Background: On July 6, 2021, a structural fire damaged a single-family, four-bedroom home at 106 Kenan St., which was occupied by four college students (who thankfully were able to escape the fire without injury). Last fall, the house was torn down, leaving an undeveloped .22 acre (9,579 square feet) lot in downtown Chapel Hill. The […]
Posted inChapel Hill, Chapel Hill Town Council, Greenway, Housing
Eat Pray Love Greenway: An update on the Complete Communities process
Greenways. That’s the answer to Chapel Hill’s problems, according to Jennifer Keesmaat, who is heading the Complete Communities project for the Town of Chapel Hill. In a 45-minute (or so) presentation on Thursday, August 18, Keesmaat and her team, with Rod Steven pinch hitting during the Q&A, presented an update on the Complete Communities process […]
Posted inCHALT, Journalism
Another shakeup at The Local Reporter
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 […]
Posted inChapel Hill, Housing
Chapel Hill’s local historic districts limit our town’s potential, and should be reduced in size and scope.
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 […]
Posted inBike and Walk, Bike Beat, Parks and Rec, Stormwater
Let’s take a walking tour of Blue Hill in Chapel Hill
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 […]
Posted inConnectivity, Bike and Walk, Transportation
How long does it take to cross a street in Chapel Hill?
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 […]