Wall Street of the mind

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by on December 16, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in 140 West, Downtown Chapel Hill
Posted by Don Evans on December 16, 2010

http://chapelhillwatch.com/2010/12/16/wall-street-of-the-mind/

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9 Comments

  1. Steve

     /  December 16, 2010

    I sure hope somebody is watching … the earth at this site is contaminated and when excavated should be taken to remediation before being disposed of.

    http://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/projects/dedi/documents/environmental_assessment/esa_lot5_20070402.pdf

    Want to bet somebody will conveniently “forget” to comply with environmental regulations, and dump this contaminated earth at the illegal landfill adjacent to University Lake?

  2. Nancy Oates

     /  December 16, 2010

    The report estimates 13,000 TONS of contaminated soil on the site. Perhaps Mayor Kleinschmidt should rent a bubble suit for the groundbreaking Jan. 5. And the Town Council could hire a consultant (no one local, in keeping with their history) to determine where to dump the dirty dirt.

  3. John Kramer

     /  December 16, 2010

    Saving the planet is such a good business!

    And I for one would pay good money to see the mayor in a hazmat suit, good one!

  4. George Entenman

     /  December 16, 2010

    It’s interesting to read in Weds’ CH News a quote about uniting East and West Franklin attributed to “Jon Keener, Ram development manager” and then have you use to attack Kleinschmidt. Strange.

    And I wonder if you walk downtown. There’s definitely a gap separating the two ends of Franklin St. Not technically a “wall”, I admit, but it might as well be.

  5. Terri Buckner

     /  December 17, 2010

    For as long as I’ve lived in Chapel Hill (over 30 years), there has been some kind of invisible boundary. I don’t think it’s because of lot 5 though. In the old days, there was a Belk’s in that area and a BellSouth building. There were always a lot of young men from town (not the university) hanging out in the parking lot that served those two buildings. When my friends and I walked from downtown to Pyewacket, it felt like leaving the university area for the real part of town. I don’t think the building at lot 5 is going to change that feeling of transition.

    As for the underground fuel tanks from the gas station that used to be on that lot, I believe EPA guidelines for disposing of toxic waste will have to be followed and reported on. The need for that cleanup has been known since before the contract was signed. As I recall the cost of the cleanup will be born by the town.

  6. Anita Badrock

     /  December 20, 2010

    There are 18 affordable units in this development. Not sure if they are being counted as “sold.”

  7. Don Evans

     /  December 20, 2010

    Anita

    Good point. I’ve e-mailed the folks at 140 West Franklin and asked that very question. We’ll see how long it takes them to get back with the answer.

  8. Don Evans

     /  December 20, 2010

    Got the following message from Molly Hogan Barnes, sales coordinator with 140 West Franklin:

    “Thanks so much for your inquiry. There are 18 homes designated for affordable housing. We have sold 50 market rate homes. This figure does not include the 18 affordables. Stay tuned for more sales and retail announcements.”

    But that’s not 70, is it? Are the folks at Ram just math-challenged?

  9. Steve

     /  December 20, 2010

    Good question. They weren’t math-challenged when they connived Chapel Hill taxpayers to cough up $7,500,000 to rent a few parking spaces.