Grubb Properties Celebrates 75 Years of Glen Lennox

This year, we’ve been celebrating the 75th anniversary of Glen Lennox, an iconic neighborhood in Chapel Hill, NC. Grubb Properties has been part of this community since 1985 and is proud to continue its legacy.

Located on 70 acres in the heart of Chapel Hill, Glen Lennox is a true mixed-use development seamlessly integrating essential housing, restaurants, retail, office, green space, and more into a single vibrant community. Grubb Properties has been its owner for 40 years and a steward of the community’s revitalization and evolution.

Through a phased redevelopment, Grubb Properties added much-needed essential housing through Link Apartments® communities, as well as new office and retail space. In addition, it has championed connectivity and sustainability by making significant infrastructure improvements so that walking, biking, and public transportation are part of everyday life. This revitalization aims to drive long-term value for investors, the neighborhood, and the greater Chapel Hill community. 

History

Founded in 1950, Glen Lennox is one of the nation’s first mid-century modern planned neighborhoods. The Glen Lennox Apartments originally served many returning World War II veterans who attended nearby University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as part of a major post-war college enrollment boom. Two years later, Glen Lennox Shopping Center opened and was considered the second shopping center in North Carolina.

In 1955, Robert Grubb, a UNC student and the future founder of Grubb Properties, moved into Glen Lennox. Thirty years later, Grubb Properties purchased the existing apartments and shopping center and has been the owner and manager of them ever since. 

In 2018, Grubb Properties began work to restore this revered community and ensure it continues to be a vibrant, promising place for the next generation. This included adding 509 units of essential housing through two new Link Apartments® communities, and new office and restaurant space with The Gwendolyn.

Current Properties

Today, Glen Lennox features a number of residential, retail and office settings including:

• Link Apartments® Linden
• Link Apartments® Calyx
• Glen Lennox Apartments
• The Gwendolyn office building
• Glen Lennox Shopping Center

The Meanings Behind the Names

From the very outset of its redevelopment of Glen Lennox, Grubb Properties ensured that history was honored by naming buildings after leaders who made an imprint on the community.

The Gwendolyn office building was named for Gwendolyn Harrison Smith, the first female Black student to enroll at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This year marked what would have been Smith’s 100th birthday. Smith’s admission to the university’s Ph.D. program was revoked in 1951 because of her race. But she fought for her right to stay, and university trustees re-instated her admission, helping to open the door for others to follow her path.

The names of the apartment communities Link Apartments® Linden and Link Apartments® Calyx harken back to the community’s mid-century roots. Both refer to one of the vibrant work of pioneering designer Lucienne Day, whose striking textile patterns became an iconic look of the era and could be found in homes and businesses worldwide.

Many of the place names in Glen Lennox honor its history and have since its founding. For example, Hayes Street, created as part of the original neighborhood, is named after the man who provided steel for some of the first structures.

The Best Part: Community

When we asked our team members about being part of Glen Lennox, they overwhelmingly said their favorite thing is being part of a warm and welcoming community that brings people together.  Others noted how Glen Lennox is building on its history to shape its future.

“Glen Lennox is where character and community meet. It’s a neighborhood where history is honored – every brick, tree, and story connects us to our past and inspires our future,” said Kathryn Vale, assistant manager.

The Glen Lennox Apartments team said: "We love Glen Lennox because it is a true neighborhood. It is not just an apartment community but a home to many residents, past and present, for 75 years! We appreciate the opportunity to build relationships with our residents and continue to contribute chapters to the wonderful story of Glen Lennox."

Happy 75th anniversary, Glen Lennox – here’s to many more!