The Daily Tar Heel
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The Daily Tar Heel
Greenbridge

The highly-controversial Greenbridge development opened in mid-2010 and was designed by William McDonough and Partners. The development, two towers with 10- and 7-stories of condominiums, also offers mixed-use commerical space on the ground and second floors of each tower. Total there are 100 condominium units and more than 25,000 square feet of retail space available.

The entire development has been billed by its developers and the Chapel Hill Town Council as the ‘most environmentally sustainable’ structure in the state. The building is energy efficient and environmentally sustainable and will be the first development in North Carolina to receive gold certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standard, a national standard for energy-efficient, environmentally conscious architecture. The site’s developers, Greenbridge Developments, are selling the condos for upwards of $500,000, with the top floors of each tower offered at more than $1 million. After a two-year sale freeze, Greenbridge reopened in 2012.

The site’s close proximity to the town of Carrboro and the traditionally black Northside neighborhood of Chapel Hill has led detractors to question the long-term effects of gentrification in the wider Chapel Hill community. Despite the developer’s promise to set aside 15% of the site for affordable housing units, the high prices have led many in the Northside community to express concern over a possible tax-increase in the area. Additionally, the height of the development and the noise of construction have led to further complaints.