UNC backing off airport plans?

According to WCHL, Thorp singled out orangepolitics.org as a major source of information and understanding of the issue.  Kudos to you, Ruby, for keeping it going, not to mention putting up with all of us!  (You'd think that would eliminate the need for further discussion, but remember that the RDU facility has still been suspended.)

This indicates to me that Carolina North planning may have been halted indefinitely.  HWA and CN issues have been linked from the start. The "other priorities" to which Commissioner Nelson refers are other UNC priorities.  Everything was happening too fast.  The Trustees have already sent the Innovation Center design back to the drawing board (we can only imagine the cost of that one delay), and the university seems not have a handle on CN's grand objective.  I truly feel sorry for President Bowles and Chancellor Thorpe right now.  They haven't screwed up, they haven't been dishonest; they see finally that it's time to take a step back and emerge with a clear-eyed vision. 

I am truly impressed with Thorp. He took the time to understand the issue and came to the right conclusion. In doing so, he repudiated the Aircraft Owners & Pilot's Association that were exploiting a minority of AHEC doctors to get what they wanted.And I am truly impressed by my fellow community members who did such a great job gathering information and communicating it to the right people. We made it clear that we would not stand for the inconsistencies and back-room special interest deals that were the hallmark of this twisted process.  

Priscilla provided great info on AHEC and the pilot's association. Tony Blake shared a wealth of information. So many others - thanks from a relieved country boy.

Mark, keep in mind that certain doors have been left open.  I don't think they're perma-closed yet.  But this is a great reprieve and we should all take advantage of the probably long hiaitus after such an angst-filled season.  Happy New Year!  Take a look and keep and eye out for Inauguration celebrations on the 18th and the 20th.    

Here is a link to the MP3 file of Thorp's comments. thorpairportfull.mp3 Thanks for putting all this raw audio online WCHL!

Yes, kudos to the Chancellor for putting an end to the notion of building a new airport in Orange County. I am still not convinced that, as the Chancellor put it, " ... to realize the full potential of Carolina North, we must close the [Horace Williams] airport." Arguments here on OP and elsewhere are inconclusive and often rest on unverified assumptions or relatively minor details.I am also not convinced that RDU is an acceptable alternative, since there is still the risk of doctors caught in automobile traffic jams between there and the hospital when time is of the essence in someone's medical condition.May I still suggest that there is an alternative that has not been sufficiently explored? That alternative is to keep Horace Williams open and to build most of Carolina North to the northwest of the airport grounds, oriented to the rail corridor instead of roads. This would be the hallmark of genuine transit-oriented development. A secondary connection for motor vehicles could still be made along the existing roadbed to Martin Luther King.Here again is a link to a map, provided in 2004 by the UNC administration, showing where Carolina North could be built, even if the airport is not closed, consistent with F.A.A. regulations. http://research.unc.edu/cn/ASG2004.ppt#1551,31,Slide 31James Coley

Not sure the fat lady (naming no names...) has sung the final aria, though it may seem so for a rural OC airport, at least for now.  On that score, it is indeed a relief if we're no longer teetering on the edge of a neighborhood-vs-neighborhood or town-vs-county conflict.  In fact, probably the greatest benefit of the debate has been that the University is now forced to face the basic question: why an airport in the first place? All of the OC groups and the various people who have worked so hard to make that happen are to be praised. Chancellor Thorp deserves admiration, too,  for having researched and pondered the whole issue and considered many angles - and then made his revised thinking public.  It was one of the most gracious addresses I think I've ever heard from an administrator on the occasion of a reversal of position.It's indicative of something that he made the announcement in such a high-profile way, but there are still the two Boards, although I can't imagine they didn't know what Thorp intended to do.  For him and for them, I suspect that the economic realities are at least as compelling as the political realities.  However,  it's still great to have the political issues surrounding the Airport Authority acknowledged and all-but-apologized for. That's huge.However, for now, folks, it looks like the operative phrase is "keep Horace Williams Airport open as long as we can."  That's the holding action, and AOPA has never been known to give up until a runway is actually turned over with an earthmover (as happened in Chicago) - and maybe not even then.  No one, Thorp included, is saying "never."  AOPA still has any number of doors to knock on and options to promote, even if a shiny new OC jetport is off the table for now.   RDU is still the optimal solution -- the cheapest in the long run for the University -- and It would be shortsighted to lose sight of that just because OC is no longer threatened. ~~~~~~~~~PS: added because I was working on this while others posted - and the arguments against RDU are quod erat demonstrandum - as I predicted.  Has anyone seen that fat lady singer?

I just sent this email.  Let's see what response I get?“No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session." 1 Tucker 248, N.Y. Surr.18_________________________Speaker Hackney, Representative Faison, Senator Stevens,Now that the University has terminated its efforts to establish and airport in Orange County, you have the ability to restore your reputation with your constituents. I think the majority of your constituents would like to see you repeal the Airport Authority legislation during the next legislative session. Would you be opposed to that in any way?Thanks,Glenn Wallace

congratulations to all you influential folks. here's what HT has to say about you.

A quick post and some shakey video I shot at the press conference.More (plenty more) to come.http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2009/01/09/unc-to-not-pursue-airport-authority/ kmr  

Chapel Hill, since its founding, has always been both a state-wide resource and a self-contained community.  Many land-use decisions can and do bring these two characteristics into conflict.  It is wonderful that we again have a chancellor with a long-term UNC and Chapel Hill history who appreciates the balance.  Thank you Holden Thorp.

Thanks and kudos to Chancellor Thorp for this thoughtful change of pace: slow down, get it right, consider the impact of decisions on the community and the county-at-large.  Thanks and kudos to our County Commissioners for nudging Chancellor Thorp in the right direction.  It's a great day for Orange County!  Kirk, you have a bright future as a documentary film-maker. This is the sort of announcement we say, "What?? Really??" and here's the proof. The applause came right on cue. 

 Thanks to Ruby for creating an outlet were the people and politicians do meet! “Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained.” Helen Keller

Was there a budget already in place to build the airport? Could it be UNC is happy to cancel/postpone this project until the economy picks up again? Caronlina North appears to be on hold because a lack of funding.

So many factors involved. Creating a trusting rapport with the communities that surround UNC is one.

Their objective was to use primarily federal funds which are avaiable in the form of block grants to North Carolina for aviation purposes. The grants range from something like $8 million to $20 million a year and they don't need to be spent each year. So it's conceivable that the powers-that-be could prevail upon the grant disbursers to allow a few years worth of funds to accumulate.In light of the general economic sitiuation, I think that Thorp realized that the construction of Carolina North could drag on way longer than was anticipated. If an Airport Authority was created now, that would ensure a protracted battle between UNC and the community that would result in UNC's image being tarnished at every turn. Thorp correctly concluded that the whole process had its origins in back-room deals and sleazy alliances. He also recognized that a very few AHEC doctors were - knowingingly or in actual collusion - the only folks rasing any substantive objections to moving AHEC operations to RDU. It was a wise decision on many levels, not least of which are the political and strategic considerations for the reputation of UNC.Let's hope that the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, who are not used to being rebuffed, will be outed when they make their next push for an airport. It could come in the next year or two, At least they will be laying the groundwork in preparation for progress on Carolina North. We will need to be vigilant and smoke them out when they come crawling around again.

The decision to halt the process is all well and good, and seems to have been reached for good, albeit pragmatic, reasons.  Clearly, they would have had their hands full had they continued.  However, actions speak louder than words, and if the university administration really means it, they will act to ensure that the enabling legislation is rescinded.  Without that action, the door is obviously open for various forces to continue operating at cross purposes with true stakeholder involvement.  For example, the university or its proxies may seek to purchase land for an airport, waiting for a day when certain winds (no pun intended) may change, such as new people coming into control.  So, if UNC really wants to cement the good will they have garnered so far, they should clean up the mess that remains and truly get back to square one, where things need to be.

Here is today's story from us, with reaction from Jim Heavner and others:http://www.dailytarheel.com/news/city/unc_halts_airport_searchMax 

George is right: it's quite unlikely that Chancellor Thorp will ask the legislature to rescind the Airport Authority legislation -- too many chips to hold in reserve.  Also keep in mind that he consulted Joe Hackney in the course of re-examining the university's position.  Hackney may have advised Thorp not to go there in so many words.  From here it looks like an unnecessary extra step, at least for now.