Habitat Is In Sync With Town

That's the attitude of some Chapel Hill residents who are concerned about the possibility of a Habitat for Humanity development placed near their $500,000 homes.

Habitat for Humanity is asking the town for financial help in purchasing 16.5 acres of land off Sunset Road in northeast Chapel Hill and anticipates adding up to 100 units of affordable housing.

Residents of Chandler's Green, a nearby development, said the Habitat development would be out of sync with the character of Chapel Hill.

I was under the impression that Chapel Hill is characterized by diversity and tolerance, not by superiority and snobbery. And if this is true, the Habitat project would be perfectly in line with its character.

A lack of affordable housing is one of the single largest problems plaguing Chapel Hill. The average cost of a new home in Chapel Hill or Carrboro is more than $325,000, and average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $750 a month. These numbers make it more than a little difficult for families living on modest incomes to find decent housing.

Obviously, the lack of affordable housing is a problem that can't be ignored. And despite the whinings of residents concerned about the project, Chapel Hill should give its support to Habitat and make sure the development complements the town's character, not tarnishes it.

Sandra Cummings, another Chandler's Green resident, told The Daily Tar Heel her group is opposed to "high-density housing in an area not suited for it. It's really going to be like a housing project."

Allow me to translate. First, by "area not suited for it" they really mean "in a mile radius of my half-million-dollar home."

Residents are more than willing to reap the benefits of the services provided by low-income workers in Chapel Hill -- yet aren't willing to have these workers live anywhere close to their neighborhoods.

Secondly, Habitat for Humanity does not build housing projects. Volunteers build quality, no-frills housing units and provide families with no-interest monthly financing. Residents have stable incomes and help construct their own homes. Habitat isn't providing charity, nor is it giving away housing for the homeless and jobless.

However, the preliminary plans for a high-density development would be in violation of zoning rules that allow only four units per acre -- but in some cases (such as this), exceptions must be made.

Anyway, it's not as if the land parcel is an ideal spot for expensive housing. The noise and traffic of Interstate 40, which runs adjacent to the property, lowers the value of the land significantly. The 16.5 acres are offered to Habitat for Humanity for the bargain price of $400,000.

If Habitat for Humanity does purchase the land, there is no doubt the Town Council will need to regulate and approve the design of the development to ensure the plan is attractive and well-planned. But it is possible, with proper planning and execution, for high-density, low-income housing to be appealing and "in sync" with the character of the town.

Further, studies have shown affordable housing does not lower neighboring property values; rather, value is determined more by the overall prosperity and development of the area.

Orange County Habitat for Humanity recently finished an 11-home subdivision off Rogers Road in Chapel Hill, which is also located close to some expensive housing. There is no evidence the two neighborhoods don't peacefully coexist, despite the apparent income disparity between the two developments.

Land is a hot commodity these days in Chapel Hill, and before we know it, there will be no other options where affordable housing can be built. This option gives Habitat for Humanity and the town of Chapel Hill an excellent opportunity to provide affordable housing to its workers who have to commute from towns 30 to 45 minutes away.

It is the responsibility of the town and its residents to preserve the tolerant "character" of the town and support Habitat for Humanity's plan.

Carolyn Pearce can be reached at cpearce@email.unc.edu.