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LETTER: 140 West site a missed opportunity

Posted on March 29, 2012March 28, 2012 by Staff

I felt validated to read Joe Buonfiglio’s editorial (“Chapel Hill 2020 flawed,” The Carrboro Citizen, 3/4/12) on what a farce the Chapel Hill 2020 meetings are and how they are a vehicle for developers to do as they wish while making the workshops appear to have widespread public support. Several years ago, I tried to inspire the town council to create a town square on the current site of 140 West. After the weekends of workshops and charettes in which my group’s plans were NEVER taken seriously nor turned into computer models, it was obvious what a disappointing waste of time those meetings were.

The town council lacked foresight and creativity in failing to recognize that last opportunity to have the town square that Chapel Hill needs. The former mayor and Chapel Hill 2020 co-chair Rosemary Waldorf probably means well in her plans with the program, but her past record as head of such a pro-development town council speaks volumes and should be viewed with great suspicion. We may be adding 140 West to the list of buildings on Rosemary Street struggling to reach full occupancy.

On a trip to Charleston, S.C., my family stayed in the Francis Marion Hotel that overlooked the glorious Marion Square Park. On Saturday morning, this park had a farmers’ market three times the size of Carrboro’s, with food trucks, art shows, children’s inflatable structures, sculptures, fountains, benches and open space for socializing and playing. The citizens and leaders of Charlotte and Savannah also appreciate their downtown spaces in such a way, and the ambience they create and foster. Hopefully Chapel Hill 2020 isn’t totally motivated by real estate revenue, as history has demonstrated with developments like 140 West. I’ve mentioned my idea in conversations, suggesting that, once upon a time, this construction site could have been a park or town square.

I’ve yet to meet a Chapel Hill resident who doesn’t respond with, “Oh! That would have been wonderful!” Yes, that WOULD HAVE. Let’s not build more regrets.

Only a naive or uninformed individual would spend a half million to a million dollars to live above the frat bars on Rosemary Street. When my family lived on the adjacent block, after regular long nights of roaring music and screaming parties all around us until 3 a.m., 4 a.m. or later, we found solace and comfort in a nice walk to Carrboro, where we now live.

Chas Gaertner
Carrboro

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