Bill would create options for affordable workforce housing in Watauga County

There’s not much housing available for people in Watauga County working on a municipal salary, but a local bill in the state House is addressing the problem.

Blowing Rock is surrounded by park land where most residential building is restricted, and features a topography with many steep cliffs. Town Manager Shane Fox says that makes it difficult to find places for affordable workforce housing.

"So our land has always been at a premium," Fox says. "But in the last four or five years, especially since COVID, the demand on the housing market here has just been exponential."

As a result, the average home sale price this year has been almost $900,000, with the average salary of a town employee at $60,000. The result is hour-long commutes for some, Fox says.

House Bill 306 would authorize Boone, Blowing Rock and the Watauga County Board of Education to provide workplace housing for town and county staff and teachers. Methods could include renting or selling units exclusively to those employees, or working through partnerships to build them. 

The bill is sponsored by Republican High Country Rep. Ray Pickett.