Summary of the Report
New Item: Buncombe County needs to adopt an anti-displacement policy
Buncombe County is advancing major decisions on economic development, transportation planning, and financing tools without using widely accepted methods for identifying and preventing additional displacement of residents. Research and best practice show that displacement follows measurable patterns – including rising rents, loss of lower-cost housing, and increased investment pressure – but the County is not yet using evidence-based tools to guide relevant policy choices. As a result, well-intentioned decisions risk accelerating housing instability rather than preventing displacement before it occurs.
Item Updates
We have a report back on the issue we centered last week – Asheville’s rezoning decisions must address displacement – and an update on an issue we’ve been tracking since last December – Asheville needs to prioritize deeply affordable housing with recovery money.