Along Elliot Road in Chapel Hill sits a modern rental apartment building called the Berkshire Chapel Hill. Though nondescript, several years ago this “luxury” apartment complex rocked Chapel Hill’s political landscape. In 2015, a new mayor and slate of like-minded Town Council members won election following community outrage after the Berkshire replaced a perfectly nice asphalt parking lot.
CHALT are disingenuous snobs. They are great at twisting liberal-sounding talking points to do their bidding but they don't really care about anyone but themselves, and they certainly don't have the long term interests of Chapel Hill in mind. I still can't believe anyone gives them the time of day.
Agree completely with Geoff. If CHALT and others who are writing gut-informed opinion pieces would do some homework and understand the real numbers before spouting said opinions, we might get policy that better supports the town and it's goals. Here's a short talk by NC's own Joe Minicozzi, breaking down the real value and revenue numbers involved in urban development. 30 minutes well spent, humorously presented, with well-researched numbers from a diversity of places. Watch and learn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewLJWJNhs0
Small correction: if you ask Solid Waste Services, they will tell you that dumpster services to large buildings cost more than is collected for the service. So, the single-family homes subsidize dumpster service in Orange County.
Mr. Green’s comments are spot on. For one thing, the construction of more single-family housing in Chapel Hill is a thing of the past; last time I checked there were fewer than a half-dozen house lots for sale within two miles of the town center — and their average price was around $250-$300K!
Higher density alternatives are the only way left to provide housing for newcomers, not to mention the 20,000 folks who enter Chapel Hill to work every day and then leave again at rush hour.
The issue is not so much opposition to growth as it is opposition to the type of housing--and the fact that rentals drain money out of the town (placing $$$ into the pockets of developers) making it impossible for the town to get the financial benefits of the multiplier effect. While there are some places where apartment buildings are appropriate, Chapel Hill does not have the infrastructure to support a 10% increase in population which will not pay for itself and will strain town services, schools, roads and water resources.
UNC has failed in its responsibility to house its students instead of expecting the town to do it at a cost of reducing the availability of affordable housing.
Many current and future residents would like to have a home of their own--not an apartment. They are young families as well as minimum wage earners who are forced to live in trailers. All are priced out of the market. And we know that home ownership is the best way to close the wealth gap.
Anyone who thinks that more apartments will result in more affordable housing obviously hasn't been paying attention to the fact that the 6,000+ apartments that have gone up--and are still going up--have not resulted in any major increase in affordable housing.
Chapel Hill is built on a human scale with green space that enhances its livability and contributes to its uniqueness and charm. It is NOT just another featureless urban entity; and that is exactly why many residents—old and new have chosen to live here.
CHALT are disingenuous snobs. They are great at twisting liberal-sounding talking points to do their bidding but they don't really care about anyone but themselves, and they certainly don't have the long term interests of Chapel Hill in mind. I still can't believe anyone gives them the time of day.
Agree completely with Geoff. If CHALT and others who are writing gut-informed opinion pieces would do some homework and understand the real numbers before spouting said opinions, we might get policy that better supports the town and it's goals. Here's a short talk by NC's own Joe Minicozzi, breaking down the real value and revenue numbers involved in urban development. 30 minutes well spent, humorously presented, with well-researched numbers from a diversity of places. Watch and learn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewLJWJNhs0
Small correction: if you ask Solid Waste Services, they will tell you that dumpster services to large buildings cost more than is collected for the service. So, the single-family homes subsidize dumpster service in Orange County.
Mr. Green’s comments are spot on. For one thing, the construction of more single-family housing in Chapel Hill is a thing of the past; last time I checked there were fewer than a half-dozen house lots for sale within two miles of the town center — and their average price was around $250-$300K!
Higher density alternatives are the only way left to provide housing for newcomers, not to mention the 20,000 folks who enter Chapel Hill to work every day and then leave again at rush hour.
The issue is not so much opposition to growth as it is opposition to the type of housing--and the fact that rentals drain money out of the town (placing $$$ into the pockets of developers) making it impossible for the town to get the financial benefits of the multiplier effect. While there are some places where apartment buildings are appropriate, Chapel Hill does not have the infrastructure to support a 10% increase in population which will not pay for itself and will strain town services, schools, roads and water resources.
UNC has failed in its responsibility to house its students instead of expecting the town to do it at a cost of reducing the availability of affordable housing.
Many current and future residents would like to have a home of their own--not an apartment. They are young families as well as minimum wage earners who are forced to live in trailers. All are priced out of the market. And we know that home ownership is the best way to close the wealth gap.
Anyone who thinks that more apartments will result in more affordable housing obviously hasn't been paying attention to the fact that the 6,000+ apartments that have gone up--and are still going up--have not resulted in any major increase in affordable housing.
Chapel Hill is built on a human scale with green space that enhances its livability and contributes to its uniqueness and charm. It is NOT just another featureless urban entity; and that is exactly why many residents—old and new have chosen to live here.