Shortly after I moved to Chapel Hill over 25 years ago I had an appointment in Carrboro. I stopped at a gas station, filled up my tank and asked the attendant "how far to Carrboro"? He looked at me like I was kidding or crazy. I was in Carrboro!
Franklin Street flows seamlessly from Chapel Hill to Carrboro and becomes E. Main Street but they are two separate towns with two separate planning districts and governments. Carrboro's taxes are slightly higher than Chapel Hill's because there just isn't the commercial tax base. The two towns share a school district. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools are ranked as one of the best in the state. Chapel Hill High is ranked highly nationally. Both towns strongly believe in managed growth. This makes them nice places to live but makes it tough on newcomers. Home prices have skyrocketed.
Carrboro is a former mill town and the mill is still the center of the towns activity. The former cotton mill was reborn and renovated into shops and offices in the late 70's. Weaver Street Market is a destination for residents. It's a co-op and is a more down to earth version of a Whole Foods type store. On the lawn outside you'll often find families getting together, listening to a jazz band and enjoying a glass of wine,coffee or Chai tea.
Most of the old mill worker houses have been re-done and are very hard to come by. Carrboro is a very pedestrian friendly town and homes in the center of town are very desirable. Even a small older ranch house a mile from Weaver Street Market will sell for over $200,000.
If you drive or bike a couple of miles north of town you will feel like you are in the country. Much of the area is in the University Lake watershed. Water and sewer lines don't extend into the watershed so new development is restricted. Parts of this area of Carrboro have a Chapel Hill address because of the postal area. Popular neighborhoods such as Lake Hogan Farms and Sunset Creek are really in Carrboro but the Chapel Hill address causes lots of confusion.
Carrboro has a new high school. It's energy efficient and LEED certified.
McDougle Elementary and McDougle Middle schools are in this area of Carrboro. The elementary school is separated from the middle school by a branch of the Carrboro Public Library. There are lots of neighborhoods withing walking distance of these schools. Prices range from around $250,000 and up. You'll find the most choices in the $300,000-$600,000 price range. If you want a new home you'll have to spend over $700,000.
Photos of Carrboro by Matt Barrett. Visit his site for lots more Carborro photos and information. |
