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(08/23/06 4:00am)
With most units now occupied, Rosemary Village has started to become a part of the downtown community.
Situated in the west-end business district, the four-story development houses 38 residential units and seven commercial spaces at road level.
Chris Ehrenfeld, co-owner of Build Ex Inc., the company that built and developed Rosemary Village, said five condos remain available.
Photos and maps of the vacant spaces can be found at www.rosemaryvillage.com.
"All of Chapel Hill revolves around the school year," he said. "In the summer real estate slows down. I expect things to rev up in the next few weeks. I expect to sell the rest."
The summer slump didn't stop businesses or entrepreneurs from picking up the nonresidential slots.
In addition to several real-estate offices, a day spa and a dessert shop run by private individuals will open in the complex. Ehrenfeld said he expects the shops to open in the spring.
Todd Neal, a Chapel Hill resident who bought a condo as an investment property, said he thinks that the real-estate offices are probably temporary.
"As the west side develops it will become clear what businesses work," he said.
The construction project, which spanned the 400 block of West Rosemary, reached completion in April to the delight of neighboring business owners.
Dennis Gavin, owner of Skylight Exchange, said he's happy the construction phase is finished but still has reservations about the new development.
"It disrupted everything here for a while," he said. "We'll see what the future holds. It has to be better than construction, that's for sure."
Tonya Council, a manager at nearby restaurant Mama Dip's, said that she had no problems with the building and that she anticipated a rise in business with the added clientele.
New residents downtown also mean a demand for more parking in an area that already is strapped for space.
"Parking is a serious issue," Gavin said. "There is none in this neighborhood. There used to be spaces there, now there's condos."
Each condo comes with one or two spaces, but Samuel Jones, a doctor at UNC Hospitals, said people usually park everywhere.
"People are parking behind my garage, which is a problem when I need to respond to traumas," he said.
Jones said he chose Rosemary Condominiums for their proximity to UNC Hospitals.
Sid Joyner, a condo owner and UNC alumnus, said underground parking would help ease tensions as the west side develops - a suggestion he plans to make known to the Chapel Hill Town Council.
He thinks the new, upscale condos will ease the downtown transition toward a more affluent population.
"There's a need to bring people to live in Chapel Hill who can support nicer businesses to fill the empty spaces," he said. "Chapel Hill can't support another T-shirt store for students.
"I feel part of a positive process to help Chapel Hill grow."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(08/23/06 4:00am)
A trip where local leaders will learn from another city has reached capacity, and attendees are getting ready to pack their bags.
At the end of September, 96 people from the University, towns and county will head to Madison, Wis., for an inter-city visit.
Leaders plan to learn about downtown development along State Street, workforce housing, a satellite campus called University Research Park and town-gown relations in planned sessions.
Matthew Pacheco, an incoming UNC senior who spent one year at UW-Madison, said students in Madison often deal with the town.
"Student government plays a more intricate role in the town," he said. "It's more woven together."
A relationship like this might prove useful as plans for Carolina North, the University's future satellite campus, move forward.
Aaron Nelson, executive director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce said he would like to see what Madison is doing differently as it plans its second research park.
The park in Madison has 114 companies and 4,100 employees, said Mark Bugher, director of the park.
Bugher will make a presentation stressing the importance of the entrepreneurial aspects of the park and the relationship between the university and the community.
"We're generally viewed as a model that seems to work," he said.
Other trip priorities include looking at Madison's condominium construction and the wireless program.
"I'm interested in understanding what Madison is doing to see if it's better than what we're doing here or the reverse," said Chapel Hill Mayor Pro Tem Bill Strom.
Robert Golden, dean of the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and former vice dean of the UNC School of Medicine, said he thinks Madison's downtown is more accessible and vibrant because buses are the only vehicles allowed on the main drag.
"I think both places are among the most desirable places to live in the world," he said.
Officials had predicted there would be no more than 90 attendees, but Nelson said the large interest might be partly due to $10,000 in scholarship funds raised through investors. All 20 people who requested scholarships got some funding.
But the popularity of the trip was no surprise to Jonathan Howes, special assistant to the chancellor for local relations and a former mayor of Chapel Hill.
Howes has attended several conferences of this kind, including a 1997 trip to Ann Arbor, Mich., where then-Chancellor Michael Hooker observed performing arts venues. The decision to transform Memorial Hall came from that trip.
Strom said he is excited about the trip's potential.
"We value ideas," he said. "And this is an opportunity to firsthand experience successes and setbacks of another community."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(08/23/06 4:00am)
As friends and family of the class of 2007 start to make their hotel reservations for commencement in May, they might have to look a little farther than downtown if they plan on booking a smoking room.
Starting in late July, smokers staying at the Carolina Inn on Pittsboro Street have had to take it to the lawn -- the only place where smoking is still allowed.
Mark Nelson, director of sales and marketing at the Carolina Inn, said the decision has been in the works for quiet a while, but was solidified after the Surgeon General's report underscoring the danger of secondhand smoke was released in June.
"That was kind of a final straw," he said. "It's one of those trends where more people are looking for nonsmoking rooms. And a nonsmoker generally doesn't want to stay in a room that has been used as a smoking room previously."
Both Chapel Hill Marriott hotels recently banned smoking, and the general manager of the Best Western University Inn on Raleigh Road said he plans to follow suit within three months.
Nelson said praise for the decision has outweighed any complaints.
Before the switch 14 of the 148 rooms at the Carolina Inn were smoking rooms, and all underwent an in-depth treatment to erase any signs of a smoke-filled past.
Michael Donaldson, general manager of The Franklin Hotel, set to open as a smoke-free establishment in October, said it will cut down costs significantly to ban smoking from the beginning.
"It's a huge cost to a hotel to be smoking, to continuously clean and maintain the rooms," he said. "I'm not even buying ashtrays."
Anthony Carey, General Manager of The Siena Hotel on East Franklin Street, said that with more and more hotels going nonsmoking, he has noticed an increase in demand for the hotel's smoking rooms.
"To tell them they can't smoke is not an option," he said. "They expect a room with smoking privileges."
But even The Siena might eventually jump on the bandwagon. Carey said that when he first came into business, only five rooms were nonsmoking in the hotel and that it's just a matter of time until everything will be nonsmoking.
"We're having renovations the end of this year, then we will make a decision," he said. "When the new items come, it will be a perfect time to go nonsmoking. We'll evaluate based on what the customers are telling us."
Nelson said the Carolina Inn is in a unique position with its campus location.
"We stayed in sync with the policies on campus," he said. "We want to move parallel to the University."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(04/27/06 4:00am)
Chelsea Slegal, a sophomore at East Chapel Hill High School, did not attend classes Wednesday for the second day since she was held hostage at gunpoint.
In her absence, administrators began working to better ensure safety.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools officials and East Chapel Hill High School administrators met Wednesday morning with a representative from the Chapel Hill Police Department to address school safety concerns.
Junior William Foster used a shotgun to keep Slegal and social studies teacher Lisa Kukla in a classroom for an hour before leading police on a chase through the surrounding area. He fired warning shots that didn't injure anybody.
At the meeting, officials formulated recommendations to safeguard against similar instances.
The group suggested that school administrators review the building's exterior doors to ensure they are locked and unlocked at appropriate times and more closely monitor students that remain on campus after 4 p.m.
"I think they kind of approached it with things that can be implemented immediately," said Stephanie Knott, assistant to the superintendent for community relations. "I don't want to say quick fixes but things that can be accomplished easily and at a small expense."
On a district-wide level, meeting attendees decided upon areas of research, Knott said.
Studies will include reviews of exterior lighting, school communication systems, exterior door access systems and monitoring police scanners from Lincoln Center.
"At the district level there's some things we need to look at," said Jeff Riley, coordinator of student services and chairman of the meeting. "It's really a K-12 issue. Yes, this happened at East, but other situations could happen at other schools."
District officials said they are considering additional security guards at all schools that will perform a sweep of the buildings based on the afternoon's activity schedule.
Right now each high school campus has one resource officer, who manages a few security
personnel.
Evaluations will focus on the after-school hours. Since most emergency drills are practiced during the daytime, response after-hours could be inefficient, Riley said, noting that high schools often stay open until 11 p.m.
Police spokeswoman Jane Cousins said the department issued six warrants for Foster's arrest Tuesday, but the 17-year-old student will not be arrested until released from UNC Hospitals, where his mother took him Monday.
As of press time Wednesday, Foster was still at the hospital and police had no update on potential motives.
Students were encouraged Tuesday to share any information they might know about the incident or Foster's intentions during their advisory period, but no students made any reports.
The warrants state that Foster fired a Mossburg shotgun and also possessed an air rifle and a hunting knife on campus.
Riley said, if anything, the shock of Monday's occurrences will incite change.
"It helps to make everything more real - it helps us to make adjustments."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(04/25/06 4:00am)
Listen to the song
"Raleigh and Durham and Fayetteville: if it ain't in Carrboro, it ain't worth my skill" was the rhyme that started it all.
Roommates Brian Risk and Billy McCormick, both Carrboro residents, said they dread venturing out of their town.
This complaint, coupled with their affinity for music-making, led the pair to create a rap song about Carrboro.
(04/20/06 4:00am)
At an unusually packed Chapel Hill Town Council public hearing, more than half of the people in attendance stood up in opposition to a new development.
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County presented a revised concept plan for a multi-family development, Sunrise Ridge, to the Town Council on Wednesday. Neighbors in attendance vehemently opposed the plan.
The concept calls for 24 buildings with two units each on 19.4 acres, rather than the original plan for 100 units on 17 acres.
The plan for construction on Sunrise Road between Ginger Road and I-40 aims to address concerns of nearby residents, who still think the project is too large.
"We've listened to the neighbors," said John Sehon, past president of Habit for Humanity's board of directors. "We have not always agreed with neighbors or always done what they've asked."
Neighbors said they were surprised that Habitat officials claimed to have met with them, saying such meetings were not held.
Neighbors that live near the site formed the Sunrise Ridge Coalition after the first concept plan was proposed to address concerns about the new development. Members of the coalition want, among other things, single-family homes and no duplexes.
Orange County Habitat Executive Director Susan Levy said officials did take some measures to address the coalition's issues including a sound study.
Council member Jim Ward said this issue concerns him.
"I want to feel confident we're creating this neighborhood in a place where noise is not an irritant," he said.
Ward also said the proposed space between homes isn't large enough.
After concerns that the development was too dense, changes were made to increase land area, but nearby residents say that the changes aren't satisfactory. Council member Laurin Easthom said the rows of homes look too "cookie cutter."
Robert Dowling, executive director of the Orange Community Housing and Land Trust, said he anticipates future discussion between his group and Habitat.
"These people aren't in the habit of creating future slums," Dowling said.
Aaron Nelson, executive director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, said the group supports the proposal because it creates more work force housing.
Levy said the project reflects the council's commitment to providing affordable housing.
"Sunrise Ridge offers that golden opportunity that doesn't come along often to help you meet that priority," she said.
The council transferred comments from the meeting back to the applicant.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(04/19/06 4:00am)
University officials are taking special measures to ensure that the third time is the charm for modifying its development plan.
The Chapel Hill Town Council will review another set of changes to the University's 2001 Development Plan at a public hearing tonight.
The hearing is at 7 p.m. at Chapel Hill Town Hall.
The third modification consists of 14 projects, including the reconstruction of Davie Hall, the expansion of Boshamer and Kenan stadiums, an addition to the dental science building, the relocation of ground facilities and the construction of a parking deck and tennis court.
"These are all improvements and a reflection of ongoing design," said Anna Wu, director of facilities planning and construction for the University,
Wu said her team will incorporate the council's comments into the application to be submitted formally in four weeks to six weeks.
"It's just about making the process more productive," she said. "It should be a good session."
After the last modification, the University and the town worked closely to extend the time the council has to review and approve the application from 90 days to 120 days.
"I think the time period was something that people felt was putting undue pressure on the process," Wu said. "We can ask for projects to be reviewed in 90 days, but we don't anticipate doing that now."
The council also altered the process so it requires a concept plan review - a step University officials took voluntarily with the second modification. "I think the process has been improved to foster that input," Wu said.
In light of the amount of concern from residents after the 2003 approval of the first modification, Linda Convissor, UNC's director of local relations, sent an e-mail to about 100 neighborhood and community leaders.
The e-mail listed the projects in the third modification and invited residents to discuss changes at a meeting held in late March.
"That gave people a warning so they won't be surprised by what we present," Convissor said. "I think the sparse attendance showed that the projects in this modification won't generate the neighborhood response that past modifications created."
Also anticipating a smooth process, council member Cam Hill said he has no blaring concerns with the new changes.
"The issues are all around traffic on Manning Drive," he said. "That's where I expect there will be some discussion."
Convissor said she anticipates a positive reception from the council and residents because changes include a shift in parking to create green space and the reconstruction of Davie Hall.
"I've heard excitement from people about what that will do for the Cameron Avenue streetscape," Convissor said. "They're excited to think that building actually could be gone and replaced with something more attractive."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(04/11/06 4:00am)
Two long-standing committees that serve the Chapel Hill Town Council will become a thing of the past June 30 to the disappointment members of the bodies.
The council approved Monday night a petition from Mayor Kevin Foy to disband the Horace Williams citizens committee and the technology committee with only council member Laurin Easthom dissenting.
The petition stated that both groups completed their charges.
The Horace Williams committee, formed in October 2002, completed a report that put in print the town's main principles to guide discussion for the development of Carolina North.
Now that the University has its own committee that has town representatives, Foy said the town's is no longer needed.
"We're not negotiating them; we're not planning on changing the principles," he said. "I don't know what feedback the committee would give."
Mayor Pro Tem Bill Strom supported Foy's petition.
"To me this is long overdue . The report is truly straightforward, comprehensive," Strom said. "Everyone at the leadership advisory committee has discussed that it will be the template for future discussions."
Foy said that eventually attendance at committee meetings would become sporadic and a discontinuity would form.
"As we go forward, it's possible the council will need different kinds of advice," Foy said before the meeting. "We don't know what that will be, but in the meantime, there is nothing for this committee to do."
Will Raymond, a member of both committees and a guest columnist for The Daily Tar Heel, questioned the timing of the disbanding, considering that Carolina North is "just revving up."
Easthom, the council's liaison to the committee, said the citizens committee is making strides in its environment subcommittee work.
"I feel like at this point the committee has generated enthusiasm for their recent work on the environment," she said.
Foy said that June 30 was chosen because the environmental subcommittee will be finished with its work.
The council likely will form another committee, with a different charge relating to the Horace Williams property as development progresses, Foy said.
Though he petitioned for both committees' adjournment, Foy said his reasons for dissolving the technology committee are unique. In light of recent technology committee member resignations, Foy said the council needs to reevaluate the structure of the group.
"That committee hasn't been functioning well for the council this past year," Foy said before the meeting. "The council needs to step back and find the best way to use its resources."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(03/29/06 5:00am)
Since the birth of an idea in 2001, leaders have been working to fill the housing needs of hospital patients and their families.
The dream of building a 40-room house for critically ill adult patients, family members and care givers- - particularly those staying at UNC Hospitals for an extended time period - could soon become a reality.
The plan for Family House now has made its way onto the town's political agenda in the form of a petition for a one-time $25,000 grant.
The Chapel Hill Town Council referred the petition to the town staff at its Monday meeting.
The grant could be payable during a four- or five-year period.
"This is very small," said Greg Kirkpatrick, director of development and capital campaign manager for Family House. "It's less than .5 percent of the total funding that we're asking for."
Similar proposals asking for help with the capital costs of the project also have been issued to Carrboro and to Orange County.
"It's a wonderful cause and a good way to get involved with the community," said Matt Hapgood, president of the Family House board of directors.
For the many families that already must pay medical bills, hotel costs are tough to handle.
"Family House is to act as affordable lodging because there's nothing in Chapel Hill that's affordable for a long stay," Kirkpatrick said.
Family House needs to raise $6.3 million to begin construction. So far about $4.2 million has been raised through donations from organizations, corporations and individuals.
The State Employees' Credit Union Foundation got the fundraising ball rolling with a $2 million gift in June.
"This is really manageable. We're just going to keep putting out proposals," Kirkpatrick said.
With hopes of opening its doors in 2007, Family House has issued proposals totaling $2.3 million and plans to raise funds throughout the Triangle after construction begins.
Kirkpatrick said he hopes to break ground in June or July on the 5.85-acre site on Old Mason Farm Road adjacent to the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, which offers comparable services to families of pediatric patients.
Shelley Day, executive director of Ronald McDonald House, said they get phone calls at least once a week from adult patients and families they can't accommodate.
Family House will supplement, not replace the Ronald McDonald House and the UNC Hospitals Motel Unit.
It will provide lodging for overflow from the Ronald McDonald House if space permits.
Tom Hughes, spokesman for UNC Hospitals, said the motel unit still will be needed with the construction of Family House.
Kirkpatrick said a place like Family House is in great demand. "They tell us we'll be full the minute we open, which is a bit staggering."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(03/24/06 5:00am)
Odessa Davis dropped out of school at age 15 to help on her family's farm - a decision that left her lacking in the skills needed to punctuate a paragraph, she said.
And when she was faced with a placement exam that tested reading skills to gain acceptance into a computer program, Davis knew she couldn't do it on her own.
"I thought, 'I need to help myself,'" she said. "I need some more education."
She found just the assistance she needed at the Orange County Literacy Council , which changed her life and provided her with the skills she lacked.
Orange County residents or workers older than 18 seeking to improve literacy have been able to turn to the council since its formation in 1984.
The council is in need of more tutors to help achieve its goal of 100 percent adult literacy in Orange County.
Now there are about 140 students and 100 tutors.
To better inform people of the services that helped Davis, students and tutors from the council will perform a production called "'R.E.S.P.E.C.T' Has Seven Letters," in conjunction with Hidden Voices, an organization that works with at-risk groups.
The play tells Davis' story, as well as the stories of other students and tutors who work with the council.
"They talk about what literacy means to them and how it has affected their lives," council executive director Alice Denson said. "They have some wonderful stories."
Performances will take place Saturday at the ArtsCenter and Sunday at Fearrington Barn.
Among other programs, the council provides individual or group tutoring sessions for adults seeking improvement in reading, writing or basic math.
Tutors also can help adult students prepare for tests, such as their GED or drivers license exam.
"We're part of a foundation or infrastructure for individuals," Denson said. "If you're going to get a better job, you need to know how to read and do basic math."
Tutors Mary Alexion and Susan Hallman both have parts in the play and coached the performing students in rehearsals.
"Hopefully those stories will reach adults and children that are having problems with literacy and make them realize that you can do something about it," Alexion said.
Tutoring applications are available at the council's Web site. Interested volunteers can attend the next interest meetings at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 30 at the Orange County Skills Development/Joblink Center, at 503 W. Franklin St.
Volunteers will then attend two days of training before they are matched with a student.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(03/21/06 5:00am)
The N.C. Department of Transportation took the first step last week along the path to improving hazardous roadways for pedestrians in Chapel Hill.
Department officials pledged to give $20,000 to replace existing crosswalk signals at intersections along U.S. 15-501.
Money was pulled from a small construction fund of $1.5 million that each division uses to improve safety. Widening intersections and adding turn lanes are common uses for this fund.
The 14 new signal heads will provide a countdown mechanism indicating the time left to cross the street in addition to the traditional Walk and Don't Walk signals.
"People were walking across 15-501 and when the walking signal started flashing they would stop in the median," said Mike Mills, division engineer for the department. "We want them to be able to go ahead and cross."
This is a venture that Chapel Hill traffic engineer Kumar Neppalli said the department created without town assistance. Neppalli said the town staff has presented a wish list of items needing improvements to the state and is expecting a response by April.
"We are happy they started talking about steps for improvements," he said. "We are waiting for the state's approval for several other things."
Measures will be taken to enhance pedestrian and bike safety in Chapel Hill regardless of state approval.
This heightened initiative is in part a result of the five accidents involving pedestrians or bikes that occurred in January. Three resulted in fatalities.
Neppalli said the town will reduce the speed limit along U.S. 15-501 in front of Southern Village by 10 mph even if the state doesn't approve the request.
Despite decisive goals such as these for improved safety, the conversation remains at the staff level in Chapel Hill.
"There's no real change in the status of things," said council member Sally Greene. "These things take time to happen. It's not a good or bad thing, it's just where they are. This is normal."
Mills said the department and town staff will meet April 11 to discuss problematic intersections.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/21/06 5:00am)
A small room in the basement of Carrboro Town Hall houses four computer stations Monday, each equipped with a volunteer recently trained in the art of income tax returns.
Filling out income tax forms might seem like a burdensome task for those unfamiliar with the process, but the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program trains and certifies volunteers - ranging from retired CEOs to University accounting students - to help fill out tax forms for people who want assistance.
Orange County resident Joseph Signa has used VITA's services for the past three years. "It's convenient, it's quick, and normally I'm completely confused," he said.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Orange County offers VITA services for mostly low- to middle-income clients at locations including Carrboro Town Hall, the Chapel Hill Senior Center and Hillsborough-Central Orange Senior Center.
Services began this month and will continue through tax return deadline in mid-April.
Last year, the program did 1,850 tax returns, saving people an average of $150 per return.
Often people will spend as much money to get their taxes prepared as they receive on a refund, said Kathy Porter, director of the senior volunteer program.
"It's just fair that they get this service," she said. "People need that refund to put kids in day care and food on the table."
The Internal Revenue Service, which sponsors the volunteers' certification, sees free assistance programs such as VITA as a necessity, Porter said.
Volunteers attend a week of training about taxes and new tax laws. They then must pass a certification test written by the IRS.
Client eligibility for VITA is based on the number of people in the family and its level of income. Typically, the family must earn less than double the poverty line to be eligible.
"It's a good price," said Jack Anderson, a retiree from Carrboro. "I've paid accountants in the past, and they're too expensive."
Clients need to bring last year's returns, W-2 forms, their social security card and all 1099 forms to appointments.
Campus groups such as the Student Poverty Reduction Outreach club and the law school have partnered with the IRS to prepare tax returns at locations including El Centro Latino, Hargraves Community Center and on-campus locations for UNC employees.
Elizabeth Ferill, head coordinator for the law school VITA program, said they help mostly University janitorial, housekeeping and cafeteria staff.
The school's VITA project has about 30 certified tax volunteers and five Spanish interpreters.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/16/06 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With drug vendors and a man who once threw a revved-up chain saw at his wife living just down the street, UNC senior Alicia Stokes said residents of the Pine Knolls neighborhood have more to worry about than students or the parties they might throw.
Last June, Pine Knolls was included in the Chapel Hill Town Council's neighborhood conservation district process - one of five neighborhoods seeking the distinction.
The second report of the Pine Knolls NCD initiative will be presented 6:30 p.m. today at the Lincoln Center.
It will be the third meeting in which residents will have the opportunity to voice concerns about the new zoning regulations, which aim to preserve a neighborhood's historic character.
Four communities, including Greenwood, Coker Hills and Morgan Creek, are following the path blazed by the Northside neighborhood, which obtained NCD status in 2004. The Mason Farm neighborhood also is seeking the status separately.
But the situation in Pine Knolls, a historically black neighborhood located off Merritt Mill Road near Carrboro, is particularly complex as it is a popular area for students to rent duplexes or share homes.
Stokes, who rents a duplex on Merritt Mill, said she thinks the student population of Pine Knolls brings spirit to the area and is an asset to the community.
"They need to recognize it's an area surrounded by college students that have to live somewhere," she said. "I feel like they're putting a lot of stuff out there that us as students aren't responsible for."
Damita Hicks, president of the Pine Knolls Community Center, said the discourse could be calmed if students demonstrated respect for the community by participating in the beautification process.
"We love our students, but we feel we have enough," Hicks said.
Student practices are much more of a problem for Ted Parrish, N.C. Central University professor and Pine Knolls resident.
Stokes and other neighbors often display a sign reading "You honk, we drink" that police officers have been known to respond to with a honk of approval.
They cut down on the use of the sign when they found out that the Lincoln Center had a schooling program for children with parents who abuse alcohol.
"The students are demonstrating a state of values that are not in keeping with traditional values of families here, who believe that drinking in moderation is fine, but glorifying the consumption of alcohol in a public place is something that should be examined carefully," Parrish said.
The Town Council issued a duplex ban that lasted from 2002 to 2004, keeping off-campus student housing at a minimum. But Parrish said Pine Knolls needs to prevent more than just duplexes from encroaching on the area's character.
To prevent the housing units, the NCD consulting firm, Clarion Associates, plans to recommend that buildings be restricted to a maximum size of 2,500 square feet.
Following today's meeting Clarion will present new recommendations to the town planning board 7 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall.
What is an NCD? A set of zoning standards tailored for
a specific neighborhood or area to help preserve its character.
Designation criteria
(02/14/06 5:00am)
After five pedestrian and bicycle collisions, including three fatalities, shocked the town last month, residents petitioned the Chapel Hill Town Council during a news conference Monday night for increased safety precautions for pedestrians and cyclists.
Residents' complaints will be compiled formally and presented to the council by council member Sally Greene.
"As was cruelly demonstrated a couple of weeks ago, our highways are dangerous," said council member Jim Ward. "If there's any silver lining that must come out of these tragedies, it's discussion."
Resident Maeda Galinsky has increased her advocacy for the issue in light of her husband's death on U.S. 15-501, a six-lane road without a crosswalk.
David Galinsky was struck by a car while crossing the road on his way to a UNC basketball game Jan. 25.
"I'd like to see a more pedestrian-, jogging-, biking-friendly community that protects drivers, as well," Maeda Galinsky said.
The council has increased discussion with the N.C. Department of Transportation in an attempt to address growing safety concerns.
Many problem intersections are controlled by the department.
The N.C. DOT has responded to council members' requests for additional crosswalks and pedestrian signals by saying that the intersections in question don't have enough pedestrian traffic to merit action. The state did not approve requests for improvements to intersections including Manning Drive and U.S. 15-501, Cameron Avenue and Pittsboro Street, and N.C. 54 and Friday Center Drive.
"Students are dashing across roads where there's no sidewalk in sight," Ward said. "The fact that people aren't killed every day doesn't mean there isn't a problem - it means they're fast."
Chapel Hill's increased population creates a more dense downtown area, Ward said.
"People in charge of the road system must change with us."
One solution posed during the news conference was to reduce speed limits on critical roads.
Greene said the solution lies in a more accommodating design for intersections that will focus on the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
Safe and easy bus access also was mentioned as an area in need of improvement.
Council members and residents said the town and the state should work together to improve safety.
"Chapel Hill is a statewide resource," said Joe Capowski, a former council member. "People send their sons and daughters to be educated, people come to UNC Hospitals, people enjoy exhibits and make trips to the Dean Dome and Kenan Stadium - all parents should be concerned. We need the support of the whole state."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/10/06 5:00am)
Even cupid needs elves.
Valentine's Day might be known as a day for lovers, but for florists and restaurant owners, it's when the hard work begins.
"We add additional help and check our sales from last year to follow when making this year's purchases," said Brooks Lowery, manager of Chapel Hill Florist.
As business picked up last Friday, Lowery said they were prepared with an extra cooler for storage space and an off-site design room to prepare flowers for delivery.
"You know there will be a man call at 9 a.m. on Valentine's Day who wants one red rose delivered to Timbuktu, and we'll have to tell him that there's about 5,000 orders ahead of him," Lowery said.
Chapel Hill Florist usually distributes about 800 roses each week, but it has quadrupled that order in preparation for the onslaught.
Charles House, owner of University Florist and Gift Shop, hunkers down for the whirlwind of business by working extra hours all weekend. "Our business increases by about 300 to 400 percent," he said. "Mostly the red rose is the main product customers want."
Julian's also is in the Valentine's Day spirit - offering the winner of its "Dress Him Up in Your Love" contest clothing worth as much as $500 and two free tickets to the UNC-Georgia Tech game. To enter, competitors must write in why their man of choice deserves the new wardrobe.
"There's been great diversity in what people have been sending in," said Pete Waggoner, sales marketing manager for Julian's. "We've received everything from 'he's a great guy,' to tragedies, to what a lousy dresser he is."
A Valentine's Day open house will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the 140 E. Franklin St. store where the winner will be announced.
With flower arrangements and a sharp outfit in place, the next order of business is dinner - and a romantic one at that.
"I expect we'll be pretty busy and packed with a lot of tables for two," said Tom Herzog, owner-manager of Spanky's Restaurant and Bar.
Herzog said he projects that reservations will start flowing in Saturday and Sunday.
"Mainly we're a student spot," Herzog said. "For male college students, the urgency hasn't hit yet."
Aurora Italian Restaurant owner Hank Strauf said he's witnessed many traditional proposals during Valentine's dinners where the man takes a knee, but the few who take a more creative approach stand out in his memory.
"A guy made his own plate with an inscription on it that said 'Will you marry me?'" Strauf said. "He wanted his date's desert to be served on it. We were all watching while she ate and got closer and closer to the words."
But while there is a spike in business in preparations for Tuesday, Lowery notes that the rest of the year is not just play.
"It's not as bad as Mother's Day," Lowery said. "Everyone has a mother, not everyone has a sweetheart."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(01/24/06 5:00am)
A new study will indicate whether county emergency services need a little rescuing of their own.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners will consider awarding The Sage Group, out of Raleigh, a contract to study and evaluate the current fire and rescue services in the county at its meeting tonight at the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough.
The company would consider various aspects of emergency service provision and then would offer recommendations for improvement and the estimated cost of solutions.
"We want to make sure our services are complete," said commissioner Alice Gordon. "If the county is ensuring these services, we need to make sure they are adequate."
If the commissioners determine they want to provide a contract, Jack Ball, the county's emergency management director, said the firm will provide information to the commissioners on a weekly basis.
At the end of the study, a written report will be presented to commissioners and to the fire and rescue teams. From there, the suggestions of the company will be addressed and budgeted in if necessary.
"We're looking for a fresh look at the system from an outside, independent agent, to see how we compare," Ball said. "Outsiders can see what we don't see and how we can get to where we need to be."
After interviewing the top three applicants, the selection team was attracted to The Sage Group because of its local experience and positive references. The committee unanimously chose the firm, which will charge the county $25,000 for its services.
"These guys understand Carolina law already," Ball said.
Steven Savia, managing principal of the company, who has experience in the field of emergency services, said he wants to help Orange County, and all clients, make sure the best services are provided to residents.
"People who try to do consulting that don't understand the (fire and rescue) field end up having serious problems," he said. "However, if they know the field, but have no knowledge of consulting methodologies, there are issues as well. We do both, which helps substantially."
Other rescue services personnel say they hope the study will reveal what areas need improvement.
"All emergency services always feel we need more resources - personnel, supplies and equipment," said Kent McKenzie, deputy director of the county EMS. "We all think we need more. This honest look will help us see through our biases."
Ball said areas for improvement include daytime response time and efficiency.
Positive results from the study could be lower response time to emergencies and could lower homeowner insurance rates.
"We are providing the services, but just like anything, there can be improvements," Ball said. "I think we do a good job of working with people. . But, we'd be fooling ourselves if we sat back and said everything is great."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(01/20/06 5:00am)
The Orange County Board of Commissioners is continuing its efforts to remedy the disparities in funding between the county and city district schools.
At an annual planning retreat beginning at 9 a.m. today at the Southern Human Services Center, commissioners will aim to get back to the basics and define their goals.
The meeting will tackle the disparities by establishing a working definition of equity and thinking about the term in different ways to prepare for continued discussion in February.
"The meeting is to discuss options after defining what we are trying to achieve," said Barry Jacobs, chairman of the board. "We are going to try to find ways outside of per-pupil funding to make things more equal."
Commissioners allot a certain dollar amount per pupil to each district, but due to a special district tax, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools have an additional $13 million to enhance the schools and build up the faculty.
The difference in funding is evident at the schools, said Madeleine Grumet, a professor from UNC's school of education.
Last year, Grumet was asked by the commissioners to study the two districts and the results of the current funding. She reported that while the Orange County Schools had hard-working teachers, they lacked personnel such as special education staff.
"The most important resource in the education of children is the degree of personal attention," Grumet said. "It's important to have resources for specialists to help with students' different learning styles, which costs money."
Due to insufficient funding, county school board member Liz Brown said the county school district's buildings also are inferior to those of city schools.
"Now two schools share a teacher for their gifted programs," Brown said. "Also, while Chapel Hill is worried about making their buildings sensitive to environmental issues, some bathrooms in our district don't even have doors.
"If we live in the same county, we should streamline building standards."
Though the commissioners have offered several solutions, no one has been able to agree on the best method.
In the November election, residents in the county school district voted overwhelmingly against a special district tax of their own to help school funding.
"I used to think, add a tax for the county," Brown said. "But we have a lot of farm lands and a lot less development (than the city school district.) The tax would hurt the people here more."
The idea of merging the districts also was put onto the table by Commissioner Moses Carey Jr. in 2003. This idea was met with much opposition on both sides.
"No merger debate will happen in future meetings," Jacobs said. "If Mr. Carey does bring it up, we'll bury it with discussion. The idea isn't going anywhere because it is not necessary or supported by parents, county members, commissioners or either school board."
Leaders stress that they are seeking the best solution for all students, not simply a way to balance dollar totals.
"The goals of the meetings to come are to improve the opportunities for students in both districts and to make the gap in funding smaller," Jacobs said.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(01/13/06 5:00am)
Four years ago Tim Toben, an active environmentalist, met architect William McDonough and was "blown away" by his vision to create buildings modeled after trees.
With this inspiration, Toben, along with four other developers, is proposing to build a nine-story facility called Greenbridge located near Carrboro on West Rosemary Street.
The buildings would reuse rainwater in toilets, use solar radiation in place of fossil fuels and create green rooftops - or rooftops covered with vegetation to circulate oxygen.
"If you can develop in this way, expansion or developing may start to be seen as a good thing, which is what I want to see happen," Toben said.
At 180,000 square feet and hosting 100 to 120 residential units, it will be prominent in the Chapel Hill community. Though Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton admits the size is not appropriate for Carrboro, he does think it will be an appropriate gateway between the two communities.
"I understand there's been a lot of public involvement in this concept, which is good," Chilton said. "I'm impressed that Chapel Hill has reached out to the community."
While looking for real estate investments in Chapel Hill, Rich Dlesk, a partner in the Greenbridge development, was introduced to Toben and immediately was intrigued by his unique focus on the environment and sustainability.
"I've learned through the project that a sustainable building is much more than just what goes into the building, like putting in low-flush toilets," Dlesk said. "It affects everything from where you build, to how you clear the area, to systems such as sewage and water management. It's quite comprehensive. The building industry is bound to tradition. This idea changes things."
The building is the first in downtown Chapel Hill to meet criteria for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the national standard for green building. "Chapel Hill agreed to commit to 60 percent carbon dioxide reduction," said Doug Crawford-Brown, director of the Carolina Environmental Program. "This project will be the first in the town to show what's possible."
The development boasts energy efficiency, with energy coming in large part from solar panels to heat water and create electricity. With the aid of good insulation, energy bills will be reduced by 30 to 60 percent, Toben said.
Bamboo, which can replenish much faster than other harvested wood, will be used in the flooring and no volatile organic compounds will be used in the paint.
While green building could come at a cost, Toben said he thinks people are willing to pay.
"People are willing to make the trade-off for the same reason people pay a little extra for organic foods at the grocery store: There's a health benefit. A lot of people don't realize they're living in toxic buildings."
The building will include a sustainability center to teach people about the process of renewable energy and also a retrospective side to preserve the history of the area.
Toben said the development will act as a bridge between Carrboro and Chapel Hill where people can bike to work in either town.
"We need to start living in a different way and getting energy from the sun, wind and water," Toben said. "It will be about bicycles, not automobiles."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(10/12/05 4:00am)
Concerns regarding the possible closure of the University-owned Horace Williams Airport took flight recently when a group of citizens formally asked candidates to voice their opinions before the upcoming town elections.
(09/29/05 4:00am)
After an unsuccessful candidacy in 2003, Paul Newton - who says he still is passionate about the issues - plans to challenge two incumbents for a spot on the Hillsborough Town Board.