$1.5 million fund could help Raleigh counteract impact of gentrification

That's why one of its new projects includes a commitment to the current residents: $1.5 million to help them grow the community at the same time. The city is rolling out a Public Project Community Support Fund to combat the impacts of BRT construction and new development that follows.

One project will widen the road to add a dedicated bus lane and stops like train stations.

Construction is expected to take 2 years, but it will change 5 miles of road and the neighborhoods around it for generations.

Nasif Ervin, who opened the Museum Barber Shop nearly half a decade ago in this area, says the barber shop is the cornerstone in the community.

"It’s where everybody comes to chill out, kind of let their hair loose," he says.

It stands behind a gateway sign to the "City of Oaks" at the divide of New Bern Avenue.

Soon, his business will be an island surrounded by the route for Raleigh's first bus rapid transit line.

"I like the growth and picking up the speed and stuff, but I’m worried a little bit about how it’s going to affect me as a business owner," he says.

"The city is working hard to get in front of those changes so we don’t have accelerated displacement of residents and businesses along the corridor," explains Mark Weldon, Raleigh small business development manager.

Grants are available for neighborhood improvement projects. Nonprofits - including El Centro Hispano and Carolina Common Enterprise - will work with small businesses.

"We want to try to ensure that those businesses will be able to stay in place and grow in the face of what you can probably expect is competitive businesses moving in," says Thomas Beckett, executive director for Carolina Common Enterprise.

Octavia Rainey, who grew up off New Bern Avenue, says she's concerned the funding may not benefit locals as much as officials hope. She has seen many of the families she grew up with move out of the area.

"It was your neighborhood. You were just priced out, forced out, shut out and taxed out," she says.

She still lives here and wonders who will benefit from the funding.

"Are you trying to stabilize the neighborhood that’s already gentrified? Because you’re not stabilizing it for us," she says.

Back in the barber shop, Ervin plans to stay where he's built a community around his business.

"That’s a big, big part of this community – not getting pushed out," he says.

This Community Support Fund is a pilot project. If it works, the city plans to replicate it in other neighborhoods around big public projects - including Dix Park and the 3 other BRT lines.