Downtown group provides input

The Chapel Hill Downtown Economic Development Corporation finalized a letter of inquiries concerning the redevelopment of downtown parking lots 2 and 5 Monday morning.

The letter, sent to Town Manager Cal Horton, includes a recommendation to the Chapel Hill Town Council to continue soliciting a private developer.

Chairman Bob Epting discussed several concerns with the board at its meeting Monday. Members voted to cut several questions from the first draft and edited others.

The letter addresses the corporation's concerns about various development issues related to the projects, which are the largest in the town's history.

Lot 2, located on Rosemary Street behind Spanky's, and lot 5, located across from University Square, are planned to be redeveloped into mixed-use buildings. The development projects are slated to cost about $66.3 million.

"I think a lot of comments in the memo are very appropriate and specific," said corporation member Tom Tucker.

Horton invited the group on Oct. 6 to provide comments.

Nick Didow, the corporation's interim executive director, then composed a draft after board members discussed questions they had about the development of the lots.

Questions concerning the "highest and best use" of lot 5, consideration of other downtown property owners and the project's effect on community personality all were addressed.

"I think this is one question we should be asking," corporation member Roger Perry said of the concerns with lot 5.

Epting said multiple options for lot 5 should be considered. "There may be other alternatives than expanding to the east," he said.

The group proposed that the relocation of RBC Centura on Rosemary Street and construction of the parking deck for lot 5 be moved up to the project's first phase - set to begin in August 2007 - instead of the second phase as they are currently planned.

Inquiries into soil borings were removed after members heard that the council's subcommittee on the lots and project consultant John Stainback already had hired Engineering Consulting Services Ltd. of Raleigh to survey the lots for granite and environmental hazards.

The results of the survey have not yet been made available.

Nancy Suttenfield, corporation member and University vice chancellor for finance and administration, said she thought the survey discussions were best left to the council. "It's really the town's business," she said. "We're asking a question, and it's really not our business."

Other issues addressed in the letter include the comprehensiveness of the project's scope and increased pedestrian access.

Some said the group should not have a laundry list of concerns. "My question is whether or not we want to have such a detailed response," Tucker said. "I would lean toward focusing on any glaring issues."

The council has asked for community input related to the projects, which it plans to receive at presentations Nov. 4 and Nov. 5.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.