After months of opposition and financial uncertainty, animosity towards Greenbridge Developments climaxed Saturday morning when a riot left three in handcuffs.
The 10-story development was set to go up for sale June 27 after defaulting on its Bank of America loans, but bank spokeswoman Shirley Norton said the foreclosure date will be postponed, giving developers time to find investors to cover their $28.7 million debt.
Greenbridge hostility
With critics citing gentrification issues, Greenbridge has faced problems in the past:
- Vandals spray painted the building in several areas and caused about $11,000 of damage in January 2010.
- The development experienced its second bomb threat on Feb. 18, 2010.
“We have postponed the sale and continue to work with the developers to resolve the matter,” Norton said in an email.
Greenbridge developers did not return calls for comment.
The development has been an object of controversy because of its location in the historically black and low-income Northside neighborhood.
Lt. Kevin Gunter, spokesman for the Chapel Hill Police Department, said protestors caused about $3,400 of damage to Greenbridge on Saturday by spraying Silly String in the lobby and damaging furniture.
“When the officer responded, he saw about 15 people standing on the sidewalk with banners reading, ‘Honk if you oppose Greenbridge,’” he said. “There were 20 or 25 more inside, but most of the individuals fled.”
Police arrested Brian Dingledine, a Northside resident, Karoline Knable, of Durham, and Kyle Whisenant, of Greensboro, at the riot. All three were taken to the Orange County Jail and released on a secured bond totaling $8,000.
Contact the City Editor at city@dailytarheel.com.
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