Economy & Downtown
Chapel Hill's downtown has long benefited from its proximity to a captive audience of University students without cars. While downtowns around the country have been failing, ours has survived fairly well. However, we have seen an increase in the number of chain stores locating downtown, and instability in the Downtown Economic Development Corporation. In the near future, we will see new Town-directed development on two major parking lots have a big impact.
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Carrboro's downtown has also done better than many towns of comparable size, thanks largely to the presence of Weaver Street Market and progressive shoppers from the rest of the county. The Board of Aldermen has been addressing the evolution of the downtown, and have established a number of community resources in the downtown area including free wireless Internet access, and a low-power radio station.
WCHL is reporting Bruce Stone's official announcement that he's closing the Varsity theater. He provided them a written statement that's likely to appear shortly in the newspapers as well.
Some excerpts regarding the film industry and Stone's situation with the Varsity: "This is a business decision, a bottom-line decision. . . . The Varsity especially has been struggling for over two years, with no prospect of an upturn any time soon. . . with the summers being especially difficult... Our landlord has been understanding and supportive throughout our tenure."
Of particular note, however, are his comments about the downtown situation:
Hi, I'm new to this site (which I was pleased to discover via google), and I have some questions regarding Carr Mill Mall/Weaver Street Market's policies.
Visioning
Forums
The Town of Chapel Hill visioning project is
designed to engage the Chapel Hill community through a range of outreach
efforts to both inform and gather public comment on community values and
future growth.
The information will assist the Sustainable
Community Visioning Task Force, a group of volunteer citizens appointed by
the Town Council to prepare recommendations on what growth should look like
over the next 10 years.
The visioning forums are just one of a number of
ways that the Sustainable Community Visioning Task Force will be obtaining
information about the community over the next 7 months.
As part of this initial outreach, Chapel Hill
residents are invited to attend community forums, draw on visioning walls, and
participate in online surveys as part of "Chapel Hill 2020," a
community visioning project scheduled June 1-7.
Bring something to share- Take something you need.
Carrboro's Really Really Free Market
Saturday, June 6, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Carrboro Town Commons
301 West Main Street, Carrboro, NC
First Saturday of every month
Bring something to share--take something you need!
Everyone is welcome at this monthly event at which people share goods, services, skills, performances, stories, crafts, food, games, music, clothing, furniture, plants, and other resources.
In a time of recession and economic crisis, events such as this one are especially important, as they demonstrate how communities can maintain themselves even when the capitalist system fails them. If you are unemployed, facing foreclosure, or struggling with debt, or if you care about others who may be facing these challenges, come participate in building this community infrastructure! We can all prosper with or without the economy, if we base our lives and interactions on cooperation rather than competition.
Better than a yard sale, the Really Really Free Market has no price tags: there is no buying, selling, or exchanging involved. At this market, everything is strictly free. This event is a celebration of the cooperation and gift-giving that make life possible beyond the constraints of market capitalism: it is an afternoon when social status has nothing to do with what you own, and when giving and receiving happen directly rather than being administered through an institution or organization. As at other Really Really Free Markets across the U.S. and around the world, we aim to create and participate in a world in which resources are held in common, the community meets the needs of the community, and "free" means just that: really, really free.
Nothing is required for participation, but think creatively about the skills you have and could teach, the useful or beautiful things you have and don't need, or the resources you might be able to bring and share.
Because there's enough for everyone
Because sharing is more fulfilling than owning
Because corporations would rather the landfills overflow than anyone get anything for free
Because a beautiful day outside together is better than anything money could buy
Because "free trade" is a contradiction in terms
Because no one should go without food, shelter, entertainment, and community
Because life should be a picnic, but it's up to us to make it one
BECAUSE THERE IS TOO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH
Date:
Saturday, June 6, 2009 - 10:30am to 12:00pm
Via e-mail:
Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Meet & Greet! Spanky's Restaurant
Thursday June, 4
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Join the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership in
welcoming our new Executive Director, Jim Norton to Downtown Chapel
Hill! There will be a brief introduction followed by a time to meet Jim
and mingle with other members of the community. There will be light
hors d'oeuvres and refreshments along with a cash bar. Spanky's is
located at 101 East Franklin Street. For more information please
contact the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership at 967-9440 or
partnership@downtownchapelhill.com.
Date:
Thursday, June 4, 2009 - 12:00pm
Location:
Spanky's, 101 East Franklin Street
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