Overview
Briar Chapel is a certified green-built housing community located seven miles south of Chapel Hill in Chatham County that includes commercial, healthcare and retail spaces, similar to the Southern Village community in Chapel Hill.
Briar Chapel entrance sign. Photo credit: Lisa Skumpija (Source)
Development
Construction began in 2008, and upon completion will expand to 2,400 homes over 1,589 acres. The primary developer of the community is Newland Communities. There are individual neighborhoods of various eco-certified house styles inside the Briar Chapel area. These include townhomes, single-family homes, and a specialized 55+ active living community. Prices for houses in the different neighborhoods range from $200,000 to over $800,000, plus HOA fees. In 2016, the NC Home Builders Association awarded Newland Communities and Briar Chapel a Star Award for “Best Sustainable Development.” As of January 2017, Briar Chapel was ranked 40th out of the top 50 fastest-growing master-planned communities in the United States.
Amenities
Briar Chapel’s stated mission is to “Inhabit the land without inhibiting nature.” Locally-sourced art sculptures, birdhouses, and structured landscape design attempt to preserve the natural elements and wildlife of the area. The community encourages residents to have an active, healthy lifestyle. Briar Chapel has over 900 acres of open green space, including 14 completed miles of biking and hiking trails, two dog parks, and a cooperative garden. The indoor and outdoor activity locations include:
· A fitness center with gym classes
· Pools with water slides
· Playgrounds
· Tennis courts
· Basketball courts, and
· Pickleball courts.
In 2016 Montgomery Development, in partnership with Newland Communities, opened Veranda, a shopping, entertainment and dining center at the entrance of Briar Chapel. Future additional retail and commercial space is in the planning stages as part of the development of Chatham County.
Briar Chapel green space (Source)
Local Attractions
Briar Chapel is situated only a few miles from Fearrington Inn, Restaurant and Spa, an award-winning pastoral getaway. In Durham, Southpoint Mall presents additional shopping and dining options, and the Triple-A Durham Bulls baseball team plays on the American Tobacco campus. For those interested in water sports, Jordan Lake has swimming beaches and boating ramps, plus opportunities to spot bald eagles in their natural habitat.
Schools
Two schools on-site are available to Briar Chapel residents: Woods Charter School and Margaret B. Pollard Middle School. For high school students, Northwood High School is close by in Pittsboro. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University are also both a short drive away.
Contact Details
1342 Briar Chapel Parkway
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
[email protected]
888.249.9429
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Sources
Briar Chapel by Newland Communities; Briar Chapel Life and HOA; Briar Chapel sets foundation for more commercial space in Chatham; Chapel Hill neighborhood now ranked among fastest growing in the U.S.
