In August, 80-year-old Ben Degraffenreid found a notice on his mailbox informing him that his lease had been terminated and he had 10 days to leave his Northside home.
Degraffenreid — a Chapel Hill native known as Pop to friends and family — has rented one side of the 603 Bynum St. duplex for 33 years.
But when the property was foreclosed and bought by a new owner in June, Degraffenreid found himself facing the threat of eviction.
“If I got to go, I got to go,” he said.
Longtime residents of Northside, a historically black and low income neighborhood, have recently faced affordability issues as developments and students move into the area.
While Degraffenreid doesn’t know where he would live if evicted, he said he is most concerned about being able to get to his doctor’s appointments.
“To tell the truth, most of the time, I’m worried about where I’m going to get the bus,” he said.
He currently lives with his son, Jeffery, who grew up in the home.
“The property was owned by local investment owners, who evidently bought at the wrong time and ended up getting foreclosed on,” said Clay Turner, an attorney at McSurely and Turner PLLC, who is representing Degraffenreid.