The Name of Things

Ever wonder how North Haven and our streets got their names? I did, so back in the mid-1990s I asked our builders, Brad Pulley and Mike Adair, how the names were chosen.

In 1979 Chapel Hill developer J. P. Goforth had a plan for a 135 unit development on the 27 property he owned north of Sewell School Road and across from what became Ironwoods (named for the old iron mines that once operated there). A 1980 SUP for the property was approved for 100 units, 80 townhomes and 20 single family homes. Four units (the ones standing today) were built.

"North Haven" was the selected name because it was going to be a "way north" neighborhood in Chapel Hill and with three of it's sides surrounded by the Horace Williams property, it was in fact a "haven."

In 1990, Goforth died and his property was sold to another develope. In 1992, the Town of Chapel Hill, after much debate and several modifications, approved 50 single family homes to join the four existing townhomes. Then Town Manager Cal Horton told me the the Council's approval was tied to UNC's assertions that it would close the Horace Williams Airport!

The North Haven name was also selected for one of the streets and "Woodleaf" was selected because Brad knew the small Rowan County town of Woodleaf. Plus, it "fit" the theme he decided on for the three cul-d-sacs: the flowering marigold, the hazelnut shrub, and the flowering magnolia plant were all favorites of his mother's.

So, that's the story as told to me and as I remember it being told!

Fred Black