Call for Applications to Create Affordable Housing Opportunities

The Town of Chapel Hill is accepting applications to create affordable housing opportunities in the community through noon Friday, December 21, 2018! 

Applications are due by noon Friday, December 21st.

The Town of Chapel Hill is accepting applications to create affordable housing opportunities in the community through Friday, December 21.

Awards will be made from the Town’s Affordable Housing Development Reserve (AHDR), established by the Town Council in March 2015. The total funds currently available in the reserve are ~$454,000.

The Town’s total budget available for affordable housing projects for FY19 is $1.43 million. The Affordable Housing Development Reserve is $754,121 of that FY19 total. It is made up of $688,395 in new FY19 funding and $65,726 that was not allocated in FY18.  The Town already committed $150,000 from the AHDR in FY19 to Self Help for the Northside Neighborhood Initiative and $150,000 for future development planning on Town-owned properties.

The Town of Chapel Hill will accept applications for the following priority project areas:

1. land bank and land acquisition
2. rental subsidy and development
3. homeownership development and assistance
4. future development planning

The Housing Advisory Board will evaluate applications and present a funding recommendation to the Town Council for final approval in February 2019. There may be up to two additional funding cycles this fiscal year (July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019).

Applications and additional information is available at http://www.townofchapelhill.org/town-hall/departments-services/housing-and-community/funding/affordable-housing-development-reserve.

For assistance and information, contact Sarah Vinas at 919-969-5079 or svinas@townofchapelhill.org.

Town of Chapel Hill Releases Affordable Housing Annual Report

The Town has released its Affordable Housing Annual Report. In an effort to reach our goal of increasing access to housing for residents across a range of incomes, and to constantly strive for more equitable outcomes and opportunities for historically under-served populations, the Town has made it a priority to strategically address the affordable housing crisis. This strategic approach is implemented through the Town’s affordable housing plan. The release of our Annual Report is to communicate to the community our progress in implementing this plan and reaching our affordable housing targets. Find the full report here.

2018 Key Results

 The Town exceeded our development target, supporting the development of 99 affordable units this fiscal year.

 The Town supported 23 affordable housing preservation projects in FY18.

 99% of funding available for affordable housing projects was allocated this fiscal year.

 In collaboration with our partners, the Town supported the development of the first permanently affordable tiny home duplex, as well as the first Low Income Housing Tax Credit affordable housing development, Greenfield Place, in over a decade.

 Supported the Northside Neighborhood Initiative (NNI), a collaboration between UNC, Self Help, the Jackson Center and affordable housing providers. In FY18, eight properties were acquired and eight properties were sold by the NNI Land Bank to be preserved as permanently affordable housing.

Creating a Place for Everyone

Chapel Hill and the surrounding area's need for affordable housing is increasing, and the Town is expanding its efforts to address this need.

(Music: http://Audionautix.com )

New Affordable Housing Has Come to Chapel Hill: Greenfield Place

On Saturday, June 23rd, the Chapel Hill community came together to celebrate the creation of 80 new affordable housing units that have opened in Chapel Hill.  "Greenfield Place is the outcome of years of planning and partnership-building." said Chapel Hill Mayor, Pam Hemminger.  "It is truly representative of the Town’s commitment to expanding quality affordable choices for families, working parents, seniors and people with disabilities who live in Chapel Hill.  We want Chapel Hill to be a place for everyone, and having quality affordable housing projects, like this one help us make progress towards that goal."

Greenfield Place was a collaborative effort between the Town of Chapel Hill, DHIC, Orange County, the N.C. Housing Finance Agency and partners in the private sector. In addition to financial contributions from the partners, the Town donated the land to DHIC to build the community.

Greenfield Place has one, two and three-bedroom apartments that range in size from 691 to 1,196 square feet. The units have walk-in closets, full-size washer and dryer connections and open floor plans. This location was chosen due to its close proximity to transit and shopping.  “This location is incredible. It's on two different bus lines. It's in walking distance of shopping and job and other services people need,” Natalie Britt, vice president of DHIC said.

Greenfield Place is the first of two phases for this development.  The second phase, Greenfield Commons, will provide affordable housing for low-income residents 55 years old and older and is scheduled to be completed in early 2019.