By Judaea Ingram
Special To The Carolinian
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.
Angela Morris has lived in Southeast Raleigh for more than 20 years. She said the changes are happening quickly and are reshaping the community she has known for most of her life.
“Everything is going up except people’s pay,” Morris said. “I’ve seen houses get torn down and replaced with homes nobody around here can afford. People I’ve known for years are leaving because they don’t have a choice.”
Her experience reflects a broader pattern affecting historically Black neighborhoods across Raleigh and the wider Triangle area. As the city continues to grow, rising property values and redevelopment pressures are changing the makeup of long-established communities. Many residents are facing higher rents, increased property taxes, and fewer affordable housing options.
For renters, those pressures often create instability and frequent moves. Marcus Hill, a 29-year-old service worker, said rising rent has forced him to relocate multiple times in recent years.
“Each time my lease was up, the rent went up,” Hill said. “You try to plan ahead, but eventually it just gets too expensive. Moving sets you back every time.”
Housing advocates say stories like Hill’s are becoming more common as the supply of affordable housing struggles to keep pace with demand. Local housing data shows a tightening market, particularly for households earning below the area’s median income, leaving fewer options for working-class residents.
“Development isn’t the problem by itself,” said James Carter, a local housing advocate. “The issue is who benefits from that development and who gets left behind. Right now, too many people feel like they’re being pushed out of their own neighborhoods.”
Carter added that the impact of rising housing costs goes beyond rent or homeownership. In many cases, displacement breaks apart long-standing community networks that have existed for generations.
For many families, leaving a neighborhood also means losing access to relationships and support systems built over time.
“When people leave, you’re not just losing a neighbor,” Morris said. “You’re losing history, culture, and support systems.”
Southeast Raleigh and other historically Black neighborhoods have also long served as cultural and economic anchors for Black families in the city. Churches, small businesses, and neighborhood organizations have played a central role in sustaining those communities. As more residents move out, many of those institutions are also feeling the effects of declining local populations.
At the same time, younger residents hoping to buy homes in Raleigh are facing growing barriers. Rising home prices and limited housing inventory have made homeownership increasingly difficult, especially for first-time buyers without generational wealth or financial assistance.
City leaders have acknowledged Raleigh’s affordability challenges and have introduced initiatives aimed at expanding access to housing. These include funding for affordable housing developments and partnerships with nonprofit organizations working on housing equity. Still, some residents and advocates say the efforts have not kept pace with the scale of the need.
“There needs to be intentional action,” Carter said. “If the city is serious about equity, then it has to prioritize the people who have been here all along.”
As Raleigh continues to grow and attract new residents, many longtime residents are left questioning what that growth will mean for them. While development continues to reshape the city, concerns remain about whether current communities will be able to stay and benefit from the changes happening around them.
For Morris, the answer depends on whether residents most affected are included in those decisions.
“We’re not against progress,” she said. “We just want to be part of it.”
