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 the answer from city council candidate Joe Grady.
As a person who has been involved
in the housing industry for over 20 years, both as a Realtor and working for a
construction company and developer, I know housing fairly well. I know how difficult it is to change people's
perceptions and minds. I represented the
development of the first senior housing condominium project against much
opposition by single family homeowners, only to find that after several years
after completion it is in high demand for people to live. Even those that opposed it at the time are
now living in the complex. Time and
effective education will indeed change people’s attitudes and perception. The fears people have about change – are
often totally unwarranted. I am the
founding chairman of St. Hope, a nonprofit housing organization, for those
unfortunate to find themselves homeless.
As a former city councilman in another state, I was the city's
representative to the Planning and Zoning Commission. I have heard every negative argument
possible. People fear the unknown – that
is why education is so important.
As times change, municipalities
too must change. Today we face new
designs, new concepts, new demands, and new developments – along with new
challenges. I am in favor of investigating
and discussing all viable options to decrease our housing crisis here in
Asheville, including changing density requirements that are outdated and do not
meet today's expectations. I have recently completed my Master's degree in
Public Administration and my thesis was "Affordable Housing in
Asheville." Not only have I have spent most of my life in the housing
business, I have more experience in the housing industry, than any other
council candidate. I have several
friends across the country, who are advocates of tiny homes, and we speak about
the benefits and challenges that niche has in today's world. I have also sat down on many occasions and
spoke to people here in WNC who are developing and pushing micro living. Not only am I an advocate of reduced square
footage but also an advocate of energy star savings in current and future
homes. We need to remove barriers
currently in our city ordinances that limit creativity and change but at the
same time managing change and preserving everyone's investment.
As in any change or new
adventure, there will be issues like zoning, code enforcement, legality, and
the biggest issue – education. I am a
strong advocate of manufactured housing but there is a stigma tied to it and
it's entirely wrong. To add to that
problem, terminology fluctuates from state to state, region to region, causing
one person to be in favor of a concept in one state but opposed to it in
another state strictly thru definition and terminology.
What Asheville needs to do is
explore all options on the table and as councilman that is what I will do. Decisions made must be for the benefit of the
city, its current residents, and not jeopardize or hurt their investment. At the same time, residents of the city must
understand that what worked in the 1960's, 70's, and 80's, just doesn’t work
today. We must be visionary, open to
change, manage that change, and move forward for the benefit of all the
residents of Asheville.
