Good morning, readers.
Following several local elections in the Triangle, many of the candidates who ran and were elected were sworn in to office last month. For Chapel Hill, affordable housing, and the work that remains to procure more of it over the coming years, is top of mind for the town’s new mayor, three new council members, and veteran leaders.
Last year’s council indicated a willingness to approve housing projects, with some notable exceptions—members were practically incredulous at a proposal to replace the aging (and relatively affordable) Kings Arms apartments with a 212-unit luxury development. They also voted down a proposal to squeeze a 12-story luxury condo tower onto a small lot on East Rosemary Street near the historic district.
The council enthusiastically approved the St. Paul Village, a project by a nonprofit of St. Paul AME, the town’s oldest Black church. Construction will start this year, and will bring 90 affordable units and 100 for seniors, as well as a community center and space for retail.
The developers of St. Paul Village have framed it as “the gateway to the Greene tract,” the roughly 160-acre stretch of land jointly owned by Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro. In 2021, the county and town governments approved a plan to mark 22 acres for a nature preserve, 66 acres for development, and 16 acres for a public school and public recreation.
The Greene tract has received lots of attention in the past, and we may see some more conversations this year, as the new council looks toward Chapel Hill’s changing identity.
“Chapel Hill is not a small town. We are a growing small city with a housing shortage,” council member Karen Stegman said at a meeting last year.
Have a good day.
— Chase
Durham
Homeless residents of Fayetteville were bussed to Durham where they were required to stay and work at the Durham Rescue Mission for an extended period.
Armillaria, an Oregon-based technology company dedicated to advancing positive change, acquired Durham’s NeedsList, an international crisis response platform that serves communities from across 25 countries and has delivered $20 million in aid.
Wake
GoRaleigh will return to full service next week, on January 14.
Orange
The EPA’s finding that coal ash is more hazardous than previously known could impact plans for coal ash cleanup in Chapel Hill.
North Carolina
Following hours of public comment and debate, Mebane’s City Council approved the state’s first Buc-ee’s location in Alamance County. The approval for the Texas gas station giant comes three years after it pulled out of a proposal for a location in Orange County.
Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency in anticipation of severe storms and potential tornadoes across the state.
Today’s weather
Showers and storms with a high of 63 degrees.
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