Tearing Down Historic Black Neighborhood for Bus Lanes – On Western BRT

On Wednesday, 5/18/22, the Wake County Housing Justice Coalition organized a community meeting to discuss the issues surrounding the Western Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Raleigh. Unlike most meetings organized by the City of Raleigh, we shed light on the gentrification and displacement that will take place in the communities along Western Blvd for this bus lane, when there are already 6 buses coming through the area.

While designing for the Western BRT, the city has not demonstrated that they have taken into considerations for how the current residents in historic Black and Brown communities, including but not limited to: Method Community (the oldest Black community in Raleigh), Heritage Park, Kentwood. Method Community, as explained by Dr. La’Meshia Whittington during the meeting, is already experiencing the adverse effects from being an urban heat island. However, the City of Raleigh has not addressed the issue. By prioritizing instead for the Western BRT, the city is merely sweeping this ongoing environmental injustice under the rug. It is clear that the BRT is not designed for the current community, but for the gentrifiers who are coming in to displace the people.

This planning will also impact the largest Muslim community in Raleigh as there are many Muslim-owned businesses in the area, and the community come together at the Islamic Associations of Raleigh at Atwater St. for prayers and many other activities. Other properties that would be affected include Arbor Creek, where many immigrant families are renting, and rental properties along Western Blvd, Hillsborough, Gorman St, where many NC State University students are currently staying.

Faisal Khan (Carolina Peace Center) as he ties in the injustices and corruption he sees in Raleigh with what he has witness across the nation, and his warnings to the white communities that, “By the time gentrification comes for you and your children, it will be too late.”
Photo credit: Yolanda Taylor, Attorney & Professor of Law

We thank all of the speakers from various organizations and groups who have been working tirelessly to lift the voices of the impacted Black and Brown communities: Dr. La’Meshia Whittington (Deputy Director of Advance North Carolina, Campaign Director of NC Black Alliance, Board Member of NC Dept of Environmental Quality’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board), Zainab Baloch (Young American Protest), Faisal Khan (Carolina Peace Center), Angaza Laughinghouse Jr. (Refund Raleigh Freedom Committee), and Yolanda Taylor (Attorney & Professor of Law).

Save the Date: The Planning Commission will review the Transit Overlay District (TOD) rezoning cases for the western and southern BRT corridors on Thursday, May 26 at 4:00 PM at the Raleigh Municipal Building (222 W. Hargett Street), Room 305. The Western Blvd TOD rezoning has the case number Z-18-22. We strongly encourage folks to attend.

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