February 27, 2024

Doug Deaton and Peter Crocker
Located near downtown Siler City, North Carolina, Braxton Manor Senior Living Apartments features studio, one-, and two-bedroom units for seniors. CHP completed an extensive renovation on the building, which formerly housed Siler City High School and then Paul Braxton Elementary School. CHP’s Doug Deaton serves as the property manager, and Peter Crocker serves as the Maintenance Technician.
Introduce yourself and share a bit about your background in property management.
My name is Gary Douglas Deaton, but everybody calls me Doug. I just celebrated my 13th anniversary with Community Housing Partners. I have been at Braxton Manor for 13 years.
What makes this property unique or distinctive within the community?
The building was built in 1922 as a high school, and it was a middle school later on. I actually went to school here, and all my siblings did as well, so I’m very familiar with the building. It sat empty for 15 years, and they were thinking about tearing it down, and then Community Housing Partners bought it and turned the classrooms into apartments.
We’re only two blocks away from the Art Center. Restaurants, coffee shops, and a pharmacy are within walking distance for the residents. We’re a 55+ community, and a lot of our residents are 70-80 years old and don’t get out as much. We have a transit bus that pulls up right out front to take them to the doctor’s offices and stuff like that.
If the property had a personality, how would you describe it in three words?
Beautiful historic building
What’s the most unique feature of this property that residents love?
Its proximity to downtown, I think the residents all like that. We also have a library upstairs with sofas, chairs, and lamps, and the residents can sit there and read. We have a lot of books, and we’ve got a bunch of annuals that they can look through and find some of their old classmates and so forth.
What is something you like or appreciate about the community?
The fellowship among the residents. Before the pandemic, we had a monthly coffee and donuts event in the community room that everyone loved.
What qualities make this property a great place to call home?
I think because of the safety of it. There is a keypad out front, and you have to know the code to open the front door. I think they feel safe here.