In listing the roll of important events this coming week, I accidentally left out one that promises to be quite interesting.
Cousins Properties Inc., which is leading the redevelopment of University Square for Chapel Hill Foundation Real Estate Holdings Inc., will host a public meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18, to discuss the long-term vision for the site and the proposed initial phase of the project. Representatives of Elkus Manfredi Architects of Boston will provide an in-depth presentation of the development plans, shaped in part by a previous public meeting on Oct. 15, 2009. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Suite 133-G of University Square, next to Ken’s Quickie Mart.
More information here.
Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend this or most of the other events I’ve highlighted and will be relying heavily on our local media and hyper-local media (‘blogs) for updates.
The list as it now stands:
- Monday, Aug. 16th, 5:15pm at Town Hall Council Chambers. Public Information Meeting: IFC Community House Men’s Shelter.
- Tuesday, Aug. 17th, 5:30pm. 1st floor conference room. Civilian Review Board Council Committee. Controversial citizen review board to monitor Chapel Hill Police Department.
- Tuesday, Aug. 17th.
ORANGE COUNTY, NC – The Orange County Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 during its regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Department of Social Services Office, 113 Mayo Street in Hillsborough.
The Public Hearing during the meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the potential uses for funds from a possible one-quarter cent (1/4¢) additional sales tax in Orange County, NC.
- Wednesday, Aug. 18th, 5:30pm. University Square. Cosuins presentation on University Square
- Thursday, Aug. 19th, 5:30pm. HR conference room Town Hall.Planning Board Shelter Committee.
- Monday, Aug. 23rd, 5:15pm. Chapel Hill Town Hall Council Chambers.Ayden Court Development review.
Yes, this is the *real* reason that the men’s shelter is moving and has free land to go to.
Nothing like a UNC project with a $46M initial price tag and probably a $100-200M investment to motivate the shelter move.
There are a lot of interested Downtown commercial and institutional entities – UNC being dominant in both domains – that welcome the move. Of course, one of the pivotal players has been the town’s biggest local developer – and a major power at UNC.
Unfortunately none of the local media has been willing to look into this back=story. While it might not add a lot to the shelter story, such reportage would be invaluable in giving local folks a handle on how power behind the scenes is wielded – for what purposes it is applied.
Mark Schultz briefed CHN’s new reporter Katelyn Ferral on the backstory when I met with them a few weeks ago, so he is fully aware of these interests and motivations.
Perhaps CHN is afraid of UNC or local elected officials (from an income or access POV) and would rather write about letters from Morganton and snakeskins than the powers that broker the backroom deals.
CHN has yet to write a decent story on the organized opposition to the current shelter site.