Cary Residents Still Fighting Low-Income Housing Plan
The debate over an affordable housing complex is heating up again in Cary. Now, someone is circulating flyers warning home owners of what they call the dangers associated with low-income housing. But organizers of the project say that information is flat out wrong.
Many residents of a subdivision near the proposed complex are passionate about the issue. They don't want affordable housing built across the street from them. Carolina Power & Light, which is funding the development, says those people need to get their facts straight.
Weatherstone is the type of neighborhood where children play outside without incurring the fear of their parents. Some who live their say that way of life is being threatened by the proposed apartment complex.
Weatherstone homeowner Joe Thomas told WRAL-TV5'sAmanda Lambhe just wants a safe neighborhood for his family.
Homeowner Andrew Briggs says the developers are going to make money at the expense of Weatherstone homeowners.
CP&L Business Manager Don Dixon says he hopes people will see the flyers for what they are -- fear mongering.
Dixon says critics of the project are misinformed.
Frankie Pendergraph is vice president of Jag Management, which is developing the housing complex. She says it will be a nice neighborhood.
Many Weatherstone residents say nothing they've heard from CP&L and Jag Management will change their minds, but homeowner Sarah Shiells says they don't want to be labeled as "elitist", either.
Part of the flyer is a photocopy of a newspaper article about a recent shooting in Wake Forest. At the bottom of the article, someone has written, "Could this happen in Cary?". Project organizers say the flyers are inflammatory and they want to address these concerns and calm residents' fears.
They will hold a public meeting on November 11 where they hope to distribute information that will ease concerns.
Cary town officials will be considering the plan for 30 days. The land is currently zoned for the apartment complex, but officials say they are not taking a position on the proposal at this time.
Photographer:Joe Frieda
