Affordable housing is a complex issue, and one that Western Wake will have to address in the years to come.
Projections by Wake County show construction is not keeping pace with growth—projections for 10 years down the road show a need for 18,000-23,000 new homes annually, and at varying price points. That’s above the average annual 12,700 new homes in the county approved for construction.
But there has been progress, and with specific local projects and countywide efforts, decisions can be made in the coming year to influence the future. Here are just three things in the works.
🏘️ The Carr Center in Cary: Plans for this mixed-use development demonstrate how multiple community issues are being addressed with housing as a foundation. The partnership is between Greenwood Baptist Church (where the site is located), nonprofit The Carying Place, nonprofit housing developer DHIC, Greenwood Forest Children’s Center, and the YMCA.
Since INDY reported on the rezoning for the project last April, design plans for the 62 housing units at The Carr Center are moving forward in 2026.
The Carying Place, which supports working families with children, is preparing to increase its transitional housing by 11 units with The Carr Center to a total of 26 units, said Executive Director Leslie Covington.
The Carying Place serves “the people who serve us every day,” Covington said. “Our teachers, the people we see in the grocery store.”
The Carying Place began fundraising for the project, which will break ground in the second quarter of 2027, though the nonprofit is in a phase of gaining support from people “who really want to leave a legacy” with working families transitioning out of homelessness, Covington said. A larger campaign for more contributors will be shared at a later time.
🏘️ Community Land Trusts in Apex: In November, the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved a $234,000 loan to the Raleigh Area Land Trust for acquisition and permanent financing to support an affordable homeownership project in Apex, Jane Porter of INDY reports.
Porter also reported on the Town of Apex creating a Community Land Trust in September, a solution that works for both keeping housing affordable and supporting homeowners:
“Under the CLT model, town-owned land can be held in the trust in perpetuity and affordable housing built on it and sold to residents at affordable rates with a guaranteed 99-year lease on the land. When an owner is ready to sell, they can work with the CLT to set a new sale price for the home, having gained some equity based on the appreciated value of the home.”
🏘️ Wake County affordable housing efforts are ramping up in 2026: The Housing Opportunity Fund is one solution from the county launching this year.
The goal of the fund is to support new affordable housing in key areas. Acquiring land can be a barrier for affordable housing developers, so the fund “will provide site acquisition and gap financing loans to support affordable housing development in neighborhoods close to jobs, grocery stores, health care, education and transit,” according to the announcement.
A version of this story originally appeared in the January 22 edition of The Line.
Look for more features on what’s coming to Western Wake in 2026 in our Thursday newsletters this month.
Previously: Salem Street’s transformation, upscale Indian restaurants expand.
🗓️ The Line launch party is another way we’re kicking off 2026! Tickets are going fast, don’t miss out!