On Tuesday, GoTriangle, our regional transit agency, gave a presentation to the Durham County Commissioners on its latest feasibility study for commuter rail in the Triangle. The study, which cost $9 million, was intended to build support for building a commuter rail line through the heart of the Research Triangle, beginning in West Durham and […]
Martin Johnson
Martin Johnson (@martinlj) lives in Chapel Hill. He teaches film studies courses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his research interests include documentary, educational film, and local film. Like John, he serves on the board of NEXT Chapel Hill-Carrboro and the Bicycle Alliance of Chapel Hill. He believes that walkable urbanism is the solution to our environmental and economic challenges.
Posted inChapel Hill
Reimagining 106 Kenan Street: How we can rethink lots in the historic district of Chapel Hill
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
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 inChapel Hill
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 inTransportation
Street Permit Parking Reform Comes To Chapel Hill
At present, the Town of Chapel Hill spends millions of dollars a year to subsidize parking downtown, millions that could be better spent on ending homelessness, supporting affordable housing, building a splash pad, completing a greenway, funding more bus service, or a dozen other things.
Posted inChapel Hill
Complete Communities, Dissenting Council Members
If it’s Tuesday, it’s time for another planning process to begin in Chapel Hill. This week, Jennifer Keesmaat, former mayoral candidate and chief Planner of the City of Toronto, Canada (population 2.8 million), kicked off her Connecting Communities planning initiative for the Town of Chapel Hill (population .061 million).