Regular Meeting · September 16, 2024

The Durham City Council met on September 16, 2024, and approved several major development projects while wrestling with affordability questions that divided the board.

Council Member DeDreana Freeman cast the only dissenting vote on a 432-unit mixed-use project at South Miami Boulevard, arguing the city was not demanding enough from developers. Freeman objected that the project includes only 3.5 percent affordable housing restricted for just ten years, which she called "laughable." She emphasized that each new student costs the city roughly $100,000 in school capital costs, but the developer is only contributing $500 in fees. Freeman also criticized that a tree protection ordinance passed just before the original vote gave the applicant an excuse to reduce density by 80 units without increasing the affordability percentage. Council Member Chelsea Cook agreed that ten years does not constitute true affordability. The rest of the council approved the project, with Mayor Leonardo Williams noting the difficult timing of the ordinance change.