Courtyard construction delayed until Aug. 2011

Redevelopment plans for a walled-in restaurant and retail area have been pushed back as developers wait for permit approval from the town.

John Weigle, the project manager responsible for the renovations of the Courtyard, said the redevelopment is now slated to finish by August 2011.

Redevelopment was initially scheduled to begin in July, but Weigle said developers are still waiting on permits from the town.

“We would like to have all of our approvals from the town in place by the end of the year so we can begin renovation in January,” he said.

The first floor of the Courtyard will be renovated for retail, while the second and third floors will be prepared for apartments.

This will be the first time people can reside in the Courtyard, located at 431 W. Franklin St.

A 90-car parking deck is also in the redevelopment plans, a possible solution to previous parking woes that drove some tenants away.

Roger Tillison, owner of Great Cuts, said the area is starting to grow again after conflict over parking made it incredibly difficult for tenants to stay long term.

When Tillison first came to the Courtyard in 1988, there were doctors, architects, designers, engineers and a filmmaker in the offices.

But the Courtyard lost tenants after disagreements with previous landlord Spencer Young.

“There was a big dispute over this parking lot,” Tillison said. “It caused a lot of controversy.”

Among the businesses that left the Courtyard is 3 Cups, a coffee, tea and wine shop.

Jay Murrie, a 3 Cups manager, said business has improved significantly since the company relocated to South Elliott Road.

The location at The Courtyard was beautiful, he said, but there was no visibility and no parking.

“I think ‘parking was a problem’ would be an understatement,” Murrie said. “Moving has been a huge success for us.”

The Dilweg Companies, the Courtyard’s new development company, closed on the property June 21.

Since then, Weigle said, no tenants have left the complex, and new businesses are finding the area promising.

Vimala Rajendran, manager and executive chef at Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe, said the restaurant has been at the Courtyard three months.

“I was confident that if we have a good product, we could revitalize the Courtyard,” she said.

Véronique King, owner of Crepes Véronique, came to the Courtyard in March.

She said she is enthusiastic about the setting.

“I always loved it, when I arrived here, I thought it was wonderful, quiet,” King said. “I like the brick walls, the metal.”

But she said she is looking forward to business picking up.

“I have noticed that people just open and close, open and close,” she said.

But Tillison said he is hopeful about the future.

“We’re looking forward to what’s coming,” he said. “It’s going to come up again.”

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.