The Board of Trustees approved UNC’s Master Plan for Central Campus in May but one feature of the plan has just grabbed the public’s attention — the plan to create a new UNC entrance on Franklin and to raze and replace the old buildings along the 100 block of Franklin housing the Carolina Coffee Shop and other businesses. UNC did not ask the Town to comment or review their plans, even this portion that affects downtown Chapel Hill.
Here are some interesting facts:
- UNC owns a fair amount of property on Franklin, and has its eye on purchasing as much as possible using its foundation and trust resources which put them beyond the oversight of the Council of State. Example: UNC recently tried to acquire the Wallace Parking Deck from the Town and the surface lot at Columbia and Rosemary.
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UNC now owns about 40 % of the town and is required to pay no tax.
- Mr George Watts Hill gave a set of storefronts to UNC back in the 1920’s in the one hundred block of Franklin Street, the area that would be affected by UNC plans.
- Carolina Coffee Shop and other businesses paid only modest rent over the years, and the tenants were made responsible for their own maintenance and repairs, including the failing sewer system and other utilities. Since that time UNC has neglected their maintenance and the buildings are in poor condition and can correctly say the properties are not in good condition.
Since the Historic District Commission (HDC) is charged with preserving and protecting the historic districts of Chapel Hill and values the history of our Downtown, Renuka Soll and a number of petitioners requested that the Commission consider and take action on the following:
- Ask HDC to form a study committee to look into conservation measures HDC or the Town of Chapel Hill could take to protect the character of Franklin Street;
- Report findings to HDC and the Town Council within 4 months;
- Request HDC send a letter to UNC asking them to reconsider this part of the master plan and to work with the town and the community on any design changes planned for UNC properties on Franklin Street.
Herald Sun article and video. : https://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/article231937213.html
Tarheel article. https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2019/07/unc-plans-to-renovate-its-franklin-street-property-in-future.
is centered on Franklin Street, covering 21.3 square miles (55 km2). It contains several districts and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care are a major part of the economy and town influence. Local artist Michael Brown have created murals throughout town.
Our Historic Districts
The Town of Chapel Hill has three local historic districts which include:
- Franklin-Rosemary Historic District (created by the Town Council in 1976)
- Cameron-McCauley Historic District (created by the Town Council in 1990)
- Gimghoul Historic District (created by the Town Council in 1990)
The Historic District Commission has recommended changes in the Land Use Management Ordinance which would improve operations and clarify roles of the decision makers.
Does Chapel Hill have National Register Historic Districts?
The Town of Chapel Hill has four National Register Historic Districts which include:
- Chapel Hill Historic District
- West Chapel Hill Historic District
- Gimghoul Historic District
- Rocky Ridge Historic District.
The owner of a property in the National Register Historic District is not required to apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness for changes unless the property is also located within a local historic district.
The following map illustrates the locations of the National Register Historic Districts:
Suggested goals related to historic preservation in Chapel Hill.