DEDC backs condo proposal

Members of the Downtown Economic Development Corporation, in their first meeting with new member Mayor Kevin Foy, said Wednesday that they will formally throw their support behind an East Franklin Street condominium project.

Although Foy was not present for the vote, the corporation unanimously decided to back a local developer’s proposal to renovate the Village Apartments, at 213 E. Franklin St., into the McCorkle Place Condominiums.

During the meeting, which also provided the corporation with an update on its search for a permanent executive director, Village Apartments owner Joe Patterson presented his plans to convert the 35-unit apartment complex into eight high-end condominiums.

He estimated the condos’ total tax value at $5 million.

Most of the current residents of the 50-tenant Village Apartments are undergraduate students at the University, but corporation members expressed enthusiasm for the project because it will generate permanent residents downtown.

“I don’t mind displacing students from the downtown area,” said corporation member Roger Perry, who is also a member of the UNC Board of Trustees. “There’s plenty of undergraduate housing.”

Patterson said he has notified the current residents of his renovation plans.

He said the ultimate plan in renovating the building, which has the same structure it did in 1937, is to attract “fairly well-off purchasers” downtown.

“We’re increasing permanent housing stock downtown.”

A unit of affordable housing, which will likely be available for rent, is included in the current draft plans for the condominiums.

The Chapel Hill Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Patterson’s request for a special-use permit March 21.

The corporation also received good news Wednesday from consultants assisting in the search for the board’s permanent executive director.

Anita Badrock, vice president of Chapel Hill personnel firm Smither & Associates Inc., said 25 candidates have applied so far.

“We’re really excited,” she said. “This is starting to ratchet up.”

While she and Leslie Stewart, the firm’s staffing director, said the number wasn’t unusually high or low, a report to the corporation indicates that the talent pool is deep among the applicants.

Nine applicants have economic development experience. Eight have worked in government planning, membership services or with a chamber of commerce.

Eight of the 25 applicants are also area residents.

The corporation’s search subcommittee will meet today at the corporation’s office, at 308 W. Rosemary St., to discuss the findings and criteria it will use in hiring for the position. The tentative deadline for applications is Tuesday.

The corporation also reviewed an inventory of available downtown space and added an amendment to its bylaws stating that the group will not consider supporting projects that violate town building codes.

Among the coming items the corporation plans to tackle is the initiative to install wireless Internet access in the downtown area.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.