Hannah Sharpe
Courtesy of the Carrboro Commons
While much of Carrboro holds its breath awaiting finalization of the 300 East Main Street project, businesses across the street from the project’s site see opportunity for growth.
The Carrboro Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the project in a Sept. 30 meeting. This decision means new amenities for its citizens in the form of a hotel and a 500,000-square-foot space for new businesses and restaurants. The decision also projects a change in the economic climate for surrounding businesses.
Though redevelopment is a huge change for the town, most of the businesses across the street support the project’s general proposal for growth and investment in infrastructure. Recently, community support for the project has fluctuated over issues such as architecture, traffic patterns and what forms of business the project will attract. Businesses across the street from the project have similar concerns, but they are waiting to see the extent of change the project will bring to the business climate.
Until the last few months, many of these businesses disregarded claims that the project would actually be approved and become a reality.
“We’ve been getting notices for the last five years,†said Ben Harper, CEO of Harper Arts Collegiate Sportswear.
Though many were skeptical that the project would get so close to approval, businesses across the street from the site are beginning to consider the effects of Main Street’s makeover.
Barry Keith, “Sid†of Sid’s Surplus, believes growth is inevitable for the community, but proper preparation for it is most important.
“You’re going to grow in spite of yourself,†said Keith. “If you don’t prepare for growth, you’re going to get ripe like a piece of fruit and rot.â€
Local photographer Jesse Kalisher, who owns Jesse Kalisher Gallery, views the project as an opportunity for Carrboro to develop and prosper in a fashion similar to small towns like Asheville, Carmel, Calif. or Ashland, Ore.
“There’s a handful of places I’ve seen where they’ve maintained local flavor and the community has thrived. Carrboro has that possibility,†Kalisher said.
One of the most controversial aspects of the project is the proposed Hilton Garden Inn that would stand where Performance Bike is currently located. Many community members oppose the idea of a chain hotel in Carrboro, while others disapprove of a “box-like†structure.
Sean Livingwater, manager of Scooter’s Inc. on the corner of Main and Lloyd streets, thinks that disagreement over architecture is a trivial dispute in the project.
“I just don’t think there’s a consistent theme of architecture through Carrboro. If it’s a tasteful building, good stuff,†he said.
Jesse Kalisher thinks a hotel would bring more visitors and potential revenue to the area. The hotel would give visitors a place to stay in town instead of having to drive in from hotels located further out of town.
“Let’s face it. A hotel down here will certainly help a lot of us who need a place to stick our in-laws!†Kalisher joked.
Traffic is another matter that could affect the businesses across the street from the project. Main Street is already gridlocked at certain times during the day — especially in the mornings and afternoons with commuters traveling to and from work.
Tommy and Paula Carson, owners of University Auto Supply, Inc., do not support the project because of the potential traffic problems that will arise during construction and after the project is completed.
“There’s going to be more traffic, period,†Tommy Carson said.
The biggest concern associated with the project is the question of how new buildings and businesses will affect the business climate of East Main Street. Property values will increase, causing rental space to increase.
Kalisher thinks that project developers Main Street Properties will determine the project’s influence on Carrboro with its approach to local business.
“Is development going to build on what we have? Or are we going to find that we’ve been turned into one of the strip-mall communities of America that we moved here to get away from?†Kalisher asked.
Kalisher hopes that with the new spaces, Main Street Properties will seek arts-based tenants to supplement the ArtsCenter.
“Nothing could be better than to have more arts-related business,†Kalisher said. “Carrboro prides itself on being an arts-based community. Let’s give that a chance to really thrive.â€
Ben Harper of Harper Arts thinks that it will not be long before prospects of redevelopment drift across the street as building owners see potential to increase property values.
“It’s going to put upward pressure on us on rent and leasing,†Harper said. “Carrboro used to be the cheap part of town.â€
Harper went on to say that the presence of a five-story building across the street would make the notion of putting one on his side of the street more feasible. The business climate would also change in favor of retail stores and restaurants, forcing out businesses that are more production- and factory-based, such as Harper Arts.
Since hearing about the project, Barry Keith has put some thought into how Sid’s Surplus will adapt to Main Street’s new look.
“It’s probably going to make us look kind of puny compared to ‘new and shiny’ across the street,†Keith said.
Keith, who owns his location, has thought about taking measures to update his building, which was built in 1946.
Business owners across the street support the development of infrastructure in Carrboro, but are concerned about its potential effects. These businesses are waiting, along with the rest of the community, to see how they will adapt to the new face of Main Street.
While Main Street Properties and the board of aldermen attempt to tie up loose ends on 300 East Main, it’s business as usual across the street.
Hannah Sharpe is a UNC student writing for the Carrboro Commons, a bi-weekly online lab newspaper for Jock Lauterer’s Community Journalism class at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
