I moved with my husband and daughter to Carrboro three years ago when my husband took a position at Duke Hospital. We choose to live in Carrboro rather than Durham because we felt that Carrboro was a very special and unique place. We had heard that it was a place that valued community and put an emphasis on local business and taking care of its residents, regardless of race or socio-economic background. We have enjoyed living here these past three years, and have found these things to be mostly true.Â
However, since I heard about this proposed plan to build a Family Dollar store nearby where I live, I am beginning to think that perhaps I was wrong about the leaders of this town and what they value. I have a difficult time believing that the people who take pride in this supposedly community-oriented town will allow the opening of a business that will do nothing for Carrboro but seriously undermine a lovely neighborhood, destroy a peaceful and much-needed green space and bring an element of cheap consumerism to our town. If my family wished to live near a business like Family Dollar, we would certainly have chosen to pay a lower rent and live in Durham.Â
I sincerely hope that the decision-makers for this community will take a closer look at the ramifications of their choice and make a decision based on love of this unique place and its residents, rather than love of money.
Shelly Hehenberger
Carrboro