Church proposes new Orange County site with affordable housing
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- Holy Trinity Anglican Church is seeking approval to build a new church along Old Lystra Road in southern Orange County that would incorporate affordable housing into the project to help address housing challenges in the community.
The church has outgrown its building on U.S. 15-501 and has proposed constructing a new 10,000-square-foot, two-story church.
"A lot of people who work here actually have to live somewhere else," church rector David Hyman said.
According to county data, a person in Orange County would need to earn more than $30 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent. In Chapel Hill, more than half of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs, leading some people to live outside the town.
"It's hard to find cheaper options not only for rent, but also the property tax down here in Chapel Hill is a lot more expensive now," Chloe Arnette said.
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The proposal still requires approval from Orange County and Chapel Hill leaders, who are scheduled to discuss it at a public meeting Tuesday night.
If approved, the project would include two single-family homes along Old Lystra Road and up to eight affordable duplex tiny homes for people transitioning out of homelessness.
Hyman said the church hopes to break ground next year and move into the new facility by 2028 if the proposal receives approval.
"Our hope is to be able to come alongside to most of these families and support them until they can get on their feet, transition into something more stable," he said.
