Chapter Two: Geography

Thirteen public housing communities are scattered predominantly around downtown Chapel Hill, integrating public housing residents with the university community and making public housing almost indistinguishable from other neighborhoods. Two factors shape Chapel Hill as an urban backdrop (Allen, Bridge, Gordon, Millett, & Vincus, 1993). First, the U.S. Census of the Population classified Chapel Hill as 100% urban in 1990. Secondly, Chapel Hill is one of the three cities forming North Carolina's prominent Research Triangle Park (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill).

Historically, Trinity Court and Pritchard Park are located near the former Negro settlements that existed in Chapel Hill during the 1930s. Potter's Field, Windy Hill, Tin Top Alley, and Southwest lane were four major Negro settlements found in the general vicinity of Trinity Court and Pritchard Park, mentioned in a study by Dorothy Jones on Negro settlements (Allen et al., 1993). However, the Jones' study does not provide direct evidence that there are exact geographical overlaps with present housing sites. Located near Airport Road, Franklin Street, and Umstead Road, the two housing developments are physically separated by North Pritchard Avenue and a steep hill. The division between Trinity Court and Pritchard Park are discussed in detail in Chapter Eight: Sense of Community and Reputation (Map 2).

One of the units in Building C of Trinity Court houses the Trinity Court and Pritchard Park Family Resource Center (FRC). The Chapel Hill Police sub-station was also located in the

MAP 2. PUBLIC HOUSING SITES IN CHAPEL HILL

Public Housing in Chapel Hill and Carrboro

Note: Parkwood Drive Public Housing community is not included on this map because construction was not completed until 1994.

same apartment unit until October 1998. The presence of the Police sub-station and the FRC as part of Trinity Court contribute to a sense of separation between the two housing communities. Trinity Court is located on a dead-end street like three of the other Chapel Hill public housing sites; Craig/Gomains, Ridgefield, Oakwood, and Trinity Court. This geographic placement does not create a significant barrier to accessing services. However, this placement serves to segregate public housing neighborhoods from the rest of Chapel Hill, thus hiding economically disadvantaged communities (Allen et al., 1993).

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