BOLD Development wants to build 155 townhomes near Southern Village, but there’s a catch – they need Chapel Hill to redraw its borders initially. The project would pack four homes per acre where only one is currently allowed, raising eyebrows among locals. While 20 units would be affordable housing and 40% of trees preserved, the development faces hurdles from environmental concerns and traffic impacts. The town’s next move could reshape more than just boundaries.
While Chapel Hill grapples with its ongoing housing shortage, BOLD Development has stepped forward with an ambitious plan to construct 155 three-story townhomes near Southern Village.
The catch? The proposed site at 1609 U.S. Highway 15-501 sits stubbornly outside town limits, forcing Chapel Hill to rethink redrawing its borders through annexation.
The current zoning allows for just one home per acre – clearly not enough for BOLD’s vision of cramming in over four units per acre. Nestled between Southern Village, the South Grove neighborhood, and that guiding light of retail glory, Walmart Supercenter, the development would at least have convenient shopping nearby. The project’s location near Southern Village’s mixed-use community offers future residents easy access to shops and dining.
BOLD Development, known for throwing money at community causes through their BOLD Foundation, isn’t just building houses – they’re promising the works. The project includes 20 affordable housing units for residents earning at or below 80% of the area’s median income.
Envision this: picnic areas, community gardens, and a playground where kids can burn off energy while their parents pretend to enjoy nature. They’re even keeping 40% of the trees, because nothing says “we care” like not cutting down absolutely everything.
Nature-friendly amenities sprinkled about, because saving some trees makes everyone feel better about massive development.
The environmental constraints are real, though. Streams crisscross the property like nature’s own red tape, and those pesky slopes in the conservation district aren’t making things easier. The development is projected to generate 16,000 daily auto trips on Chapel Hill’s major roads.
But BOLD’s got a plan: greenway trails connecting everything together, like a fancy web of pedestrian pathways.
Getting this project approved isn’t going to be a walk in the park. The Town Council needs to sign off on conditional rezoning, and OWASA needs to hook up those utilities. The whole thing’s starting to sound like a bureaucratic obstacle course.
But here’s the kicker – Chapel Hill actually needs this. More housing means more tax revenue, more construction jobs, and maybe even a shot at addressing that pesky housing shortage.
Sure, some folks will grumble about density and traffic, but that’s just another day in local politics. At least the new residents will have somewhere to buy milk – thank you, Walmart.