Construction is underway on 124 affordable apartments at 902 S. Briggs Ave., a 10-acre Durham Tech-owned site about a quarter-mile from the college's main campus. The units are intended for students, their families, and qualifying Durham residents.
The project traces back to a 2019 survey showing half of Durham Tech students lacked stable housing. College president J. B. Buxton has cited the figure repeatedly, saying housing instability blocks students from finishing degrees and building economic mobility. "Lack of affordable housing can be an obstacle for families struggling to make ends meet and for people who want to get an education," Buxton said.
Ground broke in April on the $35 million development. Funding includes a $620,000 federal grant backed by Congresswoman Valerie Foushee and low-income housing tax credits. Durham Tech is partnering with Mosaic Development Group and Bank of America Community Development Corporation.
The income mix is tiered. A quarter of the 124 units are reserved for Durham Tech students. Just over half will go to residents earning 30% to 70% of area median income, roughly $24,300 to $64,750 a year for a single person. The remaining 27 apartments target households below 30% of AMI. Tenants whose income rises can stay until they exceed 140% of their unit's income limit.
The timing matters. Zillow pegs average one-bedroom rent in Durham at about $1,391 a month, with two-bedrooms running up to $1,700. The N.C. Housing Coalition reports 48% of Durham County renters are cost burdened, spending 30% or more of their income on housing and utilities.
Bill Bolstad, executive director of Mosaic Development Group, called student housing insecurity a "clear call to action." The two buildings, offering one- to three-bedroom units, are expected to be complete by 2027. Durham Tech says rent pricing and application details will be available early next year.