Carrboro: Cedar Rock Apartments
Cedar Rock Apartments serves as a sister site to the Weaver Community Housing Association’s co-op located on Crest Street (A previous project site for USS that you can learn more about that project here!).
Cisterns
Fifty percent of the rooftop runoff from the three separate apartment buildings has been redirected to three 1,100-gallon cisterns—one for each building—ensuring a more controlled and sustainable water management system.
Biorentention Cell
For Cedar Rock Apartments, a key feature of the project is the bioretention cell located at the end of the parking lot. Currently, this system is treating runoff from approximately 6,500 square feet of impervious transportation surfaces (i.e. the parking lot).
Given the site's proximity to a nearby stream—just 72 feet from the edge of the parking lot—we prioritized stormwater treatment and ecological restoration. The bioretention cell has been designed to capture and treat 100% of runoff during a 1-inch rain event, effectively mitigating the potential impact of stormwater on the adjacent waterway.
Beyond stormwater management, we undertook a comprehensive ecological restoration of the buffer zone. This included the removal of invasive species such as bamboo, elaeagnus, and ligustrum, which were replaced with a diverse selection of native plants. We have re-established a thriving native buffer with species such as serviceberries, elderberry, beautyberry, Itea Virginica (Virginia Sweetspire), and native hollies. This planting strategy enhances wildlife habitat, improves biodiversity, and strengthens the resilience of the local ecosystem.
