Development sees updated plans

Visions of five-story high rises danced in locals’ heads as property owners gave Carrboro residents an update on plans for a downtown shopping center.

The owners of 300 E. Main St., the 55,000-square-foot complex that includes both the Carrboro ArtsCenter and Cat’s Cradle — Main Street Properties LLC — held an open house Wednesday at the ArtsCenter to update residents on their plans to renovate the center.

The meeting was a follow-up to one held Sept. 13 to gather public opinion about the project.

The proposed renovation will add a new dimension to Carrboro’s small-town architecture to create a living, working and shopping space that some say is unprecedented in the town’s history.

“This is the biggest we’ve had in years,” said James Harris, Carrboro’s director of community and economic development. “It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before because of its sheer size.”

The new development will cover 571,100 square feet and will include a parking deck, office space, retail and residential spaces and an amphitheater bordering a central outdoor pathway that will connect to nearby Weaver Street Market.

Project architect Jim Spencer presented the sidewalk idea in response to some Carrboro residents’ desire to retain the town’s pedestrian-friendly design.

“We tried to work with the things that already work well with Carrboro,” Spencer said.

He said residents are most concerned with the potential traffic increase and how the five-story buildings will interact with the town’s small-building backdrop.

“It’s so grossly out of proportion with what’s already on the street,” Carrboro resident Diane Raulli said about the building height.

The developers will apply for a conditional use permit in May.

Project manager Laura Van Sant said actual construction will begin about one to two years after the permit is issued. The project is estimated to be done in about five years.

Current businesses in the plaza will remain in their present locations until the new spaces open.

“We hope nobody misses a day of business,” Van Sant said.

Van Sant and Harris said the community is reacting positively to the plans in hopes that the addition of a major retail center will promote economic growth.

“The key to a successful downtown is a residential base to support it,” Harris said.

The new residents will find the restaurants and existing retail convenient, which will increase the area consumer base, he added.

Harris said the development will also help in taking the tax burden off Carrboro property taxes and transferring the bulk of the responsibility to the business community.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.