2 Chapel Hill Affordable Housing Projects Given Big Financial Boosts

Two Chapel Hill affordable housing projects recently earned substantial financial help: one through a donation, another through a tax credit.

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County announced Monday its Weavers Grove project is receiving a $1 million donation from Oak Foundation — an international organization with its U.S. headquarters in Chapel Hill. The group shares grants for projects with the goal to “make the world a safer, fairer, and more sustainable place to live.” A release from Habitat for Humanity said Oak Foundation’s gift is the largest yet toward the $7.5 million capital campaign for the 237-house neighborhood under construction.

“We are incredibly grateful to Oak Foundation’s leadership investment in Weavers Grove,” Orange County Habitat President & CEO Jennifer Player said. “Weavers Grove is an innovative community we hope other Habitat affiliates across the country will be able to replicate. Receiving the support of an international organization like Oak Foundation will allow us to not only build homes for Habitat homebuyers right here in Chapel Hill, but build a model that will create more mixed-income neighborhoods and affordable homes across the country and the globe.”

Oak Foundation’s grant brings Habitat for Humanity’s campaign to $6.8 million dollars, according to the nonprofit. Known for its construction of single houses or smaller neighborhoods, the Orange County chapter of the organization is in unprecedented territory with a project the scale of Weavers Grove, but it culminates 19 years of Habitat owning land between Weaver Dairy Road and Interstate 40. Construction on the community of single-family homes, townhomes, duplexes, and condominiums — built with the intention of half being for sale at market rate, while the other half goes to Habitat homebuyers — broke ground just more than one year ago. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County currently projects construction will continue through 2028.

Meanwhile, the Town of Chapel Hill announced Monday it is receiving financial support in redeveloping an existing housing community. The Trinity Court buildings, located near Umstead Park, were vacated in 2018 due to the buildings’ poor conditions. The town government is taking lead on making the public housing units available again, partnering with a design and affordable housing development team.

To help with the effort, Chapel Hill learned its being granted a 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit award, one of 28 projects in North Carolina to receive the funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“We are over-the-moon excited,” said Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger in Monday’s release. “Being able to produce affordable housing on town-owned property in a location that is incredible is really a win-win-win for everyone.”

The tax credit will help the town construct 54 affordable units to replace the previous 40 units, with the majority serving residents earning less than 60 percent of the Area Median Income and additional units serving households with even lower incomes. The town said in its release that Trinity Court’s proximity to Northside Elementary School, bus stops, Umstead Park and other Chapel Hill amenities helped the project earn more recognition from the Housing and Urban Development team making the awards.

While the Trinity Court redevelopment is still in its financing and permitting process, Chapel Hill says the developers are planning to break ground during the summer of 2023.

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