A Quicker Trip to the Doctor, for Minor Ailments - NYTimes.com

Is this something that we would like to see at Obey Creek?

Harrington Bank To Merge With BNC Bancorp - Chapelboro.com

Highly relevant to Obey Creek.

TV5MONDE : Programs - NOUS

Highly relevant.

How a great sale affects your brain - CBS News

What an opportunity for Chapel Hill or Obey Creek!

The Future of Urbanization and Development

Relevant, I think.

Chapel Hill 2014: "I Believe We’re Going To Reap Great Reward" - Chapelboro.com

No mention of Obey Creek.

Muralist, Carrboro Enthusiast Propose Jones Ferry-NC54 Mural - Chapelboro.com

More for Obey Creek consideration.

Zoning laws: Biking and hiking, but no parking | The Economist

So do we have more to love or fear from the Portland example?

CHAPEL HILL: Womancraft gallery preps for move to Carrboro | Chapel Hill | ChapelHillNews.com

What a history! Did the Compass Committee contact this and other businesses that are no longer at Meadowmont? Which businesses have left East54 and why?

CHAPEL HILL: Transit experts: Orange, Durham not ready for light rail | Orange County | ChapelHillNews.com

I really don't think this is a very well researched story. Lots of opinions, but no effort to sort out the facts.

AOL mogul Steve Case invests $22 million in local, organic salad restaurants | MNN - Mother Nature Network

Why not invite them to Obey Creek?

Lolly Wolly Doodle — What A Journey

This is a North Carolina company. Why wouldn't we want to encourage a company that makes great stuff to set up a plant or other sort of hard goods facility right here in Obey Creek? Steve CASE is an investor and why don't we ask him to come talk with us about opportunities for manufacturing in NC?

La ville fertile : vers une nature urbaine / Actualités / Culture / Accueil - Site de la ville de Nice

This is a great concept. How can we apply the idea of a "fertile city" to Obey Creek?

Compass Committee Votes To Change Obey Creek Plan - Chapelboro.com

See my comment at end.

Triangle Transit Leader Defends Light Rail Plan - Chapelboro.com

I still think this should be a part of Obey Creek thinking and planning.

Carte Magique - Inscription

Where is the innovation, like this, in Obey Creek?

As New Orleans comes back, some neighborhoods boom, others stay blighted | Marketplace.org

Applicable to Obey Creek?

Bill Detail

More taxes.

Pin Inquiry

Here is the land.

Compass Committee Votes To Change Obey Creek Plan - Chapelboro.com

What a mess.

Cookie Stacks, Baked Goods | Carrboro, NC

Good example of a type of business that ought to be at Obey Creek.

Amazon unveils futuristic plan: Delivery by drone - CBS News

If this is where the proverbial hockey puck is headed, what is the point of looking toward retail at Obey Creek? Why not plan for the inevitable and put activities at Obey Creek that will feed into the Amazon system - produced here by real people?

Where Factory Apprenticeship Is Latest Model From Germany - NYTimes.com

How could apprentices be a part of Obey Creek?

A shop selling everything made in NC

Imagine a store at Obey Creek that focuses on selling only products that come from NC, whether from its soil, sea or made in factories, etc. Of course, there are definition issues, but those are surmountable. Suppose you could have a first shot online at ANY product made in NC, and the certainty that it would be in the Obey Creek store the next day?
Imagine, too, that adjacent to the store was an assembly plant that put NC items together, essentially. Or an NC testing laboratory. Something that would be part of the retail production cycle.

Short on Space, Taiwan Embraces a Boom in Recycling - NYTimes.com

How do we work to make any use of Obey Creek a net positive in terms of solid waste/recycling?

Bryan Series

How could we do our own version of this with a tie to Obey Creek? Maybe it is more at Memorial Hall, but optional viewing for a lower price in a theater space at Obey Creek?

The State Of The Turkey Industry In North Carolina | WUNC

Good piece.

Epic Commutes Face Those Caught In Public Transit Puzzle : NPR

Shouldn't we address all of the transportation implications of Obey Creek from supply trucks to pedestrians, with all autos in-between, and make Obey Creek a testament to doing it creatively right?

PTA Thrift Shop To Open New Expanded Facility Monday - Chapelboro.com

Satellite facility in Obey Creek?

Pittsboro Board of Commissioners burns midnight oil over Chatham Park | Chatham County | Indy Week

How, precisely, does this factor into needs analysis for Obey Creek?

Our Mission |

Why isn't this a better vision for Obey Creek?

Possible Traffic Impact Studies Calm Central West Concerns - Chapelboro.com

What to be learned?

A Scientist Predicts the Future - NYTimes.com

How will Obey Creek be a part of this future?

Secret Weapon in Mall Battle - Parking Apps - NYTimes.com

Imagine if we could do the same thing with all of Chapel Hill, starting with all spaces around Obey Creek?

Bouchons et pollution sur la voie Mathis à Nice: comment en sortir? | Nice | Nice-Matin

Who has measured air quality along 15-501 most recently? Over time?

Find a Costco warehouse

A better list - 7 all together.

Find a Costco warehouse

There appear to be five in NC.

Mayor - Press Releases - 2013 - 20130920 Costco - City of New Orleans

Highly relevant in all of its details.

Answers close for pedestrian bridges | The Herald-Sun

How do we have any expectation at all about a bridge crossing 15-501? Given cost overruns on the tunnel under Culbreth Road, along with this story, how can we expect anything other than a hugely expensive project with highly speculative results. 15-501 is a wall; face it. Can it be scaled efficiently? I don't think so.

15/501 and 54 at 5 PM in the rain today

I had occasion today to try to drive from Southern Village to Meadowmont at about 5 PM. It took, as we say, "forever". However many extra minutes I spent in New York-style bumper-to-bumper traffic, it was too long for Chapel Hill. It made me think, once again, about Obey Creek. If there is anything we can do to lessen the avalanche of automobiles on our roads, how can we not do it? Said differently, approving anything at Obey Creek beyond current zoning is nuts.

Briar Chapel retail

Isn't there something we should learn from the fact that no commercial development has yet occurred next to Briar Chapel on 15-501? What, exactly, is the difference between Obey Creek and Briar Chapel in the eyes of prospective business renters?

For lease

If I had time, I would travel around the 2 mile radius circle around Obey Creek, and a bit beyond, taking photos of all the "for lease" signs I see on office space of various shapes and sizes and locations. How do we understand these vacancies alongside predictions of demand for Obey Creek?

Letters, a bookshop, to open downtown | The Herald-Sun

This reminds of some local history relevant to Obey Creek. We used to have a bookstore in Southern Village. It was a very nice one, but its days were numbered despite the really hard work put into the business by its owner. She tried many variations on the basic theme but nothing worked.
There was a time when we might have said that we have a "need" for a bookstore in Southern Village and later in Obey Creek. My feeling is that the time for a bookstore has passed, although I could imagine some interesting satellite operations from time to time for McIntyre's from Fearrington.
The subject brings us back to what our real needs are for the space at Obey Creek. Do we need a green lung more than a new set of stores cut from the same cookie cutter as other strip malls in the area? Can't we shape this into something more special than that?
I ask again - what do we need that can be addressed in some way through creative use of the Obey Creek land?
My friend in India had no trouble listing the key trades that needed to be represented in a town for the town to be successful. Have we met all the essentials already? Or do we have more, or are we solidly into the "nice to have" options? The weight of traffic and the state of the environment weigh a lot heavier in that case against these ideas. Let's make sure we know which is which.

Petition | Citizens of Carrboro and Chapel Hill: Prioritize funds for a sidewalk on S. Greensboro to make Carrboro more pedestrian-friendly. | Change.org

This should be a part of the broader Obey Creek thinking. In terms of area needs, this ranks higher than anything I've seen mentioned for Obey Creek. In signing the petition, I added this comment:
Carrboro and Chapel Hill need a network of paths, sidewalks, and trails that is the equal of what we provide vehicles. People ought to have the opportunity to walk everywhere, safely, efficiently, and reliably - a pledge we seemingly make only to cars and trucks, So, by all means, a sidewalk or trail that allows people to walk where they can and will walk, again - safely, efficiently and reliably.

Why not a traffic circle at 54 - 15/501 intersection as part of the Obey Creek development process?

That could be a trade for more vehicles as a result of Obey Creek development. Who paid for the road work on 54 fronting on Meadowmont?

New UMall Cinema Could Create 60 Jobs In 2015 - Chapelboro.com

What is the range of job creation projections for various potential uses of the Obey Creek land?

Are We Friendly? - Chapelboro.com

See the comment I added to this story. In case you don't want to go back to it, here it is:
There are errant walkers and bikers as well as bad-mannered drivers, but Aaron KECK's point is far more important. Too often, walkers and bikers are seen simply as an interest group that needs to be kept under control. Instead, I think Chapel Hill and surrounding areas (all of them) need to have a master plan - with realistic means of implementing it - that starts with a core principle: people, bikes and vehicles are at least equal in their respective need for a network of routes that allow each to navigate with equal safety, ease and reliability - everywhere. That means no sidewalks to nowhere, no disappearing bike lanes, and, instead, a transportation network for people to connect ALL of the local dots (homes, shopping, services) equally easily whether they walk, bike, bus or drive. We are a painfully long way from that here.

Are We Friendly? - Chapelboro.com

This a super discussion of the real world of bikes and people who want to move about in the area without other means of transport. They/we surely do play second fiddle to motorized vehicles and I hope anything that is done with Obey Creek will recognize the need to plot a pedestrian and bike network that is of equal importance with the vehicular roadways. People and bikes ought to be able to navigate that space as easily, at least, as a car or truck can. That's more than traffic lights, bridges and crosswalks. It's a fundamental and primary focus on getting it right for people and bikes as much as for vehicles.

"Pedicabs May Soon Be Seen in Oxford, Mississippi" - NYTimes.com

How about in Obey Creek? What I like about this is the people level at which these conveyances operate. Imagine if the trail in Southern Village were extended to Walmart and on to Lowes/CVS and Harris-Teeter. For the hearty, perhaps even into Chapel Hill. Think of the exercise that these sorts of transports could earn for us if we could individually pedal our way to grocery and related area shopping whether in Southern Village, Obey Creek or elsewhere. I imagine the routes would be defined largely by hills, etc. but just think of how much use a trail for bikes, these conveyances and people would get it it provided a human workable means to fulfill shopping obligations. Of course, if one wants to be pessimistic, one could assume that everyone who could use such a route is too lazy to do it.

"Dillard's In UMall To Close In January" - Chapelboro.com

What does this teach us about Obey Creek?

"Commentary: Light rail the best option for our future needs" - ChapelHillNews.com

I agree with this, but even if others do not, I think one of the principal NEEDS that must be met before any further action occurs on Obey Creek is that of rapid transit. Is it not reasonable to expect Obey Creek to take actions whether it be park and ride lots, connections to the proposed light rail system or other measures to reduce vehicular traffic by whatever number that Obey Creek would be increasing vehicles?

"Carrboro Film Festival expands to 2 days, triples the screenings" - ChapelHillNews.com

How many more events might be scheduled for Southern Village? Would the addition of Obey Creek help get more of them? What's the goal for this type of activity? It seems to me that we are under utilizing current resources in Southern Village.

"Chapel Hill restaurateur sues UNC foundation over business practices" - ChapelHillNews.com

What do we know of the developer for Obey Creek as a landlord? What do the tenants in East54 and Meadowmont have to say? Have you asked them? Remember, too, that today's developer may not be there tomorrow, and developers/landlords are able to do a lot of things that may be legal and unethical.

Camden Passive House in the UK

Why shouldn't we insist that Obey Creek be a Passive Development, i.e., not drawing energy from the grid?

"Costco might come to Apex" - CaryNews.com

Would a COSTCO warehouse be worth considering for Obey Creek? At least the idea should be tested. How much revenue do the area COSTCOs generate for the municipalities where they are located? How much traffic? These are things we can learn.

Chapel Hill Islamic Society

It's too bad they could not have been incorporated into Obey Creek. Are there other religious groups who might consider coming here?

Directory of shops in Lafayette Village, Raleigh

Replicable at Obey Creek? There are some innovative businesses here, many of which are grouped around a European theme. Is there the potential for some sort of unique theme for Obey Creek as well, or is the only flavor "plain vanilla"?

Chatham Police Arrest Cole Park Break-In Suspect - Chapelboro.com

Are we bound to see more of this?

Siblings preserve farmland bought to honor parents’ dream | The Herald-Sun

Any chance of this resolution for Obey Creek?

For Ridesharing Apps Like Lyft, Commerce Is A Community : All Tech Considered : NPR

How to factor this into Obey Creek thinking.

Itiner'Air 2.0 - Evaluez l'impact atmosphérique de vos déplacements domicile-travail en PACA

This appears to work in the US, too. I need to figure out how to pick the right numbers for the questions about a vehicle, for example. Could be extremely useful, especially if multiplying by numbers of vehicles and looking at the light rail option.

Need test for Obey Creek

Much can be said for the generic thinking behind these regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act.

University Mall theater thoughts relevant to Obey Creek

First, some scene-setting. We now have four movie theaters within a couple of miles of Obey Creek and University Mall - the Lumina being the closest, followed by the theater that remains on Franklin Street (another, across Franklin, closed and was replaced by Walgreen's), the theater at Timberlyne and the Chelsea. Previously, we had another theater more or less next to the Whole Foods building, to the south where there remains a vacant lot. All were/are multi-screen except for the theater that was in the Walgreen's space which, as I recall, had only one screen but was a big theater.
My observation is that the arrival of the new theater at University Mall is bound to have an impact on the Lumina and the other theaters in town. How will that sort itself out? We don't really get a vote in such matters except when it comes to buying tickets and whatever else the theaters sell.
Would a "compass committee" have recommended this use? Probably not. Does that make it worse or better than the decision a bunch of make believe city planners might make in the form of a compass committee? We'll never know, but I'd bet the chances of success of this venture are very good.
I think we should focus on the people level - how will cars and people move in such a way that this does not become simply another suburban parking lot. How could Chapel Hill Transit better serve University Mall and us, for example?

Cambridge

The company developing OneC1ty

oneC1TYnashville

This whole approach looks very Chapel Hill to me.

Can OneC1ty make Nashville a model for healthy living? - Nashville Business Journal

For Obey Creek?

Good Eggs, a Virtual Farmer’s Market, Delivers Real Food - NYTimes.com

How do we make use of this idea and trend for Obey Creek?'

How The Sharing Economy Is Changing The Places We Work : All Tech Considered : NPR

Impact on Obey Creek thinking?

Electroménager à louer - Vie pratique - Télématin - France 2

This sort of change could have a big impact on retail stores if it should catch hold. How might the whole shared culture notion affect Obey Creek?

New zoning?

Why don't we look at new zoning if "we" feel it is needed for Obey Creek? Instead of a development agreement.....

What Are Form-Based Codes? | Form-Based Codes Institute

Something more we need to learn!

Town Leaders Talk Possible Transformation Along Fordham Blvd. - Chapelboro.com

Impact on Obey Creek?

Past year’s downtown growth seems promising to developers | The Herald-Sun

(This article is only available to those who have registered, and possibly for those who have paid for a subscription to the newspaper.) What struck me about this is twofold - overall, it looks impressive, but what I really want to know is much more subjective - how has all of what is discussed in the story, both operating and promised, affected quality of life? "Foot traffic" increases, for example, means that PEOPLE are moving around. How has that worked out so far? Where is the subjective description of a day in the life of downtown Durham? I could imagine writing several versions of such a day for Obey Creek starting with today and then projecting what that day might look like under various formulas including both development under current zoning and the developer's wishlist.

A troubling decision by the Chapel Hill Town Council

Thank you.

Let me put it differently.

Had the schedule progressed as planned, the staff would have done X amount of work by 25 November for a cost in staff time and overhead of Y. It seems to me that anything that the staff would have done by 25 November could be stretched out now to extend to the January meeting date.

With the decision yesterday, I believe that people at that meeting took the Council’s decision to mean that something MORE would be done between 25 November and the January meeting that would not otherwise have been done for the 25 November meeting.

If they are right, I want to know how much that additional work – including indirect costs, will cost the Town.

If there is to be no additional work done, I think PERRY will be surprised and I believe some in the Council chamber will be surprised too, including the Mayor.

Which is it?

From: Jason Damweber [mailto:jdamweber@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 2:43 PM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Cc: Catherine Lazorko
Subject: RE: Petition approved

Mr. Maguire,

Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts. The staff work would be logistical in nature - determining potential dates for the public information sessions, Council Work sessions, Tech Team availability, etc. in phase 2, and the requirements of the developer for each session. We plan to treat this similarly to the Glen Lennox process and we’ve already done much of the leg work on that. Until Council makes a decision whether to proceed to phase 2, the only potential direct cost I believe the Town would incur would be to compensate a representative of the Technical Team to be present at the January Council meeting.

Jason

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 2:34 PM
To: Jason Damweber
Subject: RE: Petition approved

Dear Jason,

Thank you.

This is a better link for the video http://chapelhill.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=1960

I am extremely troubled by the Council’s decision to move ahead with staff time and resources without making a decision.

Without a decision on the merits, there is simply no rationale on the record – printed or video – for telling the staff to work on this as though the Council had approved the next step on 25 Nov.

Therefore, I would like to know exactly how much (allocated cost of salaries, overhead, etc.) this post-Nov 25 work will cost the Town. Please provide this. It would be a serious lapse in budget management not to have a ready answer to that request.

This is no way to run a town, in my view. It looks like a pre-ordained decision in search of cover.

Cheers,

Terry

From: Jason Damweber [mailto:jdamweber@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 1:52 PM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Subject: RE: Petition approved

You can find a written version here. He also petitioned in person. You can view/listen to those comments here.

Thanks,

Jason Damweber

Jason Damweber |  Assistant to the Town Manager |  Town of Chapel Hill Manager’s Office | 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (o) 919-968-2844 | (m) 919-259-2517 | (f) 919-969-2063

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 1:48 PM
To: Development Agreement
Subject: RE: Petition approved

Where can I find a copy of Roger PERRY’s petition?

From: Development Agreement [mailto:developmentagreement@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 12:17 PM
To: Development Agreement
Subject: FW: Petition approved

FYI, please see the email below sent to the Obey Creek Compass Committee regarding their petition to the Council to extend the deadline for their report.

From: Jason Damweber
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 7:53 PM
To: agerjohn@gmail.com; alanrimer@alumni.unc.edu; anelson@carolinachamber.org; bobby@downtownchapelhill.com; Broun, Ken <ksbroun@email.unc.edu>; cjpaul@gmail.com; David Bonk; Donna Bell ; dspurloc@live.unc.edu; Dwight Bassett; gkneeb@aol.com; Jason Damweber; kimberly.brewer@tetratech.com; Mary Jane Nirdlinger; pahc@earthlink.net; pazzochef@hotmail.com; projects; pvernon@unc.edu; Strauss, Robert A. (robert_strauss@med.unc.edu); susan.b.lindsay@gmail.com; Susana.dancy@gmail.com; tjcrayton@gmail.com; Will Clark (wbclark5@gmail.com) (wbclark5@gmail.com); yella_33@yahoo.com
Subject: Petition approved

Compass Committee,

FYI, at tonight’s business meeting the Town Council approved the petition Jeanne submitted on behalf of the Committee (copy below) to extend the deadline for your report to their first business meeting in January, which will be held on January 13.

They also approved a petition from Roger Perry to permit – strictly from a procedural standpoint – staff to begin working on logistics for phase 2 in the event that the decision is made in January to proceed, including collecting additional funds from the developer. The Council explicitly stated that approval of Roger Perry’s petition did not indicate that any decision had been made regarding proceeding to phase 2.

Jason

COPY OF PETITION

Dear Mayor Kleinschmidt and members of Town Council:

Based on unanimous consent of the Obey Creek Compass Committee, I am writing to request that council postpone presentations and discussion related to the Obey Creek Development Agreement from November 25 to one of your meetings in January 2014.

The committee is in the process of drafting and editing their report and has determined the need for two more committee meetings.  The first will include an extended public comment time to allow for public input into the report.  The second will be to finalize the report and will be held by December 15, 2013.

We appreciate your support of the Compass Committee as part of the Obey Creek process.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Brown

Jason Damweber |  Assistant to the Town Manager |  Town of Chapel Hill Manager’s Office | 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (o) 919-968-2844 | (m) 919-259-2517 | (f) 919-969-2063

Flaw in Compass Committee draft

I hope this will be shared with the Compass Committee.

There is a glaring and grievous omission in the drafts that I see on the Committee’s page on the Town of Chapel Hill website.

Nothing directly addresses the most important question that precedes all others:

Why – specifically – should the Town consider any change in the current zoning of Obey Creek? What is the rationale for any change? What, specifically, would be gained from any change and why is it important?

For example, if the Compass Committee believes that the land on the east side of the creek must be preserved in its natural state, and says why, that may be a reason to change the current rules which would now permit development of that area. It is NOT a reason to move automatically to consider the fancy drawings and representation laid in front of you by the developer. There are other ways in which that preservation objective could be realized.

What, specifically, does the Committee feel is NEEDED for and on that land that would come in the from a zoning change?

I believe you need to do first things first. Why is it that the current zoning rule is no longer acceptable? What is the NEED for change?

Make that case convincingly, and some of us who are skeptical of the benefits to be realized will more likely come onboard.

Fail to make that case and to make it convincingly would simply convince us that the Committee is just a “cover” for the owners/developer to reap the greatest benefits THEY can from the land.

You must connect those dots from current zoning to the bulk of what I see on a quick review of the drafts. The developer has shifted your eyes from the question above to his plans, and you should not let that happen, or continue.

Terry MAGUIRE

From: Development Agreement [mailto:developmentagreement@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 3:41 PM
To: Development Agreement
Subject: Save the Date for next Compass Committee Meeting: Nov. 20 6:30-9:00pm

Obey Creek Compass Committee Meeting

Date: 11/20/2013 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Chapel Hill Public Library Meeting Room B

100 Library Drive
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Add to my Calendar

The Obey Creek Compass Committee will meet on November 20 at the CH Public Library from 6:30-9:00pm to continue working on their draft report to Council.

Please note that the first 30 minutes of this meeting will be dedicated to public comment.

While they are very preliminary working drafts, the components of the report currently under discussion can be found on the Obey Creek Compass Committee's webpage under the heading for their November 9th meeting.

Where do all of the people live who work within 2 miles of Obey Creek?

My guess is that most live beyond that circle, but the only way to be sure is to do a survey. Why? Because one of the goals of Obey Creek ought to be to house as large a percentage as possible there or elsewhere within the circle who now work in the circle, and to do the same with any new people who wind up working on the Obey Creek property.

Are We Headed For ‘The End Of The Suburbs’? | Here & Now

How does this get made a part of the Obey Creek discussion?

Business Meeting - Nov 11th, 2013

This is quite instructive.

PERRY's request to jump out ahead

There is not a shred of rationale for allowing anything other than the orderly review of this matter - i.e., whether any change in the current zoning should be permitted.

CHAPEL HILL: 13-screen luxury movie theater slated for University Mall | Business | ChapelHillNews.com

Extremely relevant to Obey Creek.

More Teens Forego Driver's Licenses | WUNC

This is a troubling biased and short-sighted story, but we need to pay attention. How can Obey Creek be a force for public transportation?

Zimmerman: Density rules | Guest Columns | ChapelHillNews.com

His piece today on transit raises important questions as well. What are the criteria to be applied to changing current rules for Obey Creek?

Is It O.K. to Kill Cyclists? - NYTimes.com

Besides bike lanes, how could we turn Obey Creek into a force for safe biking?

New China Cities - Shoddy Homes, Broken Hope - NYTimes.com

More lessons to be learned?

Winmore Work » Winmore

Not exactly overrun with retail or office.

Numbers around University Mall

Where are the income numbers around Obey Creek?

Struggling U.S. Cities Hope Small Projects Yield Big Results - NYTimes.com

Good words for Obey Creek thinking.

Jane Jacobs Quotes (Author of The Death and Life of Great American Cities) (page 2 of 2)

The last (long) quote here seems to be missing from discussion of Obey Creek.

MAPP Meadowmont Aging in Place Project Home Page

Is this part of the thinking for Obey Creek?

CARRBORO: Plans unveiled for new ArtsCenter building | Carrboro | ChapelHillNews.com

Relevancy for Obey Creek?

On the Verge | In Portland, a New Shopping Center That's So Portland It Hurts - NYTimes.com

Would it work here?

Tobacco Trail bridge hits another snag | abc11.com

So how much with the Obey Creek bridge cost? This report says that the cost to Durham was 300,000 and to the State, 700,000 with the remaining 10 million paid by the federal government. Duh, let's see...who pays the money that each of those tiers of government get to spend on this? Is this a distinction without a difference or what?

Politicians bring bread and circuses to Durham | The Herald-Sun

This, too, on the bridge.

Survey | Qualtrics Survey Software

Why have we not been bombarded with surveys relating to Obey Creek? The guy representing Southern Village never replied to my suggestion and offer of help to do just that. I had the feeling he was pretty sure he knew it all.

City, companies still seeking bridge solution | The Herald-Sun

The future for the Obey Creek bridge?

coworking | coloring pages

Is this part of Obey Creek?

N.C.'s left-turn signals getting makeover :: WRAL.com

One of the Obey Creek issues that will have to be addressed regardless of development is the hazard of the left turn on amber flashing into Market Street. It is dangerous enough, but when combined with permitted U turn there and is especially treacherous when there is a car in the oppposing left turn lane at night with headlights. The angle of the slope brings normal headlight beams into the eyes of the other driver, or at least that was my experience the other night. Perhaps the other car had its lights on high beam, and this needs to be checked.

140 West Franklin

What can we learn from the retail that is there now, and may be coming? Why is some space still vacant? What is the message? Are we proud of what is there? If we could pick the retail we most wanted, out of need, for Obey Creek, what would it be? Layout the property with the stores you'd like to see there because you, preferably need them, or at least think you want them.

15-501 and 54 intersection

Shouldn't we be imagining what difference it might make to turn the current intersection into a traffic circle? Perhaps the current road could form part of a pedestrian bridge into the University from the south?

What is lacking now that Walmart is down the street?

What do we "need" that we don't have easily at hand? Imagine a sidewalk or trail that actually extended as far as Walmart from the Obey Creek property. Imagine the value if people really chose to walk or bike there!

CH Town Council OKs Southern Village Hotel Plan - Chapelboro.com

It seems to me that this suggests a fresh look at Obey Creek.

Our Stores : Chocolaterie Stam

What happened to this place at East54?

East 54

Have we looked really hard at what's happening here?

The Daily Tar Heel :: Carrboro’s El Centro Hispano needs to relocate

Why not Obey Creek?

751 South developers meet deadline for requesting utilities | The Herald-Sun

Shouldn't we be looking more closely at this?

"County Commissioners in 2010 approved zoning for the site that allows Mitchell and Morris to build up 1,300 homes and 600,000 square feet of commercial space on a 167-acre site on the west side of N.C. 751’s intersection with Fayetteville Road."

Brown Alumni Magazine - Special Sense of Place

It seems to me that we need to find a way to weave some of UNC into the Obey Creek plans - how do we use that land to further the link between the University and the Town of Chapel Hill?

Retailers' Next Biggest Threat - CRM Magazine

Pretty important.....

Carrboro’s Panzanella restaurant to close | Orange Chat Blog | NewsObserver.com

I think this is highly relevant to any hopes and dreams for Obey Creek.

Book details African-Americans’ artisan contributions | The Herald-Sun

Is there no potential to reinforce and stimulate artisans in this area? Do we have any left?

Moving In With Manufacturers, Amazon Delivers A New Approach : NPR

Is anyone's thinking about Obey Creek getting out ahead of this?

Carolina North annual report

Where is the Town of Chapel Hill's role in this mentioned?

Loren HINTZ - candidate

Dear Loren,

Sorry, but I don’t think I communicated my point.

I have lived in Southern Village for 14 years and know both much of the history and am familiar with many of the details of Obey Creek, including conversations with at least one previous attempted developer.

You have recited the developer’s rationale for HIS proposal. If I want to build a 13 story building on our property here in Southern Village so I can sell tickets to allow people to marvel at the sight of downtown Chapel Hill, I can give you that and more of a rationale.

That’s not my point.

No representative entity has agreed to the Development Agreement approach, or the Compass Committee and given a clear rationale for doing so. And I know of no one – not a single person – who felt, prior to the PERRY’s proposal on behalf of his Baltimore owners who felt that a change in current zoning for Obey Creek ought even to be considered.

All of the developer’s points you make below go to why we ought to be happy that the developer is not doing something worse. That’s no way to run a town.

There is one small exception and that is the open space, but I am not convinced that one acre home lots would not preserve about the same number of trees in the end.

So, are you saying – taking out the developer’s rationale related to HIS proposal – that we should be doing what the Compass Committee is doing and the Town Council may do in advancing the Development Agreement process…..that the reason is that this change would preserve more green space? If that is so, then where is the document from the Council, the Compass Committee or anyone else that compares likely environmental impact of current zoning to what, theoretically only, the developer is waving in front of many people with pretty pictures? We should have seen that document as the one on which the very initial decision was based to start down this road.

I ask my question again – why have we embarked on this path? Just because the developer asked?

From your answer, alas, I fear you would fit right in with the rest of the Council if elected.

Good luck nonetheless,

Terry

From: Loren Hintz [mailto:hintzforcouncil@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2013 4:59 PM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Subject: Re: Obey Creek

Terry Maguire · Founder at Mediterranean Media Center

I think the point made here is a good one, except I worry about all of the wasted time for everyone involved that delay would likely mean. So much time has been wasted by so many already.
What I continue to think is needed more than anything else is a clear statement of rationale as to WHY "we" should consider ANY change in the existing zoning regulations that apply to Obey Creek. What is the REASON for doing so? Because some developer asks? Because someone has dreams of vast tax revenues? Because there are services, facilities, buildings needed in this part of Chapel Hill that are not there? If we do not get serious about deciding why any change should be considered, we will allow all of us to slip onto the developer's turf of arguing about street lighting and parking places. We should STOP, articulate a proposed rationale, get it generally accepted and ONLY THEN proceed to any next step of any kind.

Dear Terry, Thank you for contacting me. I have attended several Obey creek compass meetings and live nearby. (I live on KIngs MIll Rd.) I was here when Southern Village was planned and then built. My general bias is to support the status quo with very low density for the area across from Southern Village. When the town created the Chapel Hill Plan 2020 they decided to revisit plans for several areas including this one and a developer (Roger Perry) wanted to develop an area to a much higher density than it was zoned. His proposal had been rejected and he came to an agreement with some citizens to form a new approach to looking at development in the area. That became the Obey Creek Compass Committee. The advantage of allowing higher density is that the community would gain a few items: 2/3 of the land would remain undeveloped rather than single family homes, there would be bike and pedestrian improvements along 15-501 and there would be a pedestrian bridge across 15-501. In terms of environmental impact, concentrating development in a smaller area would be positive. However the total amount of impervious surface (I think) would be much greater. Current rules require large developmental storm water to be controlled ( there are fewer rules for individual homes) but if the engineering would really work is an unknown. In terms of commercial development, the developer claims less than 1.6 million square feet is not economically viable for a commercial development in this area. Like I said, my bias is to keep the current zoning but I tried to describe the rationale for the proposal.

Loren Hintz

On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 2:31 PM, Terry MAGUIRE <tmaguire@newspaper.com> wrote:

Dear Loren,

I don’t believe we’ve met but let me start out by wishing you success in the upcoming election!

On your site, I find this line “ I agree that we need to reduce our dependence on residential property tax for our budget and that in some areas of town we should encourage commercial development.”

As a 14 year resident of Southern Village, you are right to assume that I am thinking Obey Creek when I read this.

If so, you are right.

I agree with you, but feel very strongly that the Council should not proceed with any more work on Obey Creek until all of us are presented with a fully allocated costs and revenues analysis of what the potential tax benefits might be. When I say “fully allocated”, I mean everything from the costs of the many town employees who seem to be engaged already in the potential project, any costs incurred for roadwork, sewers, etc. – by any entity of government, and then the projected net results for Chapel Hill taxes.

No one has produced this as far as I know.

I’d like to see you go on record supporting that point.

And I would urge a second as well. I have articulated it in a comment on this piece in the Chapel Hill News http://www.chapelhillnews.com/2013/10/18/3289696/obey-creek-committee-needs-more.html

I hope you will support the need for a clear analysis of needs in advance of any more work. We need to know what we want, why we want it, think about both, and THEN decide what to do next.

Thanks for listening and good luck, once again,

Terry

Terry MAGUIRE

Comparing net tax revenues

What is the total NET tax revenue received in each of the last 5 years in Chapel Hill from Southern Village commercial/office, from Meadowmont commercial/office, from East54 commercial/office?

Health

What are the unmet health needs within the 2 mile radius circle? Doctors needed? Other facilities? I touched elsewhere on health clubs and pharmacies. What about all the rest? What do we NEED that we do not have?

Schools

What are the unmet school NEEDS in the 2 mile radius school circle around Obey Creek? What could Obey Creek do to meet some of those needs?

Another thing

Has the Compass Committee compiled a list of all the available office and retail space within 3 miles of Obey Creek? What is the story behind each vacant piece? What do we learn from all?

Trails

Here is another NEED. The trail that now runs from Culbreth to Dogwood Acres Drive, essentially ends there with no plans, I have been told, to continue the trail further south. There are no plans, again as I understand it, to lay any sidewalks or other means for residents to WALK south of that point along any road. Similarly, to the east of Obey Creek, there are mostly roads without a route for pedestrians. I would put ahead of virtually anything and everything I have heard about Obey Creek development the need to complete that pedestrian network within a two mile radius of Obey Creek. That ought to be a clearly higher priority than another movie theater, for example.
Imagine a network of trails and sidewalks that opened up all of southern Chapel Hill, and all of southern Orange County to the Chatham County line, putting pressure on that county to do the same so we meet at the border, and can keep walking north or south when we do!
For example, where could the trail go that might connect much of this area? For me, that's even better than more sidewalks, but the key is to make the whole area pedestrian accessible.

MLK And Estes Drive Residents Pan Central West Plan - Chapelboro.com

I am still unclear where the questions are about why change existing rules and what is the need we are hoping to meet through change. Exactly what "commercial" is NEEDED? With what result for taxes, specifically?

A need

One of the needs that I think we have right now is for someone to properly clean up the bank on the east side of the trail, alongside 15-501 just below Culbreth - where the power company, I presume clearcut so many trees and left the rest mangled, with pieces of trees spread all over the place. That is a NEED much more pressing than adding thousands of car trips from Obey Creek. Who is addressing this need?

Chapel Hill Gets Funds for Culbreth Road Completion - Chapelboro.com

I still don't understand the NEED to build this tunnel. And I can predict with huge confidence that no one will ever measure its use. I have asked for the fully-allocated costs of the project form "Butch" KISIAH, who seems to be in charge of that part of Chapel Hill government.

START-UP NY |

Back to my query about "need" - there are many ways to meet a need once we know what it is.

Ask everyone

While there are all sorts of issues over how valid such a survey would be, I favor asking everyone who lives within 2 miles of Obey Creek, and anyone else who either works in that area or perhaps parks in the Southern Village park and ride lot what they feel they NEED at Obey Creek that they do not have. This could be set up online in such a way that only one entry per household, or per person, would be permitted, and this could be divided as well between those who live in the area and those who have some other connection. Everyone could be told by mail that they will have this one opportunity and everyone can choose to use it or not; those who do not then simply accept whatever decisions are made by others. I think each responder could be offered a periodic e-mail update on the project as well, including summaries of responses of all. This would be a chance to pin down what people feel is important and lacking in their lives that could be satisfied on the land that is Obey Creek. With all of the human and other resources being expended on this project, what could be a better thing to do than the ask the people most affected, and anyone else who chooses to express a view, what it is that they feel they NEED (not just "want"). (They survey would NOT be posed in terms of "what would you like to see included in the Obey Creek development?", but rather "what do you NEED that you don't have in life that some use of Obey Creek land could provide?".) With those responses in hand, I think the whole process could move a lot more intelligently toward answering the core question: What would justify any change in existing zoning for Obey Creek?

Take the UPS Store....

When I search, this is the closest UPS Store to 27516. I think there is a package store of some sort at Cole Park Plaza? So think about it. Do we need a UPS Store in Obey Creek? Do we need a facility like Strays in Southern Village that seems to accept packages, etc. destined to be carried by multiple carriers? What exactly is our "need" when it comes to shipping and related services? Can we check that one off and say that we have no outstanding needs? Or is there something more that we are not getting?
I think we should do this for everything that people - as the result of a survey within the 2 mile radius circle - say they need and want in their lives. Where do they go now for those needs and is the quality/price/availability measure likely to send them to Obey Creek to fulfill these needs more quickly, happily, etc?
Another example is a fitness club. We have one in Southern Village. What are the unmet needs around that club? The next nearest is at Cole Park Plaza; it has a pool. If there is a need for a bigger or better fitness facility closer at hand, what are the optional ways that need can be satisfied?
Etc.

Insomnia Cookies | Insomnia Cookies

This is apparently coming to Chapel Hill. Fulfilling a need?

Obey Creek committee needs more time | Guest Columns | ChapelHillNews.com

See my comments at the end.

Food

I saw these two items today, one from France http://www.nicematin.com/monaco/grace-de-monaco-le-film-qui-tourne-mal.1485371.html and this one from Durham http://www.heraldsun.com/business/x2082473046/The-Buzz
What struck me about both of them is the creative way in which each restaurant is approaching its restaurant day and, most important, its customers. Their wants and needs vary with time of day and so both places seem headed toward meeting that demand.
In thinking about Obey Creek more, I wonder if we have done enough imagining of what it is that we really want there. It's easy to tick off a list of retailers and generic categories, but are we listing them because we need them?
When I was in India last month, I met a man who talked about the many small villages that are the bulk of India. He said that a village needs only about 6 or 8 services in order to be successful and self-sustaining. I have the list somewhere and will add it here, but I recall that it included a shoemaker, a butcher, a baker, a vegetable vendor, etc.
What, exactly, are our unmet needs that would justify a change in zoning at Obey Creek? Whom would the change benefit?
I heard nothing at the forum last week that seemed to speak to this. Some were dazzled by the developer's proposal, but does it in any way respond to any need we might have, other than the forever illusive claim of tax revenues? Is that the only reason for considering a change in zoning?
Think through this on something like a drug store. We have a small, new drugstore in Southern Village. Do we need another because the prices here are too high? The selection too limited? Honestly - and I mean HONESTLY - how many people within two miles of Obey Creek are going to walk to the drugstore there? It's going to be 95% car traffic, I predict. That compared to a trip to CVS, for example, accomplishes what?
I think the Compass Committee and everyone else needs to focus almost exclusively on this needs analysis in a very hard-nosed fashion, and make some informed assumptions about what the needs are, how they might be met at Obey Creek, and - in detail - whether that met need(s) is worth the zoning change.

Public forum notes

I attended the forum last night at the Extraordinary Ventures venue. It was more frustrating than informative, especially to see so many people there wasting so much time that surely could be used for so many more important purposes.
One subject I don't recall hearing was an idea that emerged a long time ago - the thought that maybe Chapel Hill could improve life and diversity for its workers and residents if housing were built on that land that might be affordable and perhaps even designated for such use - for some of the many people who work so hard at UNC, UNC Hospitals and other places in Chapel Hill to make the lives of the rest us so much better.
Did I miss a discussion of that option?
I'll post more notes later.

CHAPEL HILL: Planners: Good growth is compact, dense and pays for itself | Chapel Hill | ChapelHillNews.com

Who paid for this appearance?

The Daily Tar Heel :: Obey Creek is not the best spot for Target

Thoughtful.

So. Village Residents Skeptical Of New Obey Creek Plan - Chapelboro.com

No comment.

Ayrault inaugure à Metz le Mettis, mi-bus mi-tram - Libération

Should we be pressing for this?

LMDV - Comment ça marche ? | Partage de machines à laver | La Machine Du Voisin

Neat idea. In France, there is a noticeable trend toward renting and sharing anything and everything. Is there a trend of any sort in NC that may be relevant to Obey Creek?

Del Snow: What the growth consultants left out | Guest Columns | ChapelHillNews.com

This all looks so weird when viewed from far away as I am. Everyone is an expert and everyone's expertise is different, it seems.

Central West Goes Before Planning Board, Disagreements Continue - Chapelboro.com

So much energy expended.

Zones périurbaines : 15 millions de Français délaissés

Is this us?

Pour que vive mon village - 30/09/2013 - News et vidéos en replay - Documentaires - France 3

Relevant, I believe.

Can Urban Planning Help India's Cities Reduce Sexual Violence ? - NYTimes.com

Anything to learn?

15-501 Hit-And-Run Leaves One Dead, One Injured - Chapelboro.com

We are creating such dangerous environments.

Central West Stalled - Chapelboro.com

For those who have the patience.

New Hotel Plan Draws Praise From Those Once Opposed - Chapelboro.com

I guess it will get approved.

Terri Buckner: Big box at Obey Creek would require traffic fix | Guest Columns | ChapelHillNews.com

Will read this soon.

Role?

You'd think this group believes it really is designing a development:
"Good Morning,

As a reminder, the Obey Creek Compass Committee will be holding a Public Forum on Wednesday, September 18^th from 7:00-9:00pm in the cafeteria at Mary Scroggs Elementary (501 Kildaire Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516). Please join us to hear an overview of the Committee’s work so far and to share your thoughts with the Committee and development team!

Please also mark your calendars for the evenings of October 7^th (6:00-9:00pm) and October 9^th (6:00-8:00pm), when we will be holding a Public Design Workshop for Obey Creek. Details on these events will be forthcoming.

Have a great weekend,

Jason Damweber

On behalf of the Development Agreement Project Team"

Japanese Candy Co. To Open Operations In OC - Chapelboro.com

Would anyone prefer to have had them set up shop in Obey Creek?

Chamber: Orange County Tax Base Falling Into "Retail Gap" - Chapelboro.com

Where the Mayoral Candidates Stand on Key Issues - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com

We need the same for Town Council candidates on Obey Creek.

Directions at the Intersection of Change - Chapelboro.com

Things to learn here.

UNC To Install Expansive Wi-Fi Network - Chapelboro.com

A wi-fi island to our north?

As Amazon Stretches, Seattle’s Downtown Is Reshaped - NYTimes.com

What would BEZOS do?

Preston Development Looking To Expand Into Pittsboro - Chapelboro.com

Lots to compare and contrast for Obey Creek.

Chatham Park: jumping the shark? | Chatham County | Indy Week

What are the full implications for Obey Creek?

Remembering a Zealous Advocate of Lower Manhattan - NYTimes.com

A model, no?

News Businesses In Chapel Hill-Carrboro - Chapelboro.com

What's different about Obey Creek?

Chatham Park Development Proposed Master Plan submitted May 3, 2013 - Planning - Pittsboro, NC

This surely needs to be assessed as part of the Obey Creek review.

Real estate

So, let's see, Blooms seems to have gone out of business, there is a sign on Market St for 6,000 sq ft for sale/lease (I think I got the number right), and land remains for sale opposite Market Street on 15-501. Does any of that tell us something relevant for Obey Creek?

Worker Bees on a Rooftop, Ignoring Bryant Park’s Pleasures - NYTimes.com

What is the bee potential of Obey Creek?

Nice : Reconstitution 3D du Château-Visite des fouilles de l’ancienne cathédrale de la colline du Château - France 3 Côte d’Azur

Shouldn't we have a 3D representation of Obey Creek with moving parts? That is to say - if we had such a model, bits and pieces of it could be moved about, traffic patterns noted, etc.

Questions

How many bus passengers transit each day on 15-501 measured in all directions at intersection of Market Street and 15-501? I think all buses pass that point coming and going.
How many cars do the same? Trucks?
Total number of people passing that intersection in the course of various days at various times and periods of time?

Update from Town

"Coming Up: Obey Creek and Obey Creek Compass Committee events

The Obey Creek Compass Committee, appointed by the Town Council, continues its work of providing information, soliciting community response and fostering community participation in the development of a site concept plan for the proposed Obey Creek development.

Obey Creek is a 124-acre property under consideration for a mixed use development proposed for the area across South 15-501 from Southern Village. It is one of two potential developments using a new development agreement process. The committee is scheduled to provide the Council with a report and an outline of issues this fall to be discussed should the project move into a Development Agreement negotiation.

Obey Creek and Obey Creek Compass Committee events include the following:

Aug. 8: Obey Creek 101: A Primer for the Obey Creek Compass Committee will take place 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, in Meeting Room B of the Chapel Hill Public Library. This information session will provide members of the Obey Creek Compass Committee with an overview of the South 15-501 focus area and general principles adopted in the Chapel Hill 2020 Comprehensive Plan, as well as information on a variety of topics associated with the area and potential development, including existing conditions of the Obey Creek site, traffic, environmental issues and economic development issues.

Aug. 12: Victor Dover of Dover, Kohl & Partners, a member of the Development Agreement Technical Team, will offer a special topic presentation on best practices for new development at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, in Meeting Room A of the Chapel Hill Public Library. Dover is a lecturer who presents regularly around the nation on the topics of livable communities and sustainable development. He is the immediate past national chair of the Congress for the New Urbanism.

Aug. 13: The Obey Creek Compass Committee will meet with the Development Agreement Technical Team at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13 in the Great Hall at Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliot Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. This will provide the Technical Team with an opportunity to hear directly from the Obey Creek Compass Committee about general principles for the South 15-501 focus area and issues that the committee believes should be addressed in the Technical Team's report to Council.

Aug. 19: The Obey Creek Compass Committee will meet on Monday, Aug. 19, to identify key topics for consideration in the development agreement process and prioritize the key topics for further discussion. Logistical details regarding this meeting will be forthcoming soon.

The Obey Creek planning process is one of many public input opportunities of DESIGN Chapel Hill 2020, the title given to the implementation phase of Chapel Hill 2020, the community's new comprehensive plan. Learn more about all projects at www.townofchapelhill.org/design.

Obey Creek is within Area 6: South 15-501, one of six future focus areas outlined in Chapel Hill 2020. Future focus areas are portions of Chapel Hill most likely to change in the future due to vacant land, underdeveloped sites, and their locations along transportation and transit corridors. In total, these areas represent about 24 percent of the land in Chapel Hill, and they do not include the predominately single-family areas and neighborhoods of Chapel Hill. The town's other focus areas are Area 1: Downtown Chapel Hill; Area 2: North Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/I-40; Area 3: South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Homestead Road to Estes Drive; Area 4: Highway 54; and Area 5: Ephesus-Fordham.

For more information about Obey Creek, visit www.townofchapelhill.org/obeycreek. Would you like to receive regular e-mail updates about this project? Contact us at info@townofchapelhill.org." 

LaUNCh Incub. Profile: New Social Network Coming - Chapelboro.com

Orange County Welcomes Solar Power - Chapelboro.com

Heavy Traffic Makes I-40-N.C. 54 Interchange a Nightmare in Chapel Hill, NC - Chapel Hill Magazine

Council election on the horizon | The Herald-Sun

A Saint-Jory, les fruits et légumes sont en libre service sept jours sur sept grâce à un distributeur - France 3 Midi-Pyrénées

Imagine a simple drive through pick up for local produce? That would be serving something really good to the cars that routinely pass by.... no?

The Sweet Spot: Parks and Trepidation - NYTimes.com

All those cars....

Think for a moment of all of the thousands of cars that pass the Obey Creek property each day. Surely, there must be something that Obey Creek could offer that would make their lives better by providing something not available easily elsewhere, by saving time, by improving the environment, by adding pleasure....all sorts of criteria. How could we study those people to determine what it is that Obey Creek could do for them, and consider the issue of whether additional cars might be attracted second?

Other land for commercial development within 2 miles of Obey Creek?

What are all of the other properties within 2 miles of Obey Creek on which commercial development would now be allowed? What are all of the properties in the same space which have not been developed or where structures there could be replaced to make way for commercial development with a change in zoning? For example, what is the situation of the land directly across 15-501 from the proposed Southern Village hotel - to the north of Obey Creek?

Sweetgreen, a Salad Chain, Is Coming to Manhattan - NYTimes.com

Koontz opinion

A Legal Blow to Sustainable Development - NYTimes.com

Commerical development in Nice

We should be looking for other models everywhere! Here in Nice, there may be something to learn from this.

The Joys of a Merritt's Store and Grill BLT Sandwich - Chapel Hill Magazine

Gary Kahn Announces Intention To Run For Town Council - Chapelboro.com

OrangeChat - Southern Village unknown enters Chapel Hill council race | newsobserver.com blogs

OrangeChat - Town Council member nixes 2nd term | newsobserver.com blogs

Imagine what four new people on the Town Council could mean.

New York City Gets Legislature’s Nod for Speed Cameras - NYTimes.com

Inspiring Mayberry, and Then Becoming It - NYTimes.com

Town of Chapel Hill : Rosemary Imagined

Town of Chapel Hill : Road Construction Projects

Town of Chapel Hill : Mayor & Council

I'll note the names here of those Council members whose terms expire this year, and who could be replaced by other candidates, whether or not the incumbents choose to run, including the Mayor.

Southern Community Park, Chapel Hill, NC (2009) | G Hyatt Construction, Inc

70 acres - $5 million.

Walkscore

Southern Community Park - Google Maps

Town of Chapel Hill : Southern Community Park

Town of Chapel Hill : Event Calendar : Public Input Session: Glen Lennox development agreement process

Town of Chapel Hill : Event Calendar : Public Information Meeting on the Ephesus Church Road/Fordham Boulevard Future Focus Area

Let Us Start Composting Vegetables - NYTimes.com

Why not create a composting center at Obey Creek?

Neighborhood Boundaries - Overview - Maponics

How could we use this?

Welcome to Southern Village in Chapel Hill, NC

Note two mile reference here, too.

Southern Village, North Carolina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SV water study

Town of Chapel Hill : Development Agreement Projects

Development Concepts, Inc. - Who We Are

Our History - Southern Village

Defenders of Public Spaces Take Inspiration From Turkish Protests - NYTimes.com

Cité orientée, des métiers qui nous ressemblent - francetv éducation

chapelhillnews.com | Southern Village hotel, apartments plan revised

Transportation Chief Talks of Giving the Public More Public Spaces - NYTimes.com

Rechercher un trajet en covoiturage - BlaBlaCar

This is hugely popular in France. How could we incorporate it into the Obey Creek plans? Perhaps we have this already serving the people within two miles of Obey Creek? (There are details, like anything else, that need to be addressed as in France.)

Town of Chapel Hill : News Releases : Special Topics: Development Agreements

MAPP Meadowmont Aging in Place Project Home Page

Push for Speed Cameras Turns to School Zones - NYTimes.com

Why not speed cameras on 15-501 in front of Obey Creek no matter what happens?

In Student Housing, Luxuries Overshadow Studying - NYTimes.com

Compass Committee names

Special Issue: 50 Innovators and Back in Business Forum - NationalJournal.com

Obey Creek?

Five start-ups get grants from NC IDEA | The Herald-Sun

Shouldn't we be talking with all of these companies about whether they would like to have a home in Chapel Hill, especially on the Obey Creek property?

Town of Chapel Hill : Obey Creek Mixed Use Development

Why does this page still make it look as though this is "on the table"?

People from other countries

I don't think Chapel Hill does anywhere near enough to help welcome people from other countries and cultures. Some of these people come as students, some as faculty, some to work, some to retire, some for family, and for other reasons. How could Obey Creek be fashioned as an international center for Chapel Hill? Wouldn't that distinguish us from many other communities?

Fiber Optic

What opportunities does this sort of approach present for Obey Creek?

Phoenix Academy High School - Homepage

I was not aware of this school, well within the two mile radius of Obey Creek. Heard this today and I see that it is located here.
Has anyone asked this - or any other school - what they think Obey Creek should be?

Microsoft to Open Mini-Stores Inside Best Buy - NYTimes.com

It seems to me that we all ought to be thinking about our lives - in the 2 mile area around Obey Creek - and what we "need" and "want". One way to address this is to imagine a "pie". Slices of it could be labeled "food", "prescription drugs", "clothing", and one sliver could be "computers" or some such label.
The question then becomes for that computer sliver, what do we need or want within 2 miles relating to computers? In an ideal world, what would be find in that circle that might meet a computer need or want?

New Walmart brings jobs, convenience, tax revenue to Chatham | The Herald-Sun

With comment added

New Walmart brings jobs, convenience, tax revenue to Chatham | The Herald-Sun

What Big Data Means For Big Cities : 13.7: Cosmos And Culture : NPR

List of Franchised and Non-Franchised Businesses in Chapel Hill

I wonder if such a list exists?

Green Tango .::. ABOUT US

Earlier, I was under the impression that they were considering a franchisee for the area including Obey Creek.

Culbreth Road meeting scheduled | The Herald-Sun

We should find out the fully allocated cost of building this tunnel. How would it compare to a tunnel under 15-501? Bill WEBSTER should have the answer.

15-501

What do we know about where cars come from and go to that pass Obey Creek on 15-501?

Descriptions by adjoining property owners

I'd love to assemble the stories and perspectives of all those who own property adjoining Obey Creek.

The Daily Tar Heel :: BlueCross BlueShield leaves Chapel Hill

Would Obey Creek have been a good place for this? Big enough? How can we look at the Blue Cross/Blue Shield move as a case study of how to make the most of Obey Creek? Would we have thought that a good thing? If not, why not, and what sort of offices would be good for the Obey Creek land, if any?

O2 Fitness + fitness facilities in general

They used to be in Southern Village, moved to Cole Park Plaza. What do they think of Obey Creek - from every angle? (Note the linked story that reports they have acquired two clubs, one in Chapel Hill and one in Carrboro recently. Are they looking for new locations? What is the community's assessment of the club that replaced them in Southern Village?)

Public Private Partnerships (P3) | Garfield Traub Development

Best Made Store Opens in Manhattan - NYTimes.com

Look Who's Going to Lunch | The Weekly Opinion Column by Nancy Oates - Chapel Hill Magazine

Quimper. Indianapolis (USA) choisit l’Autolib' Bolloré - Quimper - Économie - ouest-france.fr

Will we have electric vehicle recharging at Obey Creek?

Whole Foods CEO: Detroit is a long-term investment | Marketplace.org

How could Obey Creek best enhance the diversity of the area within a two mile radius of the land?

Surveys

I wonder what sorts of surveys we might do among people who live within a two-mile radius of Obey Creek? It seems to me that we have none of that - only the voices of those who choose to speak. That does not seem fair to the community. We should give other people a chance to express their views on some of the core issues ranging from preservation of natural resources to local shopping wishes.

Who We Are - TLC

I wonder if any of these people are following Obey Creek?

112-Room Hotel May Come to Southern Village As Early As 2015 - Chapel Hill Magazine

TerraVITA Food and Wine Festival Scheduled for October 10-12, 2013 - Chapel Hill Magazine

Whole Foods Is Repositioning Itself as the Go-to Grocery Store for Everyday | Adweek

Audi, AT&T, Pep Boys All Look to the Future With Their Brick-and-Mortar Shops | Adweek

Two-mile meeting and Innovation

Two thoughts raced toward my mind….

One, I’d still like to see a 2 mile meeting convened for an update on everything within that circle. It would NOT be a Town meeting, but a people meeting instead. I will think more about that. It could play into your hopes. Doing briefings piecemeal misses your point and many many people. One session, with open discussion, dealing with all of the issues – I’d like a briefing from the principal at Scroggs, for example, and one from the NC Botanical Garden, The Triangle Land Conservancy, and UNC! – might be really attractive especially if the focus is on keeping it a non-Town event. They can come and I hope they would.

Second, I still think we need to get innovation into the mix. I thought of this imagining a Target or a Kroger or any big store you might name. How do we focus on innovation as the highest and best use – what could go into Obey Creek that might really turn heads and make a difference either here in the overall community or in the world, or somewhere inbetween? When I see the passion of the people at Ipas and then compare it with a walk around a Target store, something really seems unnecessarily wrong. We ought to be able to extend passion to success in meeting important needs, from groceries to lives saved. WSM does a bit of that, and maybe we need to have a sit-down with Ruffin to see what he could do with bigger space at Obey Creek? How could WSM be even more innovative? I have some ideas as always!

Bus routes

I sure think that the review of Obey Creek by the “compass” committee ought to include a full-scale briefing and review of bus service within 2 miles of Obey Creek. It is so much more than whether or not there is a bus stop on 15-501 in front of Obey Creek.

Price history

What is the full history of prices paid (and taxes paid, too) for the Obey Creek property (ies)?

Political contributions

Have any of the people who get to decide "stuff" for Obey Creek received anything of value from any party with an interest in the proceeding? This includes both elected and non-elected people.

Players

We need a careful rundown of who all of the "players" are with respect to Obey Creek. That includes everyone from the Chapel Hill Mayor and the purported developer to the land owners, supposedly in Baltimore. What does their site say about Obey Creek? 

Guns

I worry about Wal-Mart possibly selling guns at its new Chatham store. How can we insure that whatever happens at Obey Creek, no guns are ever sold there?

Schools

It seems to me that for every possible iteration for Obey Creek, we need to see exactly the expected impact on schools.

Rentals replaced by Southern Village Hotel?

Will the rental houses - at least I am pretty sure that they are rentals - that will be replaced by the Southern Village Hotel, if it comes to pass, be themselves replaced elsewhere so that affordable property options are not lost to Chapel Hill?

Cut speed to 35?

Shouldn't we be demanding that the State reduce the speed limit on 15-501 be to a maximum of 35 MPH from Dogwood Acres north should any development beyond current rules be permitted there?

A Streetcorner Serenade for the Public Plaza - NYTimes.com

We need a lot more use of graphics to help us think through all possibilities for Obey Creek. As much as possible, this should be in 3-D. Surely, there are people at UNC who could help us do a lot of this?

chapelhillnews.com | Council approves 17-member Obey Creek group

Obey Creek: From Outreach to Inclusion | chapelhillwatch.com

Planning Board - Hotel

South 15-501 Discussion Group

Document #1

I hope the “compass” committee produces a final draft of this document as its first work product:

“Obey Creek Document #1

Current zoning of the XXX acres of Obey Creek allows for one home to be built on XXX of those acres for a total of XXX homes. Consistent with current Chapel Hill property values and family sizes, the homes would likely  be worth an average of XXX,XXX each, pay a total of X,XXX,XXX in property taxes annually, and add XXX residents to the community.

The cost to all government entities resulting from this development would be XXX,XXX up front, and X,XXX per year after that. This includes all needed highway work, including crosswalks and full allocated governmental costs associated with inspections and improvements of any kind.”

There are lots of possibilities for Document #2.

"Public" participation

Sent to Ms. NIRDLINGER today at the Town of Chapel Hill:

Dear. Ms. NIRDLINGER,

I did not attend the Council meeting Wednesday night, but I watched part of it on television.

You made a comment toward the end about how non-members of what I think is being oddly called the “compass” committee could express their views. If I heard you correctly, someone who attends one of the meetings will have an “opportunity” to say something “before” and “after” the meeting.

It probably stems from my career as a media lawyer advocating on behalf of the First Amendment….something stuck in my “craw” about your comments that suggested to me that the whole effort is far more about show and procedure than it is about discussion and debate.

My presumption – only that – is that what you meant is that the unwashed non-members of the “compass” committee will have a 3 minute opportunity at each meeting to spout off if they choose to do so. No discussion, no debate, just spouting.

I don’t know how you see things, but for me this is just fundamentally contrary to any reasonable commitment to discussion and debate as the tool that usually results in the best outcomes.

So I am writing to you before taking this to the Council to ask you to reconsider if it is indeed you who gets to decide this. You should allow anyone who attends one of these meetings to speak up and be recognized at any time and to fully participate in the discussion. If it results in an unruly meeting, or a longer one, so be it. Otherwise, this all looks like a production designed to deliver the developer what he wants rather than a good faith effort to express to the Town Council the many different and often competing views of the people who elect that Council and who hire you.

Thanks for considering this. Let me know what you decide to do.

Cheers,

Terry MAGUIRE

How A Trip To Costco Can Work As An Investment Strategy : NPR

How do we make sure we have considered the value of having a Costco at Obey Creek? It may not make sense for many reasons, but how to urge the developer to consider this option?

Council action....

Public Engagement for Obey Creek: The Council considered a joint developer-community proposal for a committee structure for the exploratory phase of the Obey Creek development agreement. The Council then established the Obey Creek Compass Committee, which is scheduled to be appointed on June 24. The application process will open on Friday and continue through June 10. The 17-member committee will review information, participate in events, and serve as a conduit to the community to provide information and foster participation. At the end of the process, the committee will provide a report to the Council. Information about the application process will be provided soon through a link at http://www.townofchapelhill.org/obeycreek

Lobbying for the Greater Good - NYTimes.com

Relating to the "community"

As the Chapel Hill Town Council moves into the mode of developer for Obey Creek, I think it needs to step back and assess the entire "community" defined by a circle with a radius of 2 miles out from Obey Creek. For example, I think a hard look at the successes and failures (like underutilization of facilities) of the Southern Community Park needs to be high on the list. Southern Village itself needs to be there, including the proposed hotel. These things should not evolve as seeming islands but rather as rough areas within a larger whole. I don't think any discussion of Obey Creek ought to happen without that circled area in front of us all the time.

Southern Village HOA | Berkeley Property Management

You would think there would be a mention of Obey Creek here, no?

Sep 2012?

8 483 votants pour la votation citoyenne organisée par l'opposition municipale au sujet du tramway niçois - France 3 Côte d’Azur

I wonder what would happen if the Obey Creek developer proposal v. current restrictions were put to a choose-one-or-the-other vote. How many people would participate?

Searching for Obey Creek stories

In the Chapel Hill News, search here.

chapelhillnews.com | Residents hit the ground on Obey Creek

chapelhillnews.com | Bassett: Growth could ease tax burden

"The greatest demand for growth is in south Chapel Hill, in part, because of Governors Club, north Chatham County and the new Wal-Mart, he said."

chapelhillnews.com | Areas where Chapel Hill could grow

A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an Urban America: SHoP Architects, Vishaan Chakrabarti, Norman Foster: 9781935202172: Amazon.com: Books

I bet there is something - probably a lot of things - to be learned here that would be relevant for Obey Creek. What really is the ideal use for that property?

AIA NC Honor Award- Triangle Brick Headquarters.m4v - YouTube

Shouldn't we be looking to Obey Creek to be an award-winning project - both for the environment and and for design? Don't we want to avoid another "island" project, one that simply gets plopped into its land without careful integration into the surrounding area?

The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What would Jane JACOBS say about Obey Creek? What advice could we imagine her giving us?

Gateway Arch 'Biography' Reveals Complex History Of An American Icon : NPR

Will Obey Creek produce a Chapel Hill icon? A good one? How?

Neighbors See Obey Creek Property Up Close - Chapelboro.com

Ligne 2 du tramway à Nice: l'opposition organise une votation citoyenne ce samedi - France 3 Côte d’Azur

Note the "for or against" option in the flyer.

Nice : déjà plus de 3 000 participants revendiqués à la votation sur le tram' | Nice-Matin

I wonder how the Obey Creek matter could be put to some sort of popular vote. It could be as simple as asking  registered Chapel Hill voters - perhaps restricted and enlarged to include the area within a two mile radius of the site - whether they think there should be a change in well-explained present rules for the land or whether a clear statement of what the developer wants should be allowed. Why shouldn't there be some sort of referendum to allow people most affected to voice their opinions, non-binding for the Town Council, but highly relevant? If this could not be done for a variety of reasons, could it be done online privately but with significant, verifiable methodology? In the linked case, this latter - more or less - is the way Nice is tackling the question of how an extension of the city's tram system should be routed.

Obey Creek Tour : un album sur Flickr

Online Shopping on the Rise Now That Handheld Devices Take Over | Adweek

You have to wonder whether any discussion of retail development at Obey Creek is simply smoke and mirrors resulting in only that standing there after a while?

Does the American Shopping Mall Have a Second Life? | Adweek

Obey Creek Neighbors Fight For Representation - Chapelboro.com

Real owners?

Who, exactly, owns the Obey Creek land? Yes, it seems to be an investment firm based in Baltimore, but who are they, who calls the shots, who are the investors who control things, etc?

Nation's smallest Walmart to open in Atlanta | Marketplace.org

Ada Louise Huxtable, Architecture Critic, Dies at 91 - NYTimes.com

Obey Creek Community Page

This site seems to have expired?