New Apartment Proposal Filed in Chapel Hill

A developer has proposed building 310 apartments on a three-acre site currently occupied by single-family homes.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Apartments

Screen-print poster illustration of a modular structure evolving from a small house into an apartment building, evoking urban density. — Lawler Development Group has proposed a seven-story mixed-use building at 611 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Chapel Hill, replacing existing single-family homes. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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SMN ATX Investments LLC has submitted a proposal to build up to 310 apartments at 611 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The project seeks to replace five to six existing single-family homes with a seven-story, mixed-use building.

Why it matters

The proposal follows the collapse of the previously approved Hillside Trace project, which would have provided 190 affordable housing units at the same location. This new plan aims to address housing needs through a combination of market-rate and affordable apartments along a future transit corridor.

The development plan for the three-acre site includes up to 310 apartment units across a seven-story building, with 10 percent reserved for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income.

The players

SMN ATX Investments LLC

This real estate investment firm is the developer seeking approval for the new apartment complex.

Lawler Development Group LLC

This company owns the property located at 611 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Chapel Hill Town Council

This local governing body holds the authority to approve rezoning requests and development projects.

The details

The developer, Lawler Development Group LLC, has requested that the town rezone the property from residential to mixed-use to accommodate the structure. The design features ground-floor commercial space and structured parking to support the new density.

May 7, 2025: Chapel Hill Town Council approved the Hillside Trace project.
2030: The NS Rapid transit route is expected to reach Chapel Hill.

Roadmap

This project aligns with urban densification strategies centered on the upcoming NS Rapid transit route expected in 2030. It reflects a broader shift toward creating mixed-use corridors that replace low-density residential housing with multi-story transit-oriented developments.

Residents currently living in the five to six single-family homes on the site will be impacted by the potential rezoning and construction activity. The project also signals future changes to the neighborhood landscape as the town prepares for the arrival of the NS Rapid transit route.

The takeaway

The replacement of single-family homes with multi-story apartments highlights the ongoing transition toward higher density in growing towns. Residents and stakeholders should monitor upcoming council hearings to see how the finalized unit count and affordability requirements evolve.