University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
IN-25: Innovation B

The Northside Neighborhood has historically been the largest African American community in Chapel Hill. The neighborhood contains single-family residential houses that sell for prices below the average cost for housing in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Because students are interested in living in these neighborhoods that are close to campus, landlords have been able to rent their properties for more than a family can typically afford. Houses are often bought by developers and converted to high occupancy, transient rentals. Home ownership among the African American community was declining.

The African American population in Northside has declined significantly since 1980. The U.S. Census found 1,159 black residents lived in the neighborhood in 1980. By 2010, there were 690. The college-age population increased steadily, while family households and owner occupied housing units decreased. Trends reflect residents’ concerns about today’s more transient community of students and renters, and the loss of a tight-knit, family-friendly community.

The Northside Neighborhood Initiative (NNI) is a partnership among UNC Chapel Hill, the Self-Help Credit Union, the Jackson Center, and the Town of Chapel Hill that pursues a shared vision for the historic Northside Neighborhood: a family-friendly, multi-generational community that balances the needs of long-term residents, new owners, renters and students. The NNI was announced on March 9, 2015 and included UNC Chapel Hill making a $3 million, 10-year, no interest loan that provided funding to establish a "land bank" as properties in Northside became available. Self-Help will use the loan from UNC-Chapel Hill and implementation support from the Town to acquire and resell properties in Northside. The program helps keep homes in the hands of African American families and provides the time that these families often need to execute a purchase contract. Heels for Homes is a program within NNI that hopes to build 10 homes in Northside and complete repairs to 25 existing homes.

Northside Elementary School, the newest public school in the district, located at the original site of the African-American Orange County Training School, opened at the end of 2013. It also has become a vital partner in sharing the community’s history and hopes with students and their parents. The school helps keep the neighborhood attractive to families. The school has become North Carolina's first LEED Platinum Certified Elementary school.