Economy & Downtown
Chapel Hill's downtown has long benefited from its proximity to a captive audience of University students without cars. While downtowns around the country have been failing, ours has survived fairly well. However, we have seen an increase in the number of chain stores locating downtown, and instability in the Downtown Economic Development Corporation. In the near future, we will see new Town-directed development on two major parking lots have a big impact.
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Carrboro's downtown has also done better than many towns of comparable size, thanks largely to the presence of Weaver Street Market and progressive shoppers from the rest of the county. The Board of Aldermen has been addressing the evolution of the downtown, and have established a number of community resources in the downtown area including free wireless Internet access, and a low-power radio station.
Given the rising cost of gas, it's not surprising that riding the bus has become increasingly popular. Of interest is the idea that in wealthy CH bus riding has increased 30%, whereas in Durham bus riding has only increased just 9.5%.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1073429.html
Is it a case of those who are most able to afford it taking advantage of CH's fare free system? Is it purely different demographics? Or is it different levels of service?
Hillsborough budget proposal calls for tax rate increase of nearly 8%
http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1073114.html
Proposed $18.5 million budget would raise Carrboro tax rate 4.9%
http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1073116.html
notable quotes:
"The economy has really made it difficult," said Peterson, who noted that Chapel Hill and Carrboro also are facing local property tax-rate increases.
-- Hillsborough Town Manager Eric Peterson
"I don't recall, at least in recent history, a more dim outlook in terms of revenue projections," -- Carrboro Town Manager Steve Stewart.
From Orange County:
The Orange County Planning Department will host a public
information session for residents, property owners, businesses and others
interested in the Eno Economic Development District (EDD).
The EDD location is in the general area of Highway 70 and
Interstate 85 near the Durham
County line.
The information session will be held on Tuesday, May 13,
2008 at the Planning and Agricultural Building, 306 Revere Road in
Hillsborough. The session will be
held as an “open house” and those interested may drop by anytime between 4:00
and 7:00 p.m.
To learn more or to see a copy of the DRAFT Eno EDD plan,
visit the website,
http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/admin_Eno_EDD_SAP.asp
or call Perdita Holtz, Special Projects Planner, (919)
245-2575.
Date:
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Location:
Planning and Agricultural Building, 306 Revere Road, Hillsborough
From the Internationalist announcement list:
LET'S DISCUSS (yell/laugh/cry/protest about) GREENBRIDGE.
A Greenbridge video screening
Sunday, April 13 @3pm
Greenbridge recently produced a documentary on their future vision of
the of Rosemary and Graham street corner.
At first glance, the Greenbridge development embodies progress for
Chapel Hill. The building will utilize some of the newest green
technologies available ie. solar, wind, and geothermal to provide
energy for the building and thereby lessen its carbon footprint. But
in our haste to combat the forces of Global Warming, we may have
overlooked some details, such as marginalizing the surrounding
Northside community.
Come out and join us as we watch the video and enter in open
discussion about what community means to us (taking into account race,
class and ideological differences.)
Date:
Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 11:00am
Location:
Internationalist Books, 405 W Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
The Town of Chapel Hill now has some drawings that visualize the plans for the high-rise mixed-use development they are constructing downtown on parking lot #5, known as the Downtown Economic Development Initiative. In my opinion, this is a visionary project that has suffered from not having enough public input at the right times.
So how does the Town make this critical information available to the public? Oh, it's "on display" down at Town Hall. So those of you who work downtown or have a lot of free time during the day can stroll down to the Mayor's office and check it out. The rest of us will have to make due with looking at photos of the plans on the N&O and Herald web sites.
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