Elliott Woods Apartments to Remain Affordable, Say Town and Property Owner

DEVELOPMENT

By Michelle Cassell
Editor

CHAPEL HILL – Residents of Elliott Woods Apartments in Chapel Hill—some of whom have lived there for more than 30 years—gathered last week to voice concerns about the future of their homes. Many feared that rent increases and redevelopment plans might lead to what they described as “systemic gentrification” and displacement.

Initially, the Town of Chapel Hill was unavailable for comment. Since then, however, Mayor Jessica Anderson’s office has issued a statement assuring residents that the town remains committed to preserving affordability at Elliott Woods. In a written response, Chief of Staff Jeanne Brown stated:

“The town’s role in this matter is related to Code Enforcement. Town staff have been in touch with the current and potential new owners of the properties to make sure they’re aware of residents’ concerns. Our Code Enforcement staff have been involved and have addressed Code Enforcement issues.”

On June 30, town staff held a community meeting with Elliott Woods residents to explain how Code Enforcement works and how to file complaints. The potential new owner of the property also attended the meeting to listen and respond to community concerns.

Behind the scenes, the Inter-Church Council Housing Corporation (Inchuco), which has owned both Elliott Woods and the nearby Chase Park Apartments for over 50 years, has confirmed that it is under contract to sell the properties to a national firm specializing in HUD-assisted affordable housing. In a statement submitted to The Local Reporter, Inchuco explained that the decision was driven by the increasing challenges of maintaining aging properties amid rising insurance costs, pandemic-related disruptions, and the rising cost of goods and services.

“It has become clear that the oversight of these apartment complexes has reached the effective limits of a small volunteer nonprofit board,” the organization said. “We feel that our mission to provide assisted affordable housing and conduct rehabilitation would be better served in professional hands.”

Inchuco emphasized that rents for tenants receiving Section 8 project-based assistance will remain unchanged. These tenants will continue to pay a fixed percentage of their adjusted income, with federal funds covering the difference between that payment and the HUD-approved rent. Furthermore, all units at both Elliott Woods and Chase Park are still governed by a 2011 use agreement that imposes affordability requirements, regardless of ownership.

The organization has invested significantly in the properties, including a multimillion-dollar rehabilitation 14 years ago and, more recently, emergency repairs following storm damage. This year alone, Inchuco reports spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on additional maintenance and improvements.

“We expect that the rehabilitation anticipated with the transfer of the property would preserve the apartments and improve the quality of life of residents for the long term,” the statement read. According to the town, the Chapel Hill Town Council took an initial step in early June to support the potential new owner’s funding application for the purchase and rehabilitation of the properties.

For now, the Town states that it will continue to monitor the situation, enforce code standards, and collaborate with residents and property stakeholders to ensure that affordable housing remains in place at Elliott Woods.

Michelle Cassell is a seasoned reporter who has covered everything from crime to hurricanes and local politics to human interest over the course of 35 years. As assignment editor, she hopes to encourage writers of a wide range of backgrounds and interests in TLR’s coverage of southern Orange County news. This reporter can be reached at: Editor@TheLocal Reporter.press