Officials praise Thorp’s town relations

In the hours following the resignation of UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp, local officials painted a picture of a leader who has helped build a strong relationship with the community.

“It’s been an extraordinary relationship,” said Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt, who has worked closely with Thorp on many University and town-related projects.

“The town-gown relationship has been as good as its ever been.”

Thorp announced his resignation Monday after a string of academic, athletic and administrative scandals sparked questions about his leadership.

Several local leaders expressed concern about the resignation, calling on him to rethink his decision.

“I wish he would reconsider,” said Kleinschmidt. “He’s an outstanding leader.”

Kleinschmidt said the town-gown relationship was much different when Thorp became chancellor in 2008 than it is today.

“He sort of walked into a hornet’s nest there because at that point, it was kind of strained,” he said.

But he said Thorp has proved instrumental in moving forward the Carolina North Development Agreement — which created a 50-year-plan for the property University officials hope to use as a satellite campus.

He also helped revive downtown Chapel Hill through investments in the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership and through redevelopment plans for the University Square and Granville Towers property, Kleinschmidt said.

“The University is dependent on the success of downtown Chapel Hill,” said Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton. “You can’t have one going up and the other going down.”

Work is expected to begin on the University Square project — located at 123 E. Franklin St. — next year.

“It has huge implications for Chapel Hill,” said Chilton, who first became involved in town politics more than 20 years ago as a Chapel Hill Town Councilman.

In a statement, Aaron Nelson — president and CEO of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce — said he’s disappointed by Thorp’s resignation.

“He is a great advocate for our University and for the greater Chapel Hill community,” he said.

“The partnership between the citizens, our business community and the University were greatly strengthened under his leadership.”

Kleinschmidt and Chilton — both UNC graduates — said Thorp’s long-time involvement in Chapel Hill has influenced his interaction with the community.

“He didn’t come here to be chancellor,” Chilton said. “He’s been a part of our Chapel Hill-Carrboro community for a long time. He has a better idea of our community.”

Despite the resignation, town officials say Thorp’s legacy in Chapel Hill and the surrounding community will be long-lasting.

“One of his legacies will be helping create an environment in which town-gown relations will continue to remain healthy,” Kleinschmidt said.

“He’s such a strong leader — he’s helped create a quality engagement with the town that others have tried to create.

“But he’s been successful.”

And Thorp agreed.

“We did a lot to improve our relationship with the town of Chapel Hill,” he said. “I think we’ll be leaving that in good shape.”

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.