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The Daily Tar Heel

Input for the towers: As plans for University Square and Granville Towers site develop, public should weigh in

Granville Towers and University Square have been integral parts of the UNC community for years. Now the site is officially controlled by the University — and there are big plans in store for its future.

The redevelopment will have major economic and social repercussions for decades to come.

Good thing the public has been invited to share their concerns and offer input to the developers.

The meeting will be used to discuss the future nature of Granville Towers and University Square.

Both Cousins Properties Inc., and architectural partner Elkus Manfredi are experienced in similar multiuse, urban developments, but even with their skills, the site still poses a number of difficult challenges to overcome.

Granville currently houses 1,300 students, and the University is slated to expand in the coming years.

The housing situation in Chapel Hill is already precarious. Adding another 1,300 students to the horde seeking on- or off-campus housing could be disastrous.

If there are plans to demolish the towers, the University must plan for affordable housing to serve its students, despite the lucrative retail opportunities at the site.

Although it could be 2014 before construction begins on the site, graduates who remain in Chapel Hill will be affected by these decisions, as will anyone with siblings or children who want to live here in the future.

Tonight is an excellent opportunity for the public to offer its insight as the redevelopment of the site is planned.

Attend the meeting

Where: Suite 133-G of University Sq.
When: 7 p.m.

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