300 East Main moves forward

It can run, but it can’t hide.

The second phase of Main Street Properties’ redevelopment of the 300 East Main property is taking fast strides forward with aboveground progress and continued community support.

The second phase will house Fleet Feet Sports’ corporate offices, allowing the store, which was growing and needed space to expand, to keep its corporate headquarters in Carrboro.

The existing store at 300 E. Main St. will move into this new building as well.

The new building’s steel frames were erected last weekend. Until then, work on the project’s second phase has been below ground, with December and January’s heavy rains extending the time it took for its foundation work to be completed.

“Now you can actually see it,” said Laura Van Sant, the property’s manager.

The new building is located on the west edge of the redevelopment center, alongside Carrboro’s railroad tracks.

Work on the second phase of the 300 East Main redevelopment is expected to finish in late October.

Van Sant said the community’s response to the construction has been generally positive.

“Hopefully people are still enthusiastic that we’re still at it and continuing to put in more great shops, restaurants and office space in Carrboro,” she said.

Kevin Benedict, a partner at Main Street Properties who is involved in the project, said the firm has worked hard to gather public and community input.

“It’s been very nice to know that folks are supportive,” he said.

Michael Villopoto, owner of Amante Gourmet Pizza said this phase of redevelopment has not had a large impact on the restaurant, which is located in the center of the planned redevelopment area.

The first phase of construction, which included the Hampton Inn & Suites as well as more retail and restaurant space, did affect Amante Pizza and other nearby businesses by temporarily reducing the number of available parking spaces during construction, but Villopoto said they have not had the same problem during the second phase.

“If anything, we might get some construction workers for lunch,” he said.

But Villopoto expressed concern about the project’s third phase, which calls for buildings directly in front of the restaurant’s location, preventing curbside visibility and potentially prompting the business to move to a new location.

The third and final phase, which will take shape over the next few years, will focus on putting new restaurants, offices and mixed-use buildings in the center of the 300 East Main property.

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