Carolina North: Inside UNC's vision for a new 230-acre campus
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- Members of the stakeholder advisory committee for UNC-Chapel Hill's Carolina North project toured the future campus site Monday, getting a firsthand look at one of the university's largest planned expansions.
The 230-acre property at the former Horace Williams Airport has been in development plans for nearly two decades. Located 1.6 miles north of UNC's main campus, the site is slated to be developed into a mixed-use area designed for living, working and recreation.
Committee member Anissa McLendon, who grew up in Chapel Hill and now lives in Carrboro, said the project presents significant opportunities for the community.
I think rather than benefiting a few people, here we are with this remarkable opportunity to benefit thousands, tens of thousands. And so just thinking about this scale gives me goosebumps.- Anita Brown Graham, Advisory committee co-chair
"Walking the open field, anything is possible," McLendon said.
McLendon said one of her priorities is ensuring the development serves the broader community, particularly children. She runs a summer camp focused on STEM education and hopes future facilities, including a possible engineering building, could help connect the university with residents.
"That would be wonderful. It would be a safe environment where the kids can come in and be engaged in different activities," she said.
Plans for Carolina North include retail, restaurant and residential development. Advisory committee co-chair Anita Brown Graham said the project has the potential to benefit both the university and surrounding communities.
"I think rather than benefiting a few people, here we are with this remarkable opportunity to benefit thousands, tens of thousands. And so just thinking about this scale gives me goosebumps," Brown Graham said.
The development is also expected to include new housing intended to support the university's growth and address housing needs in the area.
"The reality is a lot of people who live in Chapel Hill work at the university. And many of those people are being priced out of housing affordability close to where they work. So, there's no real demarcation in my mind between what the university needs and what the community needs. When we talk about housing affordability," Brown Graham said.
Advisory committee co-chair Aaron Nelson said housing has emerged as a key priority for both committee members and the university.
"It's almost never that there's 1,000 acres in the middle of a community owned by a publicly interested organization that can invest to bring us both the academic that we need as well as the housing. And we're hearing from the advisory committee members that housing is a key priority. And we're hearing that from the university as well," Nelson said.
Some community members have also raised questions about whether the development could include a future home for the Dean Dome. Committee leaders said their current focus is on broader development recommendations for the property rather than athletic facilities.
"There are others who are going to spend a lot of time thinking through what makes sense for this university and its basketball team. Now and in the future," Brown Graham said.
"Our charge is to give universities advice about how to develop this property. And currently our charter does not include any athletic facilities. And currently our charge does not include any athletic facilities," Nelson said.
The project will also include improved public transportation for commuters and students on campus. Through the Town of Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill Transit, there are plans for a Bus Rapid Transit project that will connect UNC's Main Campus to the North Campus. The project will include dedicated bus and bike lanes along most of the route.
The first phase of the Carolina North project is expected to break ground in the summer of 2027.
