A new affordable housing community, named in honor of a Chapel Hill community leader, broke ground in Orange County last week.
Under development by CASA, and located off Merritt Mill Road, the future Perry Place development will serve 48 families and individuals. CASA, a non-profit affordable housing developer and property manager, works to provide access to stable, affordable housing for people who are homeless or at risk by developing and managing rental communities.
CASA received funding and a loan for the new Perry Place development from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. Other funding was provided by Orange County, Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro, and local charity Strowd Roses.
The Perry Place development site straddles the Chapel Hill and Carrboro town lines with 24 units in Chapel Hill and 24 in Carrboro.
The proposed site plan for Perry Place. (Photo via CASA)
Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Renee Price was at the groundbreaking for Perry Place. She said she’s excited the development will allow 48 families in the community to have homes.
“I think the great thing is we’re providing affordable housing and we’re doing this together as a joint venture,” Price said.
Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger was also at the groundbreaking. Additionally, she served as one of the CASA naming submission judges for the development. Hemminger said the name is in honor of a community leader and activist.
“Perry Place was chosen after Velma Perry a long time Chapel Hill resident who always advocated for affordable housing and inclusiveness,” Hemminger said.
Velma Perry lived in the same house in Chapel Hill for 98 years. She fought for noise ordinances, trash rules, and development regulations. As a board member for the local non-profit EmPowerment, she also helped create the conservation districts in Northside and Pine Knolls.
Price, who was also a CASA naming submission judge, said Perry was the clear winner of the 50 name submissions for the new community.
“To name it in honor and in memory of Velma Perry was the most moving part because she was such a rockstar in Chapel Hill and really all of Orange County,” Price said.
The development will serve families and individuals earning less than 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Rent for the one and two-bedroom apartments will range from $350 – $950 per month based on tenant household income.
Other amenities within Perry Place will include an ADA accessible playground, multipurpose room, and a computer center. Some apartments will be reserved for individuals living with disabilities.
Construction is set to begin in the summer, according to CASA.
