Asheville City Council Candidate Grant Millin

City council elections will be happening in Asheville this fall. Right now there are 15 candidates in the field. On October 6th there will be a primary to narrow the field to 6 candidates vying for 3 seats. The general election will take place on November 3rd to elect these new city council representatives. 

Asheville SHAC posed the following question to all 15 candidates: 

"What's your position on increasing density / affordable housing in Asheville via micro housing?" 

In the time leading up to the election we will share the candidates' answers in the order in which they respond. If you're a resident of the city of Asheville we encourage you to vote in October and November.

*SHAC as an organization does not endorse any specific candidate, though our individual members may. The candidates' answers will be provided for informational purposes only.

Here is answer from city council candidate Grant Millin. 

Specifically on micro housing (i.e. tiny homes) I don’t oppose regulatory moves that might enhance the micro housing market. At the same time density and more micro housing in the corners of what developable land is left in city limits are not necessarily the same thing. What I’m saying is we all deserve to see what a model showing that remaining developable land in Asheville and what the mix of micro housing and other new housing might look like.

I have a lot to say about quality, affordable housing. I am most likely one or the only or the only renter with any chance of winning a council seat. First, 'affordable housing’ is a piece of the poverty puzzle. Either folks have enough cash to afford housing per what the market will bear, or they are in poverty or headed to poverty… partly because not everyone can bear this real estate market and moving isn’t a realistic solution. Not choosing to move here might be one of the low hanging fruit options we can advertise for the sake of low income folks until more sustainable national strategy is available.

Next, by quality I mean David Forbes with Asheville Blade has looked at some of the deteriorating rental housing stock in Asheville. I personally am trying to get HUD to act on the quality issues at the historic apartment complex I live in affecting approximately 200 citizens. City of Asheville is not prepared to act on housing quality issues, and of course the state and current congressional leadership are decidedly anti-renter.

So folks need someone who can relate to the conditions renters are dealing with. Renters and HUD/HACA clients are the bulk of the Asheville residents impacted negatively by housing costs. Renters and their children also make up close to 50 percent of the Asheville population. You would think at least one renter would be on city council now. I do not believe that’s the case. 

I am definitely for innovative, responsible solutions to housing quality and affordability on the part of all levels of government.

You can find out more about Millin's campaign at his website.