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Exploration of Affordable Housing on Town-Owned Land
Background
The Town of Carrboro began exploring the possibility of facilitating development of affordable housing on publicly-owned land in 2016. This work began in partnership with Orange County and the Town of Chapel Hill through a regional workgroup. This workgroup established a standard set of criteria for evaluating publicly owned land to assist in determining viability of development on existing parcels.
Town staff was then able to identify town-owned land that were potentially feasible sites for affordable housing development. Staff worked with the Affordable Housing Task Force to further analyze sites and explore possibilities for facilitating development. This work culminated in the identification of three sites in town that appear to be feasible for affordable housing development. These three sites are located on Crest Street, Hill Street, and Pathway Drive.
The first step in this process is to conduct a comprehensive site analysis of the identified parcels to determine what is (and isn’t) possible on the property. This information will inform community engagement discussions and workshops, which will be scheduled as a possible future step in the process.
Since the Town of Carrboro began this process, the Town Council has not approved a development plan on either the Crest Street or the Pathway Drive parcels.
Visit Engage Carrboro for ways to stay informed and engage in this project.
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Anne-Marie Vanaman
Director
- UPDATE June 18, 2024 --Summit Design and Engineering Services will present its site assessment report of Town of Carrboro properties under consideration for possible affordable housing use to the Carrboro Town Council at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 18th. Meeting information, including how to watch a livestream of the meeting or make public comments, can be found at Calendar • Town Council Meeting at Town Hall (carrboronc.gov).
- June 2024 -- Final report to be presented to the public and elected officials. This report will include map/site plan, executive summary, backup documentation, calculations, and stormwater models, opinion of development potential to be presented to the public and elected officials.
- May 2024 -- Stormwater analysis to be completed. This study will determine possible development impact within the context of the existing neighborhoods. Required in this assessment are hydrologic and hydraulic studies, including possible stormwater control measures, as indicated by Town Ordinance.
- April 2024 – The environmental and natural resources assessment portion of the overall site assessment will occur the week of April 1st. Nearby residents can expect to see a team inspecting the properties, which may include taking soil samples and identifying and marking vegetation and trees. Geotechnical work and environmental assessment to be completed.
- March 2024 -- Geotechnical work begins, which will include boring into the ground and some clearing to make room for equipment. Smaller parcels may be investigated by using a hand auger. This work will provide information on soil erosion and soil-bearing strengths and is anticipated to be completed in mid-March. Also in March, an environmental assessment also will be underway. This assessment provides a comprehensive inspection of the property, vegetation, unusual or unnatural soil or ground conditions, soil and land discoloration, property history including presence of historical and/or cultural resources. Includes wetland, stream, and buffer delineations and protected species surveys, including habitat evaluation.
- February 2024 -- Property Survey completed.
- Fall 2023 to February 2024 -- Summit Design and Engineering was selected to conduct the site assessment and survey of the Town’s Pathway Drive and Crest Street parcels. The work began in fall 2023 and the survey was completed in February 2024.
- February 2022 - The Town Council approved on Feb. 22, 2022, a multi-step, sequential process to create affordable housing on selected town-owned parcels.
Community gathered on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, for the groundbreaking of tiny homes– Pee Wee Homes -- on a small parcel (0.17 acres) of land at 106 Hill Street, across from Henry Baldwin Park.
The nonprofit Pee Wee Homes will build the three small detached home units and ensure they remain affordable. These will be built as rental housing for individuals with extremely low incomes (those with an area median income of less than 30%) who have experienced homelessness and housing insecurity.
Learn more about the groundbreaking.
Summit Design and Engineering Services will present its site assessment report of Town of Carrboro properties under consideration for possible affordable housing use to the Carrboro Town Council at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 18th. Meeting information, including how to watch a livestream of the meeting or make public comments, can be found at Calendar • Town Council Meeting at Town Hall (carrboronc.gov).
Engineering studies began on four parcels located on Crest Street (1) and Pathway Drive (3) in fall 2023 and concluded in June 2024. The assessment encompassed property surveys, geotechnical investigations and evaluations, and environmental and stormwater assessments. The reports and accompanying materials are available for review:
Preliminary Geotechnical and ESA Reports
Preliminary Stormwater Impact Analysis
Next Steps
Identifying and assessing Town-owned property is the first step in a process to explore whether affordable housing development is feasible. No decisions about developing the properties have been made.
Further follow up reviews by Town staff as well as community engagement processes may follow the presentation to Town Council.
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