Kristen Cresante

News

Pit attacker gets up to 33 years

By Kristen Cresante | August 27

HILLSBOROUGH - The UNC graduate who attempted to kill people when he drove a rented sport utility vehicle through the Pit will face 26 to 33 years in prison. Mohammed Taheri-Azar struck nine people in the March 2006 incident. The victims who testified at the sentencing hearing Tuesday said the emotional impact has lasted longer than the physical injuries. Taheri-Azar chose not to comment, call witnesses on his behalf or introduce evidence. When given an opportunity to speak, he said repeatedly, "The defense rests, your honor."

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County hears input on plan

By Kristen Cresante | August 26

HILLSBOROUGH - Members of the community emphasized adding issues such as poverty, affordable housing and property rights to the plan that will guide Orange County for years to come. The Orange County Board of Commissioners held the last of three public hearings to receive comments on the draft of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan. The plan will guide future growth in eight areas, including economic development, land use and housing, through the year 2030. The present long-term plan dates to 1981 but only concerns land use.

News

Locally Grown series wraps up this summer

By Kristen Cresante | August 22

Chapel Hill will hold the last event in the Locally Grown entertainment series tonight. The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership and the Parks and Recreation Department presented the event twice already this summer. The event features local entertainment and family friendly activities. "Locally Grown helps us promote downtown and gives people the chance to enjoy our businesses and everything the town has to offer," said Meg McGurk, assistant director of the Downtown Partnership.

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Lennox residents eye future

By Kristen Cresante | August 20

The Chapel Hill Planning Board moved to create a plan for Phase One of the Neighborhood Conservation District Process for Glen Lennox at its meeting Tuesday. The decision was in response to a petition signed by 61 percent of residents that asked the board to initiate the conservation process. To go in front of the board, only 51 percent of residents had to sign. Phase One is an informational part of the process that will help residents and other members of the community to better understand how to make plans for the development in the future.

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Signage program aims to keep cyclists safe

By Kristen Cresante | August 20

Chapel Hill installed a pilot project Tuesday to test pavement markings downtown which try to make the road safer. The markings are an attempt to increase safety for bicyclists in an area where a significant number of bicycle accidents have occurred. Known as "sharrows" - a combination of the words shared and arrow - they are located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Estes Drive and North Street. Bikers Tuesday weren't sure if the markers would make the road safer.

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Local school to get iPods

By Kristen Cresante | August 19

Culbreth Middle School is making plans to give an iPod touch to all of its students and faculty members. The iPod touch models - portable media players that also connect to wireless Internet and play games - were purchased for an initial testing process and were paid for with school dollars at $299 each. If the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education approves, the school will distribute an iPod touch to each of the 700 students and 70 teachers at Culbreth. Currently, 14 teachers are learning how to use them. In the next couple of weeks, 20 students will receive them.

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Glen Lennox renovation pending public approval

By Kristen Cresante | August 19

The efforts of Chapel Hill residents played a part in delaying the redevelopment of Glen Lennox. "We are successful, but to what degree has yet to be determined," Glen Lennox resident Greg Brusseau said. Grubb Properties, owner of the development located just off Raleigh Road, announced plans in April to remove all existing buildings in Glen Lennox and replace them with new apartments, retail centers, parking decks and a hotel.

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Plans for University Square undecided

By Kristen Cresante | August 19

Changes to University Square will not come any time soon. UNC announced in June its plan to purchase the 143 W. Franklin St. complex but will not close on the transaction until June 2009. There are still no definite plans for the tenants of the property, said Dick Mann, vice chancellor for finance and administration at UNC. "We're still in the early stages," Mann said. "Right now we're just collecting information." Mann said he would guess that Granville Towers will remain open as a residence hall. As for the retail centers, Mann said UNC will honor tenants' existing leases.

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Community mourns loss of local student

By Kristen Cresante | August 18

Atlas Fraley was a difference maker.

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Town council to decide fate of apartments

By Kristen Cresante | April 24

Town House Apartments might close down within the next few years. The Chapel Hill Town Council discussed a special use permit request at its meeting Monday. If the request is approved at a June 9 vote, the apartment complex will be demolished and replaced with single-family homes. But the project is not likely to start immediately. Kay Pearlstein, senior planner for the town of Chapel Hill, said the developers are expected to start the demolition within two years of its approval. They are currently requesting to start within three years, but nothing has been decided yet.