NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 6, 2000

HUNTER STREET HOUSES COME DOWN,

MAKE WAY FOR NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING

IN CARY

CARY, NC – A six-year battle to rid one Cary neighborhood of two dangerous, abandoned houses climaxes at noon today as officials move in to begin the demolition of the structures and launch an 18-month partnership to replace them with new, moderately-priced housing. The Town of Cary and Wake County are working together to revitalize 313 and 317 Hunter Street, property in a downtown Cary neighborhood that has been a public eyesore and hazard for years. One building is coming down today while officials are removing asbestos from the other. Demolition of that building will likely be completed by week’s end.

"We’ve been working with neighborhood on this issue for a long time," said Cary’s Inspections & Permits Director Bob Strowbridge. "While we would have preferred for the property owner to take responsibility for this problem, we’re glad to be able to step in and work with the County to come up with a great, long-term solution."

Since late 1993, Cary officials have been trying to get property owner Norman Stanley of Raleigh to bring his two houses up to minimum housing code standards since, over the years, the houses have become totally uninhabitable and served as a local crime spot. In late 1998, the Town exhausted every remedy and ordered the structures cleared. Stanley challenged the Town’s directive in court but failed. In early December of 1999, the Wake County Board of Commissioners authorized its Housing and Community Revitalization Division to spend federal funds to acquire the Hunter Street properties and demolish the existing buildings. Town and County staff then met to discuss the acquisition of the site, the demolition of the buildings, and future redevelopment opportunities. Wake County acquired title in late December.

In addition to serving the neighborhood, this week’s demolition of the Hunter Street structures supports two plans that are being prepared by Town of Cary staff: the Town Center Area Plan (TCAP) and the Affordable Housing Plan.

First, the Hunter Street property is within the TCAP study area and has already been identified as a possible site for redevelopment to improve the neighborhoods that support Cary’s Downtown. Second, the Affordable Housing Plan includes goals that promote partnerships with other groups as well as the renewal of neighborhoods. The Hunter Street project is a partnership between the Town of Cary and Wake County, and both the Town and the County will jointly plan the future use of the Hunter Street site.

The two jurisdictions are in ongoing discussions about the process to be used for future affordable housing opportunities. Most likely, a Request for Proposals will be issued and the Town and County will select the most appropriate development proposal that maximizes creativity, meets neighborhood concerns, and provides quality, moderately-priced housing.

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