Legion Road Townhomes As of May 2003
The Legion Road Townhomes provided fourteen new two- and three-bedroom homes for local residents looking for affordable housing in Chapel Hill. Built on land donated by the Town of Chapel Hill, these homes were the first to use the Land Trust model in Orange County and were sold to residents based on the following qualifications: § Must currently live or work in Orange County § Must have total household income that does not exceed 80% AMI § Must have an annual income sufficient to qualify for a mortgage § Must live in the house, rather than buy it as an investment This was also the first development in Chapel Hill to use the Residential-Special Standards-Conditional zoning to promote affordable housing.
History In 1955 the Town acquired 1.23 acres of property located on the northwest corner of the Scarlette Drive and Legion Road intersection adjoining the Memorial Cemetery. Over forty years later, on April 26, 1996, the Council received a report on vacant land owned by the Town that was available for resale, reuse or for the construction of affordable housing. The Legion Road/Scarlette Drive property was included in this list.
In September 2000 a groundbreaking ceremony was held, and by April 2001 construction was complete and the first units were sold to first-time homebuyers. For more information or to purchase a Legion Road Townhome, click here.
	What is a Land Trust? A Community Land Trust (CLT) is a tool that allows for the long-term affordability of housing by owning the land on which the housing is built. The purchaser of the home buys the land, but not the land on which the home sits, which is held through a land lease agreement with the Land Trust. Leaseholders are offered full rights of privacy and security through a 99-year renewable lease that can be transferred to their heirs. Establishing a Community Land Trust in Chapel Hill has created diverse, affordable housing and the goal is to keep housing affordable for future generations.