of affordable housing. It would be nice to see investigative journalism that looks for a solution, rather than just implies we should throw more money at the problem. Anyone with elementary math skills can calculate Rolling Hills is costing us $350,000 per ‘affordable unit’.
My hope is the 'new' Indy can think up better solutions than that.
Re: “The Know Bookstore's future: unknown”
I made a documentary about The Know Bookstore in 2005 when I was a student at Duke University. I live in Los Angeles now and last time I was in Durham, I saw the bookstore was closed. I recently watched the documentary and remember the vibe and energy from that place.
Check out the documentary on my YouTube page and please let me know what you think!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niC4WlN_7j0…
Neil
Re: “After 751 South, Durham rewriting rules on sewer and water service”
How about forcing all developers who are in the process of securing zoning permits to submit to random checks on construction sites for citizen checks and to make sure that all employees have been E Verified. That would be the greatest jobs program for Americans yet.
Re: “Durham calls for American Tobacco Trail watchers”
Reading this article is infuriating, as are most of these half-hearted responses being published in the N & O and the Durham Herald Sun. Excuses, excuses.. The cameras didn't work then. We don't have the money. Excuse after excuse. When the violence moved from the mile 0 to mile 2 zone up to the suburbs zone (mile 5.5) is when most reasonable people who ARE Durham residents said, "Nope... no more running on the American Tobacco Trail. It's just too dangerous AND I am no longer willing to take the risk. It's just not worth it anymore." If most of these media blurbs continue to depict us going the low budget route where we are NOT doing what logically makes the most sense- INSTALL lights, surveillance cameras (try a better company if your last "pilot" was not good), and call boxes- then you will likely NOT see anyone on the trail. It's a ghost town during the morning hours and late afternoon/early evening hours when it used to be a vibrant place of recreation for our entire community. It's not just the violence that makes for Durham's reputation being tarnished... it's these half-hearted responses that communicate our city's lack of pride and willingness to INVEST in doing the VERY best... WHATEVER is needed,... that is tarnishing our city's reputation almost to the same degree as this recent upswing of violence on the American Tobacco Trail. And, by the way... this is not simply an "impression" that the trail is an unsafe place to be... it is an unsafe place to be.
Re: “Financial questions loom over Lincoln Apartments”
Durham Deputy City Manager Keith Chadwell said the city has spoken with Southern Real Estate and the foundation. "They are operationally challenged," Chadwell said. "Ultimately, it's a private company choosing to close."
He added that the city has been given access to rental information but has not seen the company's books. Nor is the city entitled to review them, since Southern Real Estate is a private company.
"We have no evidence that anything unscrupulous is going on," Chadwell said. "We don't have cause to pursue it."
Would the city have cause (or reason) to pursue it if Bill Bell was living there?
Re: “Unable to pay bills, landlord to evict Lincoln Apartments tenants”
Great research and data by the Indy and Lisa Sorg. Stands in stark contrast to DHS which has nothing on this sad story. Wonder if that is related to the fact that many Lincoln Housing Foundation Trustees and officials are prominent Durham Democrats??
How did so many folks concerned with affordable housing let this project slip into chaos, when we have a long list of folks needing affordable housing. The DHA comment that apartments were risky because they had lead paint is laughable to anyone dealing with older housing.
What is going on here??
Re: “Durham City Council OK's tax-incentive plan to convert SunTrust building into a hotel”
Not the top hotel, but the second, after Chicago's Waldorf Astoria. Not bad company.
Re: “New rules on public puffing”
"The goal of the new policy isn't to 'police the public'"? Sorry... that's a tough sell.
Re: “Commissioners approve sewer for 751 South”
What kind of logic is that? Jordan water allotment is approx. one hundred million gallons per day. The major cities are pulling all but 15 mgd or so. The dedicated part of Jordan's full flow is a minor portion, even in dry spells. It is mainly fed from the Haw which goes nearly to Winston-Salem and has plenty of water. Durham City's wastewater used to pollute the New Hope River considerably.. With the new wastewater treatment plant, that is minimized. But there is still plenty of water. All the "green" ideas have not changed the geography, physiology, hydrology or water quality significantly, since that is the purvey of government since Roman and Greek times. Hail Caesar!
Re: “Commissioners approve sewer for 751 South”
We've gotta stop electing idiots who fall for developer ploys and empty promises. When SDD gets everything it wants and sucks Jordan Lake dry--betcha' the Commissioners will go MIA.
Re: “Durham Commission could consider sewer for 751 South”
SDD--what a smarmy group! It has tried every trick in the book. The city and county need to shut Mitchell down once and for all. Durham will experience moderate drought conditions that will worsen as temps rise and rain does not fall.
If the commission sides with the developers, they'll(SDD's posse) walk away with full pockets. The city, the county and residents will be left high and dry. Who needs an albatross?
Re: “In Durham, a controversy over outdoor drinking”
"Personally, it makes me not want to reinvest in Durham, especially when I know that I can go 30 minutes east to Raleigh and not have a problem," - REALLY?! Because the Raleigh crowd would support a place like Whiskey jjjuuusssttt as well as Durham...
I can sympathize, but my guess is that most patrons want to be outside to escape the smoke inside.
Re: “Food trucks (mostly) prevail; some prohibitions remain”
This is great -- we really need to nurture our food trucks and our food culture in general!
But as a foodie who has recently been diagnosed with celiac, I have to add that I so much wish our food trucks posted their allergen information. It is terribly frustrating to wait long minutes in a line only to find out when arriving at the window -- when it's too late to try anything else -- that their food has wheat or some other source of gluten in it.
Simply making information available would be both easy and cheap on the owner's part (it could be posted on the far side of the truck) -- as well as kind to their customers who have food restrictions. It could actually save a life too.
This is also true of restaurants, but at least restaurants can often be reached by phone or have a web presence -- unlike the majority of our food trucks.
Re: “Greenfire's green wall: Fence is gone, but problem remains”
Just weeks ago prior to the removal of the fence it had fallen down out of neglect, nearly causing me to trip. Greenfire demonstrates serial negligence. The rest of our downtown deserves diligence by Durham to bring action.
Re: “Greenfire's green wall: Fence is gone, but problem remains”
"Dozens of tenants were displaced last April after the Liberty Warehouse in downtown Durham's Central Park district was condemned by the city. Heavy rains and a leaky ceiling caused a section of the roof to collapse. A year later, the company has yet to repair the hole."
And yet, the building is currently plastered with "For rent" signs.
Re: “Southern Durham Development tries to influence commissioners' race”
Steve, Wow, such hostility here! What did Rickey do lock you up for something and you never got over it?
Re: “Southern Durham Development tries to influence commissioners' race”
i am sorry but the first day i volunteered at the polls i was guilty of interrupting the woman passing out the Southern Durham Development flyers. I was rude and worked very hard today to keep the peace while i was at a poll site.
I love America and the conflicts and discussions are what many people have died to protect.
I do however feel that these differences of opinions should NOT BE BOUGHT by Super Pacs or BIG Corporations.
Re: “Southern Durham Development tries to influence commissioners' race”
The PA has a long, well respected history in Durham and the participation of hundreds of DURHAM RESIDENTS over the years. Each of these residents had the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions at the endorsement meeting (which was attended by ~ 100 people), and the choosing of the county commissioners endorsements was discussed at length. The PA also has endorsed a candidate for every other office, while the SuperPAC only endorsed county commissioner candidates.
The Durham Partnership for Progress Super PAC was formed only a few weeks before this election and funded entirely by outside development interests for the sole purpose of endorsing ONLY county commissioner candidates who have pledged to support the 751 development project. But this isn't just about the 751 project. These developers own a lot more land in Durham County for which they would love to have unfettered development plans rubber stamped by the commissioners they have campaigned for.
Badge1's comments regarding PA polling practices actually describes quite accurately the practices of the non-PA pollsters.
I have seen nothing but respectful communication between PA pollsters and the voting public. But I have personally witnessed and experienced non-PA pollsters aggressively approaching cars and passersby, interrupting conversations between PA and independent pollsters and the voters, tearing down signs posted by their opposition, and referring to other pollsters with racist comments and intimidating behavior.
It is a shame, but we really should have a police presence at all the polls, not due to the PA's polling practices but due to the confrontational and intimidating behavior of pollsters from the other PACs and the 751 candidates' supporters.
Re: “Erick Daniels freed”
To all the haters the interdepartmental criminals & all others that share a part in the wrongful conviction an imprisonment of children & loved ones of others...There is no exemption to whom this misfortune could fall prey to. It is callous & bias to sit back an pass judgement onpolicedept innocent victims. There are az many crooks & criminals in the city of durham department of police, the courts,attorneys offices, political arenas than there are guilty criminals in the street,,, May God continue to bless & keep us in these times of mahiem & chaos,,, My heart goes out to this young man and his family.Ruth Brown will get hers.