By-design student housing could be a solution

When senior Jordan Humphrey moved into his home on Longview Street earlier this year, he was eager to meet his neighbors.

But when no one came to his first dinner party, Humphrey realized how hard it would be to befriend his neighbors.

And Humphrey isn’t alone.

As students continue to move into the Northside neighborhood, Chapel Hill and University officials worry student renters are driving residents out of the historically black and low-income neighborhood.

“Half of our students live off campus and in our communities so we feel responsible … to make sure we educate students about appropriate ways to be in the community,” said Winston Crisp, vice chancellor for student affairs at UNC.

And the Town Council has already heard proposals this year from developers looking to relieve the pressure on Northside with housing catered specifically to students.

Students swarm Northside

In the last decade, Northside property values have skyrocketed as developers transformed hundreds of single family homes into student rental property.

There are roughly 500 student rental properties in the neighborhood, and students now account for half of that population, said Aaron Bachenheimer, director of fraternity and sorority life and community involvement.

In January, the town adopted the Northside and Pine Knolls Community Plan to address complaints about parking, code enforcement and affordable housing.

The Good Neighbor Initiative was also started to educate student residents on Northside and its history.

Kathy Atwater, a lifelong Northside resident, said she appreciates student neighbors when she knows them.

“The problem comes when we don’t know who is beside us,” she said.

A potential solution

In January, Trinitas Ventures — a by-design student housing developer — proposed to the town a seven-story apartment complex, known as The Bicycle Apartments at Central Park.

Developer Travis Vencel said he sees by-design student housing as a clear answer to the student-related pressure on historic neighborhoods.

By-design student housing is a new residential product designed for college towns to meet the needs of students and long-term residents.

“You can implement occupancy permit systems, inspections and parking laws, but to go along with those things you have to have a mechanism of where students can live,” he said. “Otherwise, that pressure will still be there.”

Vencel said his complex would have one to six bedroom apartments — each with its own bathroom — large living areas, a full kitchen and an on-site management staff. Rent could range from $450 to $900 per bedroom.

But councilwoman Penny Rich said she doesn’t think by-design student housing will solve Northside’s issues.

“We have no proof that kids will not still live in Northside,” she said. “You would have to show me some data that proves to me you will get the kids out of those homes.”

The Bicycle Apartments proposal has drawn criticism from the council and residents.

“Nobody wants change in their backyard,” Vencel said. “But students are going to have to be in somebody’s backyard.”

And as enrollment in public universities continues to grow, the town might not have many other housing options.

A study by Vencel’s company found a 21.4 percent growth in off-campus students at public universities nationally since 2000 — amounting to an additional 2,200 students living in Chapel Hill.

The town council already approved a controversial student housing development, Charterwood, at its meeting Monday night.

Vencel said unless town leaders approve new housing developments, the pressure on historic Northside might drive more residents away.

Bachenheimer said he’s not sure if by-design student housing is Northside’s answer — but it could be the answer to a general housing shortage.

“Student rental properties will be part of that neighborhood for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.