High hopes

7 Comments

1. 

   Terri Buckner

    /  November 10, 2010

   Can you please clarify something? You and Nancy have both said the $30,000 was for a consultant. The N&O says the $30,000 (of a $100,000 economic development budget) is intended to promote retail at Obey’s Creek.

2. 

   Nancy Oates

    /  November 10, 2010

   At the council meeting Monday night, Gene Pease asked what the $70,000 and the $30,000 would buy. Roger Stancil said it was for professional help to guide development plans and promote commercial development. The “professional help” would be a consultant.

3. 

   CitizenWill

    /  November 10, 2010

   The monies also are used for other resources, like the membership in the 13 county regional economic planning group.

   Here’s the language that upset folks:

   This initiative is focused on capturing retail market share being lost to adjacent
   areas. There are two areas with opportunities to affect retail development in the
   coming 18 months: Obey Creek and development along Eubank Road. The
   initiative is to guide these projects so they meet both developer and Town
   interests both from a market and development perspective. Redevelopment in the
   Ram’s Plaza area will take some additional engineering and a financing plan prior
   to being able to encourage redevelopment.$30,000

   http://chapelhillpublic.novusagenda.com/AttachmentViewer.aspx?AttachmentID=5494&ItemID=1010

   So, not all of the $30K was earmarked for Obeys Creek. Does anyone find it strange that there’s no mention of enhancing Southern Village’s prospects? There wasn’t much introspection done by Council concerning the economic leaching effect East54 had on Meadowmont – maybe it’s Southern Villages turn to be left high and dry.

   Note that the ordinance authorizes the fund transfer but the supporting staff memo is pretty opaque as far as where the underlying funds are being channeled from or where they are being channeled to….

   http://chapelhillpublic.novusagenda.com/Bluesheet.aspx?itemid=1010&meetingid=87

4. 

   WJ

    /  November 10, 2010

   Thanks to both of you for sitting thru these meetings and providing the information. It is very interesting these insights into local govt.

5. 

   Terri Buckner

    /  November 10, 2010

   So staff was suggesting $30,000 for recruiting new businesses, some of which would be targeted at Obey’s Creek? What’s the consultant going to do, identify the businesses to recruit?

6. 

   John Kramer

    /  November 10, 2010

   Ms. Buckner- why don’t you ask the town?

7. 

   Runner

    /  November 10, 2010

   Did anyone see “Raising Hope” last night? The father of the main character had to take the town councilman to the girlie bar to get the parks contract. Maybe that’s what the $30k is for.