Updated at 8:54 a.m.
Voters in Durham overwhelmingly approved the city's $95 million affordable housing bond, now the largest housing bond in North Carolina history.Some Durham leaders have called the lack of affordable housing in the city a crisis, with the median home sales price increasing by almost $100,000 since 2014. Some neighborhoods in east Durham have seen property values triple in just a few years.
Supporters of the bond say it would help 15,000 people in Durham find stable housing. It includes a mix of projects that target both low and moderate income families. The $95 million bond is part of a $160 million plan to address homelessness and housing insecurity in the city.
Durham voters also returned incumbents to the city council, including council members Javiera Caballero, Charlie Reece and Jillian Johnson and Mayor Steve Schewel.
In Chapel Hill, Mayor Pam Hemminger was re-elected, along with two new town council members, Amy Ryan and Tai Huynh. Unofficial results show incumbent Nancy Oates lost her seat by 24 votes.
In Fayetteville, voters elected four new members to the city council. Two incumbents, Ted Mohn and Jim Arp, were ousted. The ten-person council now has eight members who are African-American, including four women. These changes could have potential impact on issues like creating a community police review advisory board.
And in Garner, Mayor Ronnie Williams lost his position after 14 years.
Reporter Jason deBruyn contributed to this report.
