Data Center Boom Could Magnify Graham Housing Shortage

Graham’s limited housing supply could leave the city poorly prepared to absorb thousands of temporary workers if Project Saltworks moves into construction, residents and city officials warned July 23.

A housing analysis presented to the Graham City Council found that only 5.5 percent of the city’s housing stock has been built since 1990. It identified about 30 vacant houses and 14 dilapidated properties.

City Manager Eric Garretty said Graham is not replacing aging homes fast enough to sustain its taxable property values. Returning the vacant homes to use could generate about $40,000 annually in additional water and sewer revenue, he said.

Demand for new housing already is strong. Nearly all homes under construction in the Pitcock Addition have been sold or presold, city inspectors reported Housing concerns have intensified around Project Saltworks, Stream Data Centers’ proposed 890-acre campus near Graham. Opponents say construction could bring 3,000 to 4,000 temporary workers, although that estimate has not been independently confirmed One resident warned that some landlords anticipate sharply increasing rents, potentially displacing lower-income workers. Resident Gabe Pratt urged the city to study the project’s long-term effects. He also said a developer might build about 100 apartments, an estimated $15 million investment, if financing could be secured through a federal Opportunity Zone program.