The four candidates seeking to be Greensboro’s next mayor responded to questionnaires asking for their views on the city’s plans for adding 10,000 new homes, their approach to ensuring housing is affordable for residents and their views on the role of density in addressing the city’s housing challenges.
Early voting ends on Saturday. The primary election day is Oct. 7.
Marikay Abuzuaiter
Do you support City Manager Trey Davis’ plan for adding 10,000 new homes by 2030? Why or why not?
Yes, it is a specific goal that we are all excited about working towards completing.
Of course, we hope we can gain much more than 10,000 units of housing but having a goal helps us all want to partner, collaborate and see what we need to do to make this happen.
A goal like this will give opportunities for our community to ask questions, give suggestions, define challenges and bring innovative solutions to the table.
In listening to suggestions from developers, we have already streamlined much of the permit process, have approved accessory dwelling units (ADU) and we are currently in process of changing what we are able to in the way of inspections.
What specific steps would you take to ensure Greensboro has housing that is affordable for middle-class and working people?
Our newly hired public safety personnel and Guilford County’s teachers, as examples, need to be able to purchase homes that they can afford and feel comfortable maintaining.
I am proud to be on a council that has already been addressing this concern.
We just increased the Homebuyer Assistance Program which allows up to $20,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers who qualify.
We also approved up to a $10,000 down payment increase for lower income buyers and a $5,000 increase for public service heroes.
Someone could feasibly receive up to $30,000 in down payment assistance if they qualify. I want to take steps to ensure that this program is successful and is sustainable well into the future.
Members of the current council have said the city will need to increase density across the board in order to overcome the housing shortage. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Yes, I certainly believe we need to increase density but we also need to look at how the density affects the things we can control.
I give my own neighborhood as an example. When some apartments wanted to use the rest of their parcel to build more units, many people were opposed.
What I looked at was, 1) had their initial investment of over 330 units affected us? No. 2) had it increased crime? No. 3) did people start using our street as a “cut-through?” No. 4) my property value will suffer? No, it actually increased, and 5) what zoning is on the entire street that it will be built on? Commercial.
I can go out of my front door and see the three-story apartments. It does not bother me at all and I hope that others will see the increased benefits of infill and more density.
Mark Cummings
Do you support City Manager Trey Davis’ plan for adding 10,000 new homes by 2030? Why or why not?
There is not enough detail in the plan at this moment to support or oppose it in my view, and if we fail to defend our democratic system because we don’t have leaders willing to fight for all the city’s sons and daughters, then we may not need 10,000 new homes because most of us who dissent from the government will find ourselves guests of government housing.
But I do have questions to this idea of 10,000 new homes by 2030 because the devil is always in the details.
What type of housing will these new homes be, and given the fact that Greensboro has run out of space in certain areas, will the plan further enlarge the economic gulf between east and west Greensboro by concentrating low income housing only on one side of the city?
Concentrating poverty is not a goal we can or should support. Because so much is dependent upon the value of homes in any given community, we must guard against allowing developers (who) concentrate low income housing in a single area rather than diversifying it to ensure all of our communities can thrive and have economic growth.
What specific steps would you take to ensure Greensboro has housing that is affordable for middle-class and working people?
A Mayor Mark administration would first focus on protecting the city’s sons and daughters by ensuring their ability to remain free and engaged in their government.
The greatest threat to affordable housing is a corrupt government that only works for a select few with the financial resources to ingratiate themselves with city leaders.
This issue is complex and a resolution to it takes more than the 250-word limit in this questionnaire.
What is apparent though is that the outdated thinking and backroom deals that continue placing us in the position to deal with this issue every election cycle is unsustainable.
New fresh and bold ideas are (needed), those birthed by a new generation of thinkers and leaders who can figure out the details of an ambitious plan to provide diverse housing throughout the city.
Moreover, the process of building new homes and hybrid residential/commercial communities cannot be reserved only for the special interests preferred by my opponents and their supporters.
My administration would devote substantial time and resources to developing a plan that builds a bigger, better, affordable and safe Greensboro.
Members of the current council have said the city will need to increase density across the board in order to overcome the housing shortage. Do you agree? Why or why not?
There is little we should agree with the current council on given the fact that they have had three years (and in many cases more than three years) to solve this problem.
They have failed all of us with the exception of their special interest friends. Again, the issue is too complex to answer in the space given.
But again, what is evident, we cannot elect the same people who have served as mayor or on city council given the fact that they have had years to address this issue.
We are tired having to address the same issues every election cycle. We are tired of the same folks blocking oversight and stifling growth.
Density may be part of the solution, but if it was only density, then I am sure the establishment would have already (addressed) the issue.
It’s time for new bold leadership, not a recycling of the same folks recycling the same old tired ideas.
Akir Khan
Do you support City Manager Trey Davis’ plan for adding 10,000 new homes by 2030? Why or why not?
No, I do not support this plan.
Greensboro’s largest housing developers simply lack the capacity to meet such an ambitious target.
With current resources, developers may produce roughly 500 homes per year, especially given the $100 per square foot cost. Without a major financial and logistical overhaul, this plan is unrealistic.
What specific steps would you take to ensure Greensboro has housing that is affordable for middle-class and working people?
I will prioritize strategic partnerships with builders and landowners to incentivize affordable housing projects.
That includes zoning adjustments, low-interest development loans, and city-backed infrastructure support to reduce development costs.
Members of the current council have said the city will need to increase density across the board in order to overcome the housing shortage. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Not entirely. Blanket density increases aren’t a cure-all. We must consider neighborhood identities, infrastructure readiness and long-term sustainability.
Our approach should be tailored and community-informed.
Robbie Perkins
Do you support City Manager Trey Davis’ plan for adding 10,000 new homes by 2030? Why or why not?
Yes. In 2023, NC REALTORS commissioned a regional housing study across the Carolina Core region.
Findings include an extremely limited supply of “for sale” housing and a limited rental housing inventory in Guilford County.
Unless we can help produce substantial numbers of new homes and apartments, prices of existing homes will rapidly increase, affecting our existing citizens and new residents moving to the area.
What specific steps would you take to ensure Greensboro has housing that is affordable for middle-class and working people?
The keys to affordability are increasing density across the city, opening more land to public utilities and streamlining regulations to deliver housing more quickly. I would support all three of these initiatives.
Members of the current council have said the city will need to increase density across the board in order to overcome the housing shortage. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Yes. Density allows for more efficient land use, combats urban sprawl, and helps our transportation systems operate more efficiently.
kevin.griffin@greensboro.com
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