Community Housing Partners (CHP) is leading the redevelopment of the Trinity Court Apartments. The new Trinity Court will provide 54 affordable housing units in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Located on the outskirts of the Northside neighborhood near Umstead Park, this development will replace the 40 existing units with new, modern units in garden-style apartment buildings. The Trinity Court apartments have been empty since 2018. The new, two- and three-bedroom apartments will be for residents making between 30% and 80% of Chapel Hill’s Area Median Income (AMI).
Trinity Court is close to Umstead Park, which has a basketball court, volleyball courts, and a picnic area. It is also within walking distance of Northside Elementary School. There are bus stops nearby for Chapel Hill Transit.
The Trinity Court project partners recognize the fact that Orange County, North Carolina, is built upon the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples of this region; and our region is home to many immigrants who are members of Indigenous Communities throughout México, Central America, and South America who have brought their ancestral languages, traditions, and cultures to our region.
The redevelopment at Trinity Court Apartment is a public-private partnership that will promote vitality in neighborhoods and positively contribute to the environment. Project partners will consider compatibility and sustainability when designing the redevelopment. It will expand the affordable housing opportunities for eligible Chapel Hill residents, including those who are currently on a wait list.
CHP encourages eligible residents to participate during the planning, design, and construction of the project. Project partners will use the public input to aid in the design of Trinity Court Apartments. Collaborative participation will help create the best possible outcome for all.
Chapel Hill Affordable Housing
2021 HUD Income Limits for the Town of Chapel Hill
The Town of Chapel Hill has a vision for a “vibrant and inclusive community where all residents have access to affordable housing and opportunities to thrive.” The Trinity Court redevelopment will help meet this vision by providing 54 affordable and workforce apartments close to neighborhood amenities.
In Chapel Hill, affordable housing costs no more than 30% of a household’s income. To qualify for most affordable housing, household income must typically fall below 80% of the AMI. This varies by household size (see chart to the right). Some apartments at Trinity Court will have even lower income limits.
A 2017 Housing Needs and Market Assessment conducted for the Town of Chapel Hill found the town’s greatest housing challenge to be affordability for the lower income households in the area. One-third of the town’s renters had income less than or equal to 30% of the AMI, and almost 80% of renters at 30% AMI pay more than 50% of their income on rent. The town’s public housing inventory was 336 units, and 90% of those units were more than 30 years old. Larger low-income families are particularly impacted by the lack of affordable housing. Three-bedroom market rents require a household income of 90% AMI to be affordable.
Chapel Hill is considered “Prosperous” on the Distressed Communities Index, but the poverty rate is 14.4%. This is slightly more than the national average. With a median household income of $85,600 (the national median household income is $60,500), 13% of children in Orange County live in poverty. That number has increased while the state and national child poverty numbers have decreased. Orange County is also an area of concentrated persistent poverty. This means 20 percent or more of its population has lived in poverty over the past 30 years.
Chapel Hill Affordable HousingLearn more about affordable housing in the Town of Chapel Hill
Nov. 17: Presentation to Council – Watch the meeting recording (Agenda Item #17)
Feb. 10 at 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Resident Information Notice Meeting
Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m.: Joint Advisory Board Meeting. CHP will give a presentation to all boards simultaneously and field questions from board members and the public.
Individual Advisory Board Meetings: Five advisory boards will meet to discuss the project and make recommendations to Council.
Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m.: Community Design Commission
Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.: Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board
Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m.: Housing Advisory Board
Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Board
March 1 at 7 p.m.: Planning Commission
March 23 at 7 p.m.: Council Public Hearing on Rezoning
April 27 at 7 p.m.: Council Vote on Rezoning
May 4 at 7 p.m. (tentative): Council Vote on Funding
