On September 27th, High Point University hosted the Carolina Core Housing Summit, a pivotal event organized by the North Carolina Association of REALTORS and 11 local REALTOR associations. At its heart, the summit focused on addressing current and future housing needs across the Carolina Core, an area poised for growth due to expanding economic opportunities.
The release of the “Carolina Core Housing Needs Assessment,” conducted by Bowen National Research, provided crucial data and insights into the housing landscape within the 11 participating REALTOR associations. This comprehensive study serves as a critical starting point for collaboration between real estate professionals, elected officials, and community leaders, ensuring that housing needs are met today and in the future.
Speakers such as Patrick Bowen, Kirk deViere, Marvette Artis, Doug Copeland, and Loren Hill contributed valuable perspectives, emphasizing the importance of a coordinated approach to addressing housing challenges. The event saw broad participation from real estate professionals, government officials, and economic developers, all united by a common goal of improving housing outcomes for their communities.
Among the economic development leaders present was Wilkes EDC President LeeAnn Nixon, who represented Wilkes County’s commitment to tackling local housing issues. Thanks to the Carolina Core’s initiative in commissioning the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, Wilkes County was able to take the next step by engaging Bowen National Research for additional services to develop a Wilkes County-specific Housing Study. This strategic decision ensures that Wilkes County has tailored data and recommendations to address its unique housing challenges.
Building on the insights from the Carolina Core Housing Summit, Wilkes EDC will host its own Housing Summit on November 15th at the Stone Center, where the Wilkes County Housing Study will be officially released. This in-depth study, made possible through Wilkes EDC’s request for additional services, will shed light on local housing needs and opportunities.
The November 15th summit will cover critical topics, including:
· Understanding the housing availability gap, based on Bowen National Research findings.
· Streamlining the approval process with local government insights to reduce barriers to development.
· Discovering financial tools to support housing solutions (speaker TBD).
· Exploring potential properties and sites for future development in Wilkes County.
· Engaging in conversations with stakeholders to foster collaboration and actionable solutions.
By requesting this additional service from Bowen National Research, Wilkes EDC has demonstrated its commitment to understanding and addressing our community’s specific housing needs. We look forward to sharing these findings and continuing vital conversations that will shape the future of housing in Wilkes County.
Learn more about the Core by visiting NC Carolina Core’s website.
