Northside - The Daily Tar Heel

Northside resident Loy Long Jr. (56) shares his feelings about the construction of The Edition on Rosemary, an annex of The Warehouse apartment complex in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.

Northside neighborhood feels pressures of increased student presence, housing costs

By Eliza Benbow | Jan. 26

Northside, which is historically the largest Black community in Chapel Hill, has seen a decrease in homeownership for years and an increasing demand for student rentals. Along with an increase of new residents moving into the neighborhood, new apartment additions to West Rosemary St. are bringing UNC campus life closer to Northside. “It’s not because of the house, it’s because of the land," resident Loy Long Jr. said. He said he can't imagine his family selling their home.

The William M. Hargraves Center is located on North Robertson Street, pictured on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022.

Chapel Hill Town Council names Hargraves facilities after notable Northside leaders

By Laney Crawley | Sep. 21

Two facilities in the Hargraves Community Center — including Northside Gym and the center's indoor basketball court — will be renamed for Nate Davis and Fred Battle, two prominent members of Chapel Hill's Black community. The proposal was unanimously passed by the Town Council on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

Chapel Hill Town Hall stands on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022. The Town of Chapel Hill announced on Aug.18 that they will be releasing $7.8 million to help fund affordable housing projects.

'This is my home': Chapel Hill to provide millions for affordable housing, help community

By Maggie McIntyre | Aug. 30

The Town of Chapel Hill announced on Aug. 18 that it will be releasing up to $7.8 million to help fund affordable housing projects in the area. In addition to Town-initiated projects, outside agencies such as nonprofit affordable housing developers or other organizations that work towards affordable housing goals can apply for funding. The Town is using a common funding application and will accept applicants until noon on Sept. 30.

Houses on Pritchard Ave. In the Northside community on April 30, 2021. Recently, people living in the Northside community saw a 50% increase in their property value, which means that property taxes are going to increase significantly.

Gentrification may be causing long-time Chapel Hill residents to have higher property tax

By Chloe Teachey | May. 4, 2021

An disproportionate increase in property values for homes in minority and rural Orange County communities has raised concerns from groups like the Marian Cheek Jackson Center and EmPOWERment, Inc.

The Marian Cheek Justice Center has worked with the community to create fromtherockwall.org, a website showcasing Black history in Chapel Hill through stories, audio clips, photos and more.

From The Rock Wall tells the living histories of Black Chapel Hill-Carrboro

By Kayla Guilliams | Feb. 23, 2021

The project was developed by the Marian Cheek Jackson Center for Saving and Making History and aims to uplift voices, past and present, of Black Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents.

Trinity Court public housing community remains vacant due to structural damage on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. Trinity Court is set for demolition and rebuilding starting in 2022.

Trinity Court public housing remains vacant after 2019 redevelopment announcement

By Henry Haney | Sep. 24, 2020

Though Chapel Hill seeks to expand public housing units, it is not accessible to all. The Trinity Court public housing community is set for redevelopment, and has been vacant since 2018 Chapel Hill is working with community partners to alleviate housing insecurity Elizabeth O'nan, a Chapel Hill resident and disability rights activist, said public housing is not always accessible

A "For Rent" sign sits in the front yard of a Pine Knolls residence on Monday, Sep. 14, 2020. Chapel Hill's housing market is in the middle of a significant boom, as students have been given no choice but to evacuate campus and turn to off-campus alternatives.

Chapel Hill residents adjust as students move off campus

By Marin Wolf | Sep. 20, 2020

As students move off campus, some long-term residents are worried about the potential risk for increased exposure to COVID-19.

A police car parked on Franklin Street flashes its lights on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020.

Numbers show over-policing in historically Black areas, and history tells more

By Elizabeth Moore | Sep. 3, 2020

Historically Black neighborhoods in Chapel Hill have experienced disproportionate policing, but the numbers only tell part of the story. Gentrification over the past decade has changed the demographics of neighborhoods and therefore who commits crimes. Longtime residents say they've seen a double standard in how the law is enforced, but Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue said the police department works hard to avoid that. “I’ve seen the positive side of the police department and the negative side of the police department,” Northside resident Delores Bailey said.

Marian Cheek Jackson Center staff and partners from Pee Wee Homes welcoming one of the center's newest Northside neighbors to the community. Photo courtesy of Hudson Vaughan.

The Jackson Center has built community for years in Northside and Pine Knolls neighborhoods

By Rebecca Ayers | Apr. 11, 2018

The Marian Cheek Jackson Center is a non-profit dedicated to building community in Chapel Hill's Northside and Pine Knolls neighborhoods. The organization has worked alongside UNC students since its beginning and UNC recently gave the organization a $3 million loan to continue its work in the community. “I remember growing up with neighbors that knew each other, sharing joys and sorrows, knowing who lived around you, which brought safety because you knew who your neighbors were,” said Kathy Atwater, the center’s community advocacy specialist. “The Jackson Center has become a part of the community, not just someone outside looking in."

UNC class studies social change through service with The Marian Cheek Jackson Center

By Ashley Peterson | Jan. 18, 2018

A UNC class is partnering with The Marian Cheek Jackson Center through APPLES Service-Learning to focus on social change and globalization.

The Orange County School Board unveiled a new monument at the former Lincoln High School building. The monument celebrated the people who graduated from Lincoln High School before the all-black high school was desegregated. Photo by Isabella Bartolucci.

What it was like to be a Black student in Chapel Hill 60 years ago

By Maria Elena Vizcaino | Jan. 14, 2018

David Mason Jr. recalls walking every morning in the muddy, unpaved streets of the Northside neighborhood to attend class at Orange County Training School.

Northside Neighborhood Initiative works on affordable housing

By Mattias Miller | Nov. 20, 2017

As college students sign leases for off-campus houses for the next school year, long-time neighborhood residents prepare for another year of increasing rent and additional college students.

Good Neighbor Initiative aims to bring community together

By Marin Wolf | Sep. 17, 2017

The Good Neighbor Initiative hosted its annual Neighborhood Night Out and Block Party on Thursday to bring students and local residents together living in Chapel Hill neighborhoods.

Northside Festival will celebrate community this Saturday

By Molly Horak | Apr. 27, 2017

From gospel choirs to old-fashioned field games and free food, the Northside Festival will have something for everyone.

Cleo Caldwell is a permanent resident in the Northside neighborhood, growing up in the same house she currently lives in.

Student renters and long-term residents in Northside are adjusting

By Lauren Talley and Samantha Scott | Apr. 13, 2017

The Northside neighborhood in Chapel Hill is an unusual blend of long-time residents and student renters cycling in and out with the school year.

A For Rent sign in the Northside neighborhood. In February (I think ?? check with the writer) rent prices increased by 6 percent.

Competition for housing helps drive Chapel Hill rent up to highest in state

By Sarah Cheek | Apr. 6, 2017

Chapel Hill rent prices are rising — in February, the town saw a 6 percent jump in rent, according to a recent report on rental markets around the country.

Mrs. Marian Cheek Jackson and Bishop Thomas Hoyt, Jr. at the 110th Anniversary of St. Joseph CME Church. Photo Courtesy of Hudson Vaughan/Jackson Center.

Longtime Northside resident Marian Cheek Jackson remembered for a life of friendship

By Kaia Findlay | Mar. 20, 2017

Marian Cheek Jackson never met a stranger. The lifelong Chapel Hill resident, 92, who died on March 4, was known to call the community center named after her in Northside to make sure someone was checking up on her neighbors.

Mayor of Chapel Hill, Pam Hemminger and Mayor of Carrboro, Lydia Lavelle lead a walk around the neighborhood at the good neighbor block party at Hargraves Community Center on Tuesday evening.

Northside expected to receive affordable housing as part of Habitat for Humanity partnership

By Doug Dubrowski | Feb. 1, 2017

The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County are working together in the coming months to construct affordable housing in the Northside neighborhood.

Chapel Hill townspeople met at Hargraves Community Center to give input on future development of West Rosemary street.

Meeting held between town of Chapel Hill residents to discuss West Rosemary development

By Meghana Srikrishna | Jan. 23, 2017

Construction may seem to be coming to a close on Rosemary Street, but a whole lot more is just beginning.

Community members gather to raise a wall to commemorate the accomplishments made during the first year of the Northside Neighborhood Initiative. Photo courtesy of Sally Bitar.

Northside Neighborhood Initiative celebrates success of its first year

By Sally Bitar | Sep. 29, 2016

Since its launch in March 2015, the Northside Neighborhood Initiative has worked to improve affordable housing options in the neighborhood, among other objectives.