Cary council pauses vote after hours of public comment on Raleigh Housing Authority acquisition of Amberwood

The Cary Town Council on July 23 paused a decision on whether to authorize the Raleigh Housing Authority (RHA) to operate in Cary and acquire Amberwood at Lochmere, a 340‑unit apartment complex, after an extensive public hearing and hours of testimony from residents and RHA representatives.

Director of Planning Heather Willihan described the request as a statutory step under North Carolina law: a municipal resolution authorizing an adjacent city’s housing authority to operate within Cary when the authority seeks to acquire property. ‘‘Adopting a resolution authorizing a housing authority to operate is a technical requirement and does not make the town a party to the acquisition or any related financing,’’ Willihan told council.

Ashley Lammers Johnson, CEO of the Raleigh Housing Authority, said RHA’s plan would preserve the property as affordable housing and address deferred maintenance. “All 340 units will remain affordable for low and moderate‑income households, with at least 51% of the units affordable to low‑income households,” she said, describing commitments to limit rent increases and to invest in renovations.

RHA’s director of acquisitions, Jason Morrow, explained the timeline: RHA submitted a competitive offer and entered a due‑diligence access agreement that triggered a 30‑day due‑diligence window followed by a potential extension; RHA said earnest money on the contract was refundable and that no City of Raleigh tax dollars were being used for the deposit.

Hundreds of written comments and dozens of in‑person speakers filled the Chamber. Supporters told council the acquisition would protect naturally occurring affordable housing and prevent a private sale that could lead to rent increases and displacement. “If we want to keep that vulnerable and large stock of affordable housing in this community, it comes with a cost,” said one supporter, urging preservation.

Opponents — especially neighbors from the Lochmere Homeowners Association — focused on governance, loss of local tax revenue, and long‑term maintenance and accountability if RHA (a Raleigh instrumentality) assumes ownership. Speakers said RHA’s board is appointed by the Raleigh mayor and that Cary residents would have no appointment power. “This is a backdoor entry,” a Lochmere resident said, urging council to vote no or to delay.

Council members debated timing, oversight, and the financial tradeoffs. Several members praised the preservation aim but said the compressed timetable — driven by RHA’s contractual due‑diligence schedule — left insufficient time for public review. The council then voted 5–2 to table the resolution, an action RHA representatives said would effectively result in the acquisition not moving forward under the current sales timeline.

Mayor (presiding) said staff should consider how the town’s affordable‑housing investments might account for foregone property tax revenue if a sale to a housing authority proceeds. Interim Town Manager Russ Overton said staff would work on implementing improved procedures and transparency measures as the council considers options.

The council did not adopt the RHA resolution; staff and council members said they expect further conversations and possible alternative proposals, including local approaches to preserve affordability.