Groundbreaking heralds progress

The skyline of downtown Chapel Hill took a step toward major change Tuesday, as years of planning and waiting culminated in the groundbreaking of Rosemary Village.

"I think that this is going to be something great for this town," Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy said at the groundbreaking.

The large mixed-use development, which will be located at the corner of West Rosemary Street and Mitchell Lane down the road from Mama Dip's Kitchen, is the first project of its type to be built downtown.

About 60 people were on hand for the development's groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning.

"This development is going to revitalize all the shops and restaurants in the area," said Brian Ehrenfeld.

Ehrenfeld and his brother, Chris, are partners in and co-own Build Ex Inc., the company in charge of construction.

Once complete, Rosemary Village will be a four-story complex, comprised of four individual buildings that will house 38 luxury condominiums and 5,000 square feet of space for seven retail shops.

Tom Tucker, the project's lead developer since its inception about five years ago and a member of the Downtown Economic Development Corporation, said construction should be complete within a year.

The concept design drawings for the development were created by world-renowned California architect Donald MacDonald.

Claudia Grober, sales executive for real estate group Coldwell Banker/Howard Perry and Walston, said all the development's retail spaces and 22 of its living units have been sold.

"We've done very well on a pre-sale basis," she said.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Chris Ehrenfeld said one of the project's goals is to have all units sold by the time construction is complete.

He added that construction will be done in one phase and that the buildings all will be completed within weeks of one another.

"Most units are usually sold during the building process. ... Right now we're ahead of schedule," he said.

The addition of permanent residences, combined with more retail locations downtown, has the potential to bring increased economic prosperity to the area.

"What this project has the opportunity to do for Chapel Hill and Carrboro cannot be overstated," said Aaron Nelson, executive director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce.

"It has the potential to be a catalyst for incredible investment and redevelopment downtown."

Bob Epting, chairman of the Downtown Corporation, said he hopes that the Rosemary Village project will serve as a model for other developers to follow.

He also noted that the development has the potential to reinvigorate Chapel Hill's economic vitality.

And Nelson said that Rosemary Village might ultimately work in tandem with other key area constuction - the renovation of downtown parking lots 2 and 5 - to have a huge impact on the town.

"This is the first of many redevelopment projects downtown. ... They will be synergistic developments," he said.

"All will have the opportunity to really work well together."

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.