We have been following the ups and downs of The Local Reporter for quite some time now. The paper has churned through several editors during its almost-three-year existence, and has struggled with disclosing connections between its board, sources, funders, and CHALT, a local organization with a PAC that is heavily involved in local elections. Last …
This is the first post in our Harder Truths series. Starting in the 1960s, so-called historic districts—neighborhoods deemed to be “significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture”—were created in U.S. cities and towns to place further restrictions on development. Although these districts were supported by federal legislation, local and state governments were given …
Each month, NextFwd hosts a happy hour for members to discuss local civic issues in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. In August, before the scheduled happy hour, I led a walking tour through Chapel Hill’s Blue Hill District. The Blue Hill District – which used to be called the Ephesus Fordham District – is located off …
Let’s take a walking tour of Blue Hill in Chapel Hill Read More »
Longer than it takes to cook, and eat a grilled cheese sandwich, apparently! This piece was written by Tab Combs and John Rees. Imagine sitting at a red light and someone comes up and says, ‘you can’t go until I’ve had time to make myself a sandwich.’ Ridiculous, right? So why would we ever assume …
How long does it take to cross a street in Chapel Hill? Read More »
TL;DR: A lot of conversation and debate in our community centers on planning, zoning, and development regulations. But…what are these things? And why are they used? Are they good? Bad? Somewhere in between? It’s important to understand how land use planning and regulations work, what they can and can’t do, and how they can be used …
TBB Land Use & Development Primer | 1.3: Anatomy of a Zoning Ordinance (1) Read More »
I dream of a four-story mixed-use building at the corner with a bodega that has good breakfast burritos and coffee, and of a taller residential building behind it with at least twelve units, including much-needed affordable condominiums or rentals.
Last month, planner Jennifer Keesmaat presented the Chapel Hill Town Council with three “hard truths.” (To summarize, the truths were 1) Chapel Hill is exclusive; 2) Our planning processes are bad; 3) Our “urban form” is also bad.) Keesmaat promised that there are more hard truths to come out during the complete communities planning process, …
Usual suspects suspect unusual suspects will yield unexpected results
TL;DR: A lot of conversation and debate in our community centers on planning, zoning, and development regulations. But…what are these things? And why are they used? Are they good? Bad? Somewhere in between? It’s important to understand how land use planning and regulations work, what they can and can’t do, and how they can be …
TBB Land Use & Development Primer | 1.2: Legal Foundations of Zoning Read More »
This piece was written by John Rees and Heidi Perry Last week, we attended the RENA Community Center‘s annual bike rodeo. Held annually, the event ensures that kids attending the RENA community center summer camp have safe bikes to ride and that they know the rules of the road and have the skills they need to …
Bike Beat: RENA Community Center Bike Rodeo 2022 Read More »
