The Lee Institute

Community Perceptions of Corporate-Owned Single-Family Rental Homes

This report reviews the acquisition of single-family homes by large corporations in Mecklenburg County, and outlines a significant shift in the housing landscape. In 2021, over 11,000 single-family homes were identified as being owned by large corporations, a trend that has shown both positive and harmful impacts on rental housing stock and neighborhood stability, raising concerns that it will further exacerbate the existing housing affordability crisis in Mecklenburg County.

In response to these developments, the Lee Institute led a community engagement project in the spring of 2023 to gather insights on the impacts of this trend. This initiative revealed widespread concerns among the residents. A significant 75% of survey respondents indicated a negative impact from corporate landlords, with an additional 11% noting both negative and positive impacts. The primary concerns centered around housing affordability and related threats to economic mobility, with respondents highlighting the challenges of high and rising rents, difficulty competing with corporations in home purchases, and barriers to homeownership, especially for low- to moderate-income buyers. Moreover, issues regarding property maintenance, weakening community bonds, and safety were also prominent, with homeowners expressing particular concern over these aspects.

Participants across various engagement forums advocated for decisive action, including regulating the ownership abilities of corporate landlords, enforcing standards and regulations, and supporting affordable housing initiatives. While acknowledging the limitations of the study’s demographic and economic representativeness, the report reflects a consensus among various stakeholder groups on the need for action against the challenges posed by corporate landlords in Mecklenburg County.

Click here to read the report.

Thank you to the Nisbet family who make work like this possible though the Nisbet Family Center for Community Engagement.

If you have specific questions about the report or need further information, please reach out to gesquivel@leeinstitute.org.

A Unique Opportunity to Build a Stronger Charlotte

The Duke Mansion and the Lee Institute Gain New Leadership, as Peter Blair Named President of the Lynnwood Foundation

Blair Succeeds Cyndee Patterson, who served in the role for 22 years

Charlotte – Peter Blair has been named president of the Lynnwood Foundation, the non-profit which operates the Duke Mansion and the Lee Institute. He succeeds Cyndee Patterson, who is retiring after leading the organization since 1999.

Blair currently serves as CEO of the Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center in Charlotte. “I’ve devoted my entire career to building and investing in the community. I’m honored to have been entrusted with the leadership of The Lynnwood Foundation as this position affords the unique opportunity to build a stronger Charlotte for every member of our community,” Blair said.

The Duke Mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a historic inn, meeting facility and community gathering place which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2015. The Lee Institute focuses on building community collaborative leadership. It strengthens nonprofits, engages people and empowers leaders by leading and guiding collaborative efforts, and by supporting the work of other nonprofit, public, and community organizations with a variety of services.

“Peter Blair is uniquely qualified to follow in the footsteps of local legend Cyndee Patterson,” said Mary Long, board chair of the Lynnwood Foundation. “He brings his broad set of business leadership skills and his passion for the community building work that is the core mission of the Lee Institute. We’re enthusiastic about the energy and perspective that Peter brings to launch this new era.”

Blair joined the Levine Jewish Community Center in September 2015. In his role as chief executive, he led a nonprofit with a staff of 450+ and a membership of over 10,000 individuals representing the diversity of the Charlotte community. Previously, he served as chief operating officer of the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Blair is a founding member of The Paradigm Project where he served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer. This group creates and delivers leadership development fellowships, annual conferences, and thought leadership in Jewish education across North America.

Blair is from Memphis, Tenn., and holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He has two children, Hudson, 15, and Cohen, 13.