Month: July 2007

  • Carolina Innovation Center: Alexandria Equities, the Citizens Partner?

    At yesterday’s UNC Board of Trustees meeting, the Carolina Innovation Center took center stage when Carolina North’s quarterback Jack Evans confirmed it as the first step in Carolina North’s development. The center will be sited upon the recently vacated Chapel Hill municipal facility. Jack has written a Sunday column for the Chapel Hill News, a […]

  • Carolina North Forum: Another Perspective…The Video

    June 4th, 2007, several local grassroot organizations sponsored a forum on Carolina North (Carolina North Forum: Another Perspective”). It was an opportunity for folks within our community to ask questions and contribute suggestions on how best to address the challenges and potential rewards of UNC’s overflow campus. Direct link to movie. Mike Collins (pictured above […]

  • UNC BOT Chairman Perry: Carolina North “…before it’s too late”

    They say history has a way of repeating itself. The trustees, led by new chairman and Chapel Hill developer Roger Perry, are full steam ahead on the project. Final trustee approval is expected in September, with a plan to be submitted to the town by the end of October. “The time of talking about Carolina […]

  • Rogers Road: Unify the Community with a Back To School Bash

    There’s a thread over on OrangePolitics (“Historic Rogers Road Community Enhancement Plan Development and Monitoring Task Force “) covering the historic ills and vexations of the Rogers Road community. I plan to discuss some of the comments in a future post but couldn’t pass up this request by Rev. Robert Campbell (who, thankfully, has recently […]

  • Carolina North: Not So Innovative Location for the Innovation Center?

    As I predicted (“Carolina North: What’s Next?”) last week, the Carrboro Citizen is reporting that UNC is prepared to move the Carolina North Innovation Center north of Estes to sit roughly on the Town’s former municipal services site. Not a hard guess given UNC’s Jack Evans recent comments. …one indication that the university is intent […]

  • Election 2007: Update on Early Voting On The Move

    Following up on my post “Election 2007: Early Voting on the Move”, BOE Director Barry Garner responded with lightning speed to my request for further information: Nothing has been decided yet however the Seymour Senior Center is an option. The board will meet on August 7, 2007 to discuss this. UNC has offered us the […]

  • Election 2007: Early Voting On The Move

    Orange County Commissioner Mike Nelson reports that: I have just been told that the Director of the Orange County Board of Elections is recommending that the one-stop, early voting site in Chapel Hill be moved from UNC to the Senior Center. I’ll be checking into this. If true, this decision needs to be revisited. In […]

  • Election 2007: Why I’m Running For Council

    Two years ago I ran for Town Council on a platform emphasizing innovation, creativity, responsibility and community involvement ( Campaign 2005 ). In the two years since, I’ve continued to participate in local affairs – praising the good and working to prevent the bad in process and policy. But today’s campaign platform, like that of […]

  • CitizenWill: September 2005 to July 2007

    [UPDATE:] As one reader notes, I’ve also created content hosted elsewhere, notably on youTube and Google Video. Content includes the Weaver St. lawn dance protest, a “fly by” animation of what the Town’s Lot $$$5 downtown development debacle, the District 15B Superior Court forums and Rev. Campbell on the Rogers Road trash transfer station issue. […]

  • Not Just Real-Estate: Chapel Hill’s Economic Strategy “Chained” Down?

    Town information officer Catherine Lazorko opened up the flood gates today not only quickly responding to my request for the draft economic strategy report (Not Just Real-Estate: Chapel Hill’s Draft Economic Development Report) but this follow-up report on the meeting with the Council sub-committee on economic development. TO: Roger Stancil, Town Manager FROM: Dwight Bassett, […]

  • Carolina North: What Next?

    I’ve heard from two different sources that the “final” design concept for Carolina North is ready to present to UNC’s Board of Trustees (BOT). The BOT, in years past, have happily rejected the efforts of both UNC’s administration and the local community to create a win-win for what is to replace the Horace-Williams Airport. The […]

  • News & Observer: Old Dog, New Tricks

    First we have the N&O’s local property, The Chapel Hill News, jumping on-board the new media train – with video, their OrangeChat ‘blog – maybe in response to some citizen efforts and new outlets like the Carrboro Citizen. Now, the N&O’s Leah Friedman takes it to the next level, reporting a scant 3 hours (3:05pm […]

  • Broadcast Localism: More Fun To Be Had…

    Chad Johnston just posted this over on OrangePolitics.org about this weekend’s Peoples Channel fundraiser (July 21st, Horace-William’s House, 6-8pm): Hey folks, Just wanted to give an update on this really cool event! Food and drink will be provided by: Benjamin Vineyard, Anathoth Community Garden from Cedar Grove, Cane Creek Farm Pork, Yugela’s treats, Matthew’s artisan […]

  • Cindy Sheehan: This is NOT a Rally

    [UPDATE:] More from the CarrboroCitizen. [UPDATEx2:] Some photos of the event.. Peggy Misch wants to make sure everyone knows, in spite of what the local press says, there is no Sheehan rally at Carr Mill Mall. Just a simple lunch with Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton and some folks from GRIM ( Grassroots Impeachment Movement). It […]

  • Not Just Real-Estate: Chapel Hill’s Draft Economic Development Report

    For several years I’ve called on the Town to hire a professional economic adviser. When I renewed the call during my 2005 campaign, many of the other candidates adopted (or co-opted) the idea. I suggested we hire someone with experience in developing an economic strategy that encompassed more than Downtown redevelopment or saw economic benefits […]