Good News Friday is Cardinal & Pine’s weekly roundup of positive news stories from around NC. For past editions of Good News Friday, tap here.
Here’s what you’ll get in today’s edition of Good News Friday:
- The North Carolina Zoo has big plans for its Asia expansion
- Gov. Josh Stein touts Raleigh affordable housing program
- Charlotte city leaders want to fund more stuff for teens to do
As someone who’s been making visits to the North Carolina Zoo for three decades, I learned early on that the best time to make the trip up to Asheboro is in the fall, when the temperatures are just right to see as many active animals as possible.
In 2024, during its 50th-anniversary celebration, The NC Zoo was named “Best Zoo in the United States” by Newsweek readers, chosen from a list of nominees that were proposed and vetted by a panel of travel writers and tourism experts.
As I mentioned when I included the park in our list of the most ethical zoos in the state, “With more than 512 developed acres and plans for further expansion, the NC Zoo is already a must-see destination for families, nature enthusiasts, and conservation advocates alike, but the slated grand opening of the zoo’s new Asia region in 2026 will further solidify the institution as an unforgettable multi-day experience for guests.”
Thanks to budget delays and staffing shortages, the new opening won’t quite hit that scheduled date, but as of this week, we know when the Asia portion of the zoo is set to finally open to the public.
And with that in mind, spring ain’t a bad time for a visit, either.
The North Carolina Zoo’s big Asia expansion plans
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) announced Monday that the North Carolina Zoo’s new Asia expansion, in the works since 2022, is set to open on March 1, 2027.
The new 12.5-acre segment will be the zoo’s first major development since the North America Continent section opened in 1994.
The Asia section will be home to nearly 50 species new to the zoo including critically endangered Malayan tigers, Visayan warty pigs, white-cheeked gibbons, and Chinese alligators, according to a DNCR release. New bird and reptile species will include Komodo dragons, demoiselle cranes, blue-crowned laughingthrush, king cobras, four-eyed turtles, crocodile monitors, and more.
“We can’t wait for guests to meet these enchanting residents, learn from them, and discover ways to protect their wild habitats and cousins,” said NC Zoo Director and CEO Dr. Mark Penning.
“Asia marks an important milestone in the Zoo’s 52-year history. The expansion will utilize new technology, showcase the Zoo’s most extensive botanical garden with more than 6,000 new plants, and invite guests to look high, low, and all around as they explore new pathways and ideas.”
Gov. Josh Stein touts Raleigh affordable housing program
Southeast Raleigh Promise, a housing nonprofit organization based in the state capital, led a tour of its new 25-unit affordable housing project on Tuesday, a development that Gov. Josh Stein is lifting up as a model for others to follow around the state.
The Promise 25 development comprises 25 rental homes at different levels of affordability built on nine city-owned lots in Raleigh. Beyond providing the land, Raleigh City Council approved $3.3 million in gap financing for the project, as reported by NC Newsline.
Stein joined the tour on Tuesday, using it as an opportunity to tout the August passage of Senate Bill 445, which helped encourage more housing density by cutting away some of the red tape involving multifamily housing and accessory dwelling units.
“A higher-density housing approach is an important step toward expanding housing access and affordability across North Carolina,” said Yvette Holmes, CEO of Southeast Raleigh Promise, in a release from Stein’s office. “Through our Promise of Home initiative, we are demonstrating right here in Southeast Raleigh what is possible when we help shape growth through a community-centered, mixed-income approach that creates more housing opportunities while supporting long-term neighborhood stability.”
Charlotte city leaders want to fund more stuff for teens to do
On Monday, a week after Charlotte City Council approved a controversial teen curfew in an effort to curb teen takeovers, city officials launched a grant program aimed at expanding access to programs, experiences, and spaces for Charlotte teens outside of the traditional school day.
The OYO Partnerships program will award $50,000 grants to organizations that can formulate a plan to expand existing youth-serving programs, increasing access and removing barriers to participation for teens ages 13–18, according to a release from the city.
The release lists eligible programming as including but not limited to recreation, mentoring, leadership development, career exploration and readiness, educational enrichment, postsecondary exposure, civic engagement, arts and culture, wellness, and skills development.
The application period opened Monday and will run through Nov. 2. Learn more about eligibility requirements and apply at the OYO Partnerships website.
