Affordable Housing Development on Town-Owned Land
We've adopted a strategy of using Town-owned land to support the development of affordable housing. The strategy plays an integral part in increasing the inventory of affordable housing in convenient, amenity-rich locations. We have several projects underway and others for which we're in the early planning stages. As part of the planning process, we're identifying funding to support the project pipeline so we can keep making progress towards implementing the recommendations of our Affordable Housing Plan.
On this page, you'll find information about the following projects:
Trinity Court
The Trinity Court redevelopment revitalized a public housing community originally built in 1975 in our historic Northside neighborhood. We vacated the property in 2018 due to structural issues and building deterioration. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved our request to use the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program to convert the public housing to privately-owned and -managed units with vouchers attached to keep the units affordable.
- The rebuilt community replaces all 40 public housing units and adds 14 more affordable units for a total of 54 affordable apartments for households earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
- The parcel is adjacent to downtown and is surrounded by amenities including a park, elementary school, greenway, and bus routes.
- Our development partner is Community Housing Partners.
- The project is currently under construction and leasing, and we expect construction to finish this year.
If you're interested in applying to live at Trinity Court, visit the Community Housing Partners Project webpage.
View additional project information.
Homestead Gardens
The Homestead Gardens Project is one of our first efforts to develop affordable housing on Town-owned land. Council initiated the project in September 2017 when it voted to dedicate the 14-acre parcel for mixed-income housing and authorize the Town Manager to explore development on the site. The community will include about 87 affordable housing units for households with incomes up to 115% of the Area Media Income (AMI), including:
- rental apartments for households earning 60% of AMI or below
- for sale duplexes for households earning between 30% and 80% of AMI
- for sale townhomes for households earning between 80% and 115% of AMI
- a variety of amenities, including a multi-use greenway path, walking trails, basketball court, and community garden.
This project reflects the Council's vision for an inclusive, mixed-income community that offers a variety of housing types to serve a variety of housing needs.
- Our development partners are Self-Help Ventures Fund, CASA, Community Home Trust, and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County.
- The project is currently under construction, and we expect construction to finish in 2028.
View homeownership information on Community Home Trust's project webpage. (Leasing information is coming soon!)
View additional project information.
Tanyard Branch Trace
The Tanyard Branch Trace project will include 48 new affordable rental apartments for households earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). Council prioritized this parcel for affordable housing development in 2018. It's close to transit and the Town’s greenway system and is within walking distance of a Town park and the Chapel Hill and Carrboro downtowns.
- Our development partners are Taft-Mills Group and Community Home Trust.
- The project is currently going through the permitting process, and we expect it to be finished in 2028.
View more information on Community Home Trust's project webpage.
View additional project information.
Legion Road
In 2017, we purchased the 36.2-acre property located at 1714 Legion Road. We view this property as a unique opportunity to address a range of community needs related to affordable housing, recreation, and climate resilience on 48 acres of Town land. We plan to develop at least 150 affordable housing units, build a new park, and preserve existing natural areas, as approved by Council in December 2022.
- Our development partner is DHIC, and we're currently working with them to design and build the affordable housing community.
- DHIC's preliminary concept includes approximately 150 units for households earning less than 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
- DHIC's plans also emphasize connectivity with both the planned park and the existing neighborhoods surrounding the site.
- We are working with engineering consultants to determine the development footprint for the site. Once confirmed, DHIC will start engaging key stakeholders around the design of the affordable residential community, securing site plan approvals, and applying for funding sources.
- We expect the project to be finished in 2029.
View additional project information.