Before the Chapel Hill Town Council meeting Monday, Foy said Tate has been helpful in the effort to keep Chapel Hill an affordable place to live.
"Mr. Tate is a longtime member of the community who's been building houses -- affordable houses -- for years," Foy said. "It's just appropriate to recognize someone who has put his work behind this effort."
George Tate has jump-started the careers of numerous black business owners and has provided a majority of the affordable housing in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
"He's the reason I'm here in Chapel Hill," said Ray Butler, owner of Butler's Garage at 105 Padgette Lane in Carrboro. "He built my garage and the house that I live in."
Tate started building 30 years ago because he recognized the lack of affordable housing in the community.
Tate has two existing subdivisions in the area -- on Glosson Circle in Carrboro and on Starlight Drive in Chapel Hill. He also built 90 percent of the houses on Piney Mountain Road in Chapel Hill.
Tate said that he had a hand in almost all of the affordable housing in Chapel Hill and that he is not yet finished building. He said he has plans for another subdivision in Carrboro that he will propose to the Board of Aldermen.
Butler said he is glad Tate is being recognized for his work in the community. "It's a wonderful thing to have a George Tate Day," Butler said. "If not for George, much of the black community wouldn't be in the houses they are in."
Arthur Brown, owner of Brown's Auto & Collision Center at 11744 U.S. 15-501 in Chapel Hill, said he too owes Tate thanks for getting his business off the ground.
