Raleigh’s rapid growth is bringing new development, new residents, and new opportunities. But for many longtime Black residents, it is also bringing rising housing costs and growing concerns about being pushed out of neighborhoods they have lived in for decades.
Over the past decade, the city’s population has steadily increased, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, with thousands of new residents moving into Raleigh each year. During that same time, rent and home prices have risen faster than many residents’ incomes, making it harder for long-term residents to stay in place.
Much of that change is especially visible in Southeast Raleigh, a historically Black area that has long been known for its strong community ties, cultural history, and generational roots. In recent years, the neighborhood has seen increased redevelopment. Older homes are being replaced with newer, higher-priced properties that many current residents say are out of reach…