Forty years after Orange County, the Town of Chapel Hill and the Town of Carrboro jointly purchased the Greene Tract, a 167-acre area of land, the three owners approved a master plan for development.
All three owners were involved in community engagement and the development of the plan. The plan includes developing 66 acres for residential development, 16 acres for a recreation site and new elementary school in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district and preserving 22 acres in addition to the 60 acre Headwaters Preserve.
The housing plan prioritizes affordable housing and accounts for a minimum of 465 units and a maximum of 660 units with a mix of attached, detached, one-family, two-family, townhome, apartment and condominium-style housing. One building in the middle of this residential area is designated for businesses like barbershops, daycares and medical clinics. Plans for recreation and green spaces include a community green, a playground, a garden, an orchard and a stormwater pond.
The Greene Tract borders the Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood, a historically African American community.
Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood Association President Robert Campbell said the RENA community center is getting too small for young community members who want to pursue things like art, culinary art and entrepreneurship.
“So with the school and with these amenities that can be added in the Greene Tract, it will benefit the development of our young people,” he said.
The Greene Tract was purchased by the three current owners in 1984 to use as a landfill.
Planning and Inspections Director of Orange County Cy Stober said the owners have since made efforts to develop a project that would serve public interest and honor the Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood that has been imposed upon.
“When the community got motivated to speak out against the expansion of the landfill, and they saw there was opportunity, in 2015 we started talking about mapping our own future,” Campbell said.
