Policy Talk: Weavers Grove in Chapel Hill

Join our Jan 20th call to learn more about this Affordable housing project

This Carolina Policy Talk is part of our series spotlighting Affordable housing in the Triangle.

Market-rate housing at all income levels is critical to addressing housing affordability in our region. Housing advocates often refer to this as “small-a” affordable housing. But what about households that cannot afford a market-rate house, no matter how much we flatten the curve on price increases?

For these families, “capital-A” Affordable housing is critical. “Capital-A” Affordable housing includes homes that are government-subsidized, income-restricted, and/or developed with public funds (like tax credits or grants). This funding ensures that purchase prices and rental rates are affordable for low-to-moderate income households (usually defined by HUD’s Area Median Income (AMI) standards).

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The Whitley at Weavers Grove. (Source: Cline Design)

A new community is growing in Chapel Hill. Just off Sunrise Rd south of I-40, Weavers Grove will offer a mix of housing from single family homes to condos. The development will also include amenities such as green spaces, a shared garden, and a community center. In addition to the mix of housing types and amenities, the community will provide homes for a range of household incomes.

From the Weavers Grove website:

Weavers Grove is a mixed-income community offering affordable homeownership to Habitat families and to market-rate homebuyers. Buying a home at the lower end of the market is difficult in Chapel Hill. Of the 225+ single family homes, townhomes, duplexes, and condominiums, 102 will be Habitat homes owned by people who 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.

Yet, Weavers Grove is more than just another a new neighborhood. It offers an opportunity to change how we consider the strength and security of our community, by creating space to intentionally connect in a mixed-income neighborhood. This is especially necessary in Chapel Hill, where new developments can face stiff opposition from the community, and where the median sale price of homes is near $625,000 (per Zillow).

Despite the project’s critical objectives and the experienced organizations at its helm, breaking ground on Weavers Grove has been a long and complicated process. As with any “capital-A” Affordable housing, planning began long before the first dollars were fundraised. Habitat for Humanity spearheaded this project, collaborating with established community partners to fulfill a vital goal of housing vulnerable families in Chapel Hill.

Want to learn more about Weavers Grove and the importance of mixed-income neighborhoods? Join fellow CITYBUILDERs on Tuesday, January 20th as we host Richard Turlington, VP of Construction at Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. We’ll see you there!