Strengthening the Fabric of Our Community
A perspective from Jennifer Player
“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.”
Esteemed city planner, author, professor, and Habitat for Humanity volunteer David Godschalk quoted these inspiring words a few years ago following a planning meeting for an exciting new Habitat community in Chapel Hill.
For more than a decade, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County has aspired to create an inclusive community on Sunrise Road in Chapel Hill. Deeply understanding the affordable housing crisis facing Chapel Hill, David encouraged us to think boldly about the possibilities for one of the last large tracts of land in town. The planning committee was hopeful that, after owning the property since 2002, Habitat at last would be able to build much needed affordable homes on the site. Fast forward to today. The plans for Weavers Grove, the newly named Habitat development on Sunrise Road, are finally moving ahead after a unanimous vote by Chapel Hill Town Council on June 24.
Weavers Grove is inspired, innovative, and ambitious. The neighborhood will provide homeownership opportunities for local families who currently live in substandard, unsafe, or overcrowded housing conditions. Families who sleep multiple people in each bed or on couches. Children who miss school because the mold in their home worsens their asthma. Seniors who live on a fixed income yet continue to see their rent increase each year. These conditions force our neighbors to choose between paying the rent and healthy food, school supplies, or necessary medications.
At Habitat, we hear these stories every day. Our staff, our board, and our volunteers care deeply about the Habitat homeowners. To us, these individuals aren’t just statistics in our annual report. We know them, their families, their dreams, their struggles. We hear their stories, we cry with them, we rejoice with them. We work alongside them as they build their homes and their futures. Habitat isn’t an out of town developer. We care about this community because we are part of this community.
And that’s why it is so important to get it right. In designing Weavers Grove, Habitat partnered with expert engineers, architects, and land planners, most of whom have deep roots in our community. The result is an excellent master plan that maximizes housing, community interaction, and green space on the site. The neighborhood sets a new precedent for mixed-income living in Chapel Hill. Of the 236 homes planned, 100 are slated for Habitat homeowners who already live or work in Orange County. The remaining market-rate homes will offer new opportunities for Chapel Hill homebuyers, at price ranges lower than today’s median home price.
The design of Weavers Grove encourages interaction in a diverse, closely knit community – creating what research shows are economic and social benefits for our entire region. Shared community space is a key aspect of the plan. People of different backgrounds, income levels, and ages can interact and form a sense of belonging on the lawns, playgrounds, and pavilion spaces. The 32 acre site is in a critical location near public transportation, employment, and great schools, which will create positive changes in all of the residents’ lives for generations to come.
At the outset of the process, Habitat sought to include key stakeholders in the decision making. The Town of Chapel Hill staff thoroughly reviewed and vetted The Weavers Grove plan. The design team presented the plan at numerous community meetings and to town advisory boards, making frequent changes along the way based on feedback. Over the past two years Habitat was asked to attend more meetings and advisory boards than most other developers, participating in town organized sessions with the neighbors to address issues such as stormwater management and traffic patterns. To facilitate a more robust understanding of our stormwater plan, Habitat also appeared before the Stormwater Utility Board (which is not part of the typical review process for developments in Chapel Hill). Ultimately, the Stormwater Board along with every other town advisory board recommended Habitat’s Weavers Grove plan for approval, many unanimously. On June 24, the Town Council unanimously approved the conditional zoning and we were on our way.
Contrary to some local commentary, the town council didn’t whiff. When it comes to affordable housing, municipalities around the country often compromise in the face of any opposition. Not the case this time. The Chapel Hill Town Council firmly stood up for the values that our community so frequently espouses: inclusion, social justice, and equity. As is the case with almost any development in Chapel Hill, engaged neighbors and potential stakeholders voiced their concerns. The council carefully listened to its constituents, including a public hearing that lasted until after 1:00am. They considered the arguments and information presented from a well-organized group of citizens who opposed the project. At the end of the day, the town council voted to put into action the town value of being “a place for everyone”. They voted to provide 100 more families right here in Orange County with a stable home in a thriving community, creating promise and possibility for their futures.
The Council’s approval of the Weavers Grove development comes at a time when housing is at the center of two major national discussions – COVID-19 and racial equity. COVID-19 has exposed the affordable housing crisis Habitat has been fighting for since our inception; a crisis exacerbated by decades of racially biased housing policies. As the health and economic shocks from this crisis ripple out, those with the least will suffer the most. They always do.
Weavers Grove directly addresses racial, health, and housing inequities. Studies show that affordable homeownership improves health outcomes, boosts civic engagement, improves children’s test scores, reduces reliance on social services, and increases savings. The future homeowners gain equity and wealth, breaking a cycle of poverty that many families experienced for generations. Our community gains a stable, diverse, and self-reliant residents who will contribute to the vibrant fabric of Orange County for years to come.
The concept for Weavers Grove was formed on an ambitious and auspicious thought – that we could create a diverse and vibrant neighborhood that strengthens the fabric of our community. After more than 18 years, we are more than ready to get started. Join us in building a new way to live together as neighbors, one home at a time.
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